meet the team
elise
labott
founder | chief executive officer
Elise Labott is a leading journalist covering US foreign policy and international issues. She is a columnist at Foreign Policy magazine and an adjunct professor at American University’s School of International Service. As CNN’s Global Affairs Correspondent, she reported from more than 80 countries, traveled the world with seven secretaries of state and has interviewed many world leaders and newsmakers. Elise serves as a global ambassador for Vital Voices, an organization that empowers female entrepreneurs around the world and is on the advisory committee of Global Kids DC, a program that introduces high school students in underserved communities to international affairs.
britt
weaver
chief of staff
Britt Weaver is a graduate of University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of International and Public Affairs, receiving a Masters in International Development. She specializes in human rights, women's rights, and reproductive justice. In addition to her civic ambitions, she is also deeply involved in DC libation and nightlife culture.
jesse
zhang
media fellow
Jesse Zhang is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School studying marketing, with a minor in business economics and public policy. He currently serves as the Photo Editor and an opinion columnist for The Daily Pennsylvanian. Aside from his professional work, Jesse is a photographer, videographer, and writer who is passionate about issues concerning his generation, as well as international relations. His work has been seen on CBS, Good Morning America, and Midi Libre.
eric
weisbrod
co-founder | chief innovation officer
Award-winning leader in digital, social and multiplatform strategy. As Director of Social TV at CNN, he led audience engagement, live and social publishing strategies across CNN's digital and off-platform properties. Eric also led news partnerships at Meta and Tagboard.
carolyn
disbrow
co-founder | chief operations officer
An experienced media executive with more than a dozen years at one of the world's most recognized brands, with a broad skill set in management, finance, operations, communications, media relations, news production, editing, digital and social media. A graduate of Columbia Journalism School MS, Broadcast Journalism and most recently, Columbia Business School, MBA May 2018.
hannah
gross
Zivvy correspondent
Hannah Gross is a senior at the University of Pennsylvania studying Hispanic studies and political science with a concentration in American politics. Hannah is a digital journalist who is passionate about civic engagement. She is a reporter and former editor for The Daily Pennsylvanian, the University of Pennsylvania’s independent student newspaper. Hannah has previously reported for NBC10 Philadelphia and Forbes. She has covered politics, education, the climate crisis and other issues across the publications.