Meet the Rising Hustlers Bringing Fresh Ideas to the Hustle Conference
Lozafina is proud to introduce the Rising Hustlers Cohort, a group of young creators gaining real-world experience while helping campaign for the 2026 Hustle Conference.
The cohort was created by Lozafina CEO and founder Josefina Loza to give emerging creatives an opportunity to develop content, strengthen their portfolios, build professional relationships, and contribute to a live marketing and public relations campaign.
“I wanted to use our access to create access for someone else,” Loza said.
Hustle Conference founder Eric Gautschi immediately supported the idea of allowing young creatives to take the lead. To recognize their work, he provided participating cohort members with complimentary conference admission, giving them a seat in the room alongside entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and business leaders.
Meet the Rising Hustlers:
Marilyn Martinez
Marilyn Martinez is a senior studying communication with a minor in public relations and advertising. She hopes to strengthen her understanding of modern agency work while sharpening her social media and visual storytelling skills.
“I want to polish my social media skills and visuals in order to appeal to organizations, improve their image, and use my PR and advertising skills to connect with other PR professionals around the world,” Martinez said.
Braden Ham
Braden Ham is an entrepreneur and business student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is the founder of Alto Growth, a digital advertising agency, and serves as vice president of UNO’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization.
“I’m focused on helping service-based businesses grow,” Ham said.
Addie Ziska
Addie Ziska is a junior, a member of the CBA Scholars Academy, and president of UNO’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization. She brings confidence, curiosity, and plenty of determination to the cohort.
“I am aware that none of my goals will be accomplished without effort,” Ziska said. “Even when it’s hard, effort is essential.”
Kin Franco Recinos
Kinverly “Kin” Franco Recinos is a junior concentrating in marketing and management. After working with a small business and local nonprofit, she is excited to explore public relations and professional communication through a new lens.
“By the end of this experience, I would love to have built a solid foundation and understanding of PR communications and how they differ in this industry,” Franco Recinos said.
Dilya Azimova
Dilya Azimova is a freshman at UNO studying dental hygiene. She joined the cohort to explore a different professional field and gain experience in communications, branding, and content creation.
“I would like to improve my event promotion skills, PR, marketing, and branding,” Azimova said. “I’m also looking forward to improving my communication skills, networking, and content creation.”
Grace Cyiza
Grace Cyiza is a UNO senior studying economics and human resources. As a Goodrich scholar, she understands the importance of intentional relationship-building and creating space for diverse perspectives.
“I’m excited to learn what it means to tell a story that grabs people’s attention through this project,” Cyiza said. “I’m grateful for the privilege of learning from Josefina, a great role model of mine.”
Aman Alahi
Aman Alahi is an MBA student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha pursuing a future in business. His interests include “real estate, entrepreneurship, and business law,” giving him a natural connection to the founders and business leaders attending the conference.
Alejandra Wells
Alejandra Wells is a young entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and founder of Hiya. A former Lozafina cohort member, she has developed youth-led mental health initiatives, conducted research, and created opportunities for other young people to share their voices.
“I started Hiya to help teenagers who suffer from anxiety, depression, and mental illness,” Wells said. “I saw a need for positive encouragement in the face of daily stress factors.”
Ed Luqueno-Galvan
Ed Luqueno-Galvan is a creative media intern with Receivos and a former Lozafina cohort member. His experience includes creating digital reels, designing social media content, and conducting interviews.
“I have had an exciting and enjoyable experience at Lozafina,” Luqueno-Galvan said. “And I’m excited to continue that with this project as well.”
The Rising Hustlers will create social media content, develop story ideas, conduct interviews, and capture photos and videos before and during the Hustle Conference. More importantly, they will have the opportunity to network, learn, and show what they can do.
Because talent is everywhere. Access isn’t.
Learn more about Lozafina Cohorts, partner with us, or apply for an upcoming opportunity at lozafina.com/cohorts.