Karina Mandell was born in Ukraine and immigrated to Baltimore. She grew up in Pikesville she went on to study Psychology, Sociology and Education at St. Mary's College of Maryland (2012). After a few years in the field she switched from social work to social entrepreneurship working across many sectors from non-profit, private and public sector.

For the last decade Karina has been focused at the intersection of the social responsibility and innovation sector of businesses which are improving the world through social entrepreneurship and community economic development.