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Phillip Karaya is a dynamic entrepreneur whose diverse expertise spans finance, real estate, and technology, underpinned by a commitment to fostering positive change. His journey began with an undergraduate degree in public health, followed by impactful work in the pharmacy field and international programs in Greece and the Dominican Republic, which enriched his cross-cultural perspective.
Phillip’s dedication to public welfare led him to serve on boards focusing on public health and international relations, exemplified by his involvement with the Model African Union. These experiences shaped his passion for global cooperation and community engagement.
Building on his academic foundation, Phillip earned an MBA in finance from Georgia State University and taught Business Analysis at the College of Business, where he nurtured future business leaders.
As the current chapter president of the US Africa Chamber of Commerce, Phillip facilitated business connections between the United States, Africa, and the Caribbean, furthering his vision of global commerce and prosperity.
Phillip’s diverse portfolio includes ownership interests in companies specializing in shortterm rentals through platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, as well as vehicle rentals via Turo, shaping the future of transportation solutions.
In his dedication to social change, Phillip served on the board of the Atlanta Friendship Initiative, addressing racial injustice in the Atlanta community. As a passionate advocate for financial literacy, Phillip launched “Finance With Phil, ” a brand offering free financial literacy courses. These resources are accessible through the app store, empowering individuals to make informed financial decisions and secure their futures.
Phillip’s prolific public speaking engagements, numbering over 200, have allowed him to share his wealth of knowledge and insights, inspiring audiences with his expertise in entrepreneurship, finance, and societal change.
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As a passionate advocate for financial literacy, Phillip launched “Finance With Phil, ” a brand offering
free financial literacy courses. These resources are accessible through the app store, empowering
individuals to make informed financial decisions and secure their futures.
Phillip’s prolific public speaking engagements, numbering over 200, have allowed him to share his
wealth of knowledge and insights, inspiring audiences with his expertise in entrepreneurship,
finance, and societal change.
Entrepreneur
Visual Storyteller
Adventurer
As a passionate advocate for financial literacy, Phillip launched “Finance With Phil, ” a brand offering
free financial literacy courses. These resources are accessible through the app store, empowering
individuals to make informed financial decisions and secure their futures.
Phillip’s prolific public speaking engagements, numbering over 200, have allowed him to share his
wealth of knowledge and insights, inspiring audiences with his expertise in entrepreneurship,
finance, and societal change.
Entrepreneur
Visual Storyteller
Adventurer
The “Meet and Talk” social mixer includes networking with public health leaders, breakout sessions, fun activities, raffles and prizes.
The MeTa Series was launched in 2018 by Dr. Elizabeth Armstrong-Mensah, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Science, in response to former dean Dr. Michael Eriksen’s desire for the creation of an environment within the School of Public Health where students and faculty can interact outside the classroom. The MeTa (Meet and Talk) Series is a social mixer that brings students, faculty, staff, and alums together every semester in a social forum to get to know one another and to network.
Karaya then discussed the concept of hypergamy — where a person dates or marries someone of a higher social status.
“Most women date across and up social dominance hierarchies, and men date across and down,” Karaya explained. “So as men rise up, you have nothing but more options. But if women rise up, they have smaller options.”
“The guys that are in the same space [with successful careers and high incomes] don’t want that [equally successful woman],” he further theorized.
When it came to having an on-campus organization that helps international students find jobs after graduation, Georgia State did not have one.
Jesse Calixte, a student at Georgia State, decided he wanted to change that and started an organization called World Students United.
“This organization is here to promote a new culture on campus, the culture of helping international students with their professional growth,” Calixte said.
Calixte, the founder and president of World Students United, realized that there were many organizations on campus that taught the cultures of international students but none of them helped with finding the right careers for them.
