In this episode, Bard MBA candidate Ana Caka interviews Zainab James, founder of Vaz House Café, a jazz-inspired Caribbean specialty coffee shop launching in Manchester, Connecticut. Zainab traces the café's origins to making morning coffee for her grandfather in Jamaica and her family's roots in the island's hospitality industry, sharing how heritage and community shaped the concept. She speaks candidly about the realities of early-stage entrepreneurship, including her observation that founders are often over-educated and underfunded, and reflects on direct-trade sourcing, sustainability, and building a brand that gives back to its local community.
Zainab James
Zainab James is an entrepreneur and community builder based in Manchester, Connecticut. She is the founder of Vaz House Café, a jazz-inspired coffee house rooted in culture, rhythm, and connection. Zainab comes from a multigenerational family of business owners and combines that legacy with her background in hospitality, logistics, and operations to create thoughtful community spaces. She is currently completing her BSBA and focuses on building sustainable businesses that bring people together through music, culture, and coffee.
Ana Caka
Ana Caka is a graduate of Bard College's MBA in Sustainability program with professional experience in accounting, financial analysis, sustainability consulting, and marketing. They have worked with startups, nonprofits, and established companies on projects ranging from financial management and fundraising to business strategy and sustainability. Ana is passionate about helping purpose-driven organizations grow and create meaningful impact.
J. Renay Loper
Renay is a Clinical Faculty in Organizational Leadership for the Bard MBA in Sustainability, where she focuses on justice-centered transformation in the workplace. Previously, she was the Vice President of Program Innovation at PYXERA Global where she served on the Executive Leadership Team, led five country offices, drove the development of new business and programs, co-led the organization's work on inclusive circular cities, and advised corporate clients on their social impact strategies. Renay also led the organization’s ARC (Antiracist Collective) initiatives, which included internal and external efforts toward dismantling unjust systems. To this end, Renay created Rhetoric to Action, a series of conversations to bridge sectors toward collective action around social and racial justice.
Prior to PYXERA Global, Renay led the grassroots exchange and education grant portfolio at the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, and has served in a variety of leadership roles in higher education, nonprofit, and business prior to that. Renay is an avid speaker and facilitator, has authored and edited numerous publications, including a resource journal, Student Affairs Professionals Cultivating Campus Climates Inclusive of International Students (Jossey Bass). Renay serves on the board of directors of nonprofits including Community Change, Harpswell Foundation, and Girl Rising.