Advisory Board
Daniel Cabrera
Head Indoor Volleyball Advisor
Daniel Cabrera joined the Warhawk women's volleyball coaching staff as an assistant coach in August 2023.
Cabrera comes to The Bayou after serving as the program director and head coach of the men's and women's volleyball team for Olivet Nazarene University Tigers. In 2020, Cabrera lead the ONU women's volleyball team to a 20-2 overall record and 17-1 conference record. Along with winning the season and conference tournament championship and a bid to the national tournament. Cabrera was voted as the Chicagoland Conference Coach of the Year, all in his first year.
Cabrera also began the ONU Men's volleyball team in 2020. In 2022, the ONU men's volleyball team was ranked top 20 in the country. The Tigers posted an 18-8 overall record, an 11-2 conference record and finished as runner-up Champions in the 2022 NCCAA Tournament. During his three seasons at Olivet, Cabrera produced two NAIA All-Americans, one Chicagoland Conference Player of the Year, and 16 all-conference selections.
Prior to ONU, Cabrera served as the head coach for women's volleyball at Culver-Stockton College from 2018-19. Before becoming head coach at C-SC, Cabrera was the men's and women's assistant volleyball coach and director of operations from 2016-17 under Caren Kemner, a three-time Olympian and bronze medalist with the USA Women's National Volleyball Team.
Cabrera also served as the head coach for Chicago Elite VBC 15-U, 2015 gold division Chicago Crosstown Classic Champions and head coach at USA volleyball open division for Iowa High Performance from 2016-2018.
Cabrera played volleyball at Hannibal LaGrange University from 2009-2014, earning a bachelor's degree in history. In 2016, Cabrera played professional volleyball for the Great Lakes Lightening men's volleyball team. Cabrera is from Chicago, Illinois, and was a four-sport athlete at Saint Patrick High School. In 2009, he helped Saint Patrick place fourth in the IHSA State Volleyball Championship and led his team to an ESPN top 50 national ranking.
Donny Hui
Founder, Elevate Yourself | Volleyball Coach & Educator
Donny Hui, widely known as Coach Donny in the global volleyball community, is the founder of Elevate Yourself, a volleyball training and education platform dedicated to inspiring athletes through both social media and in-person coaching. With nearly two decades of coaching experience across girls’ and boys’ high school and college club teams, Donny brings a deep passion for the sport and a relentless commitment to staying at the forefront of the game’s evolution.
As a current semi-professional Outside Hitter competing in the U.S., Donny brings a rare dual perspective as both player and coach—regularly testing and refining modern techniques to ensure his coaching remains current and impactful. His mission is to share the lifelong joy and discipline that volleyball has brought him with aspiring athletes around the world.
JJ Zhuang
Advisor
JJ Zhuang is a distinguished technology executive, entrepreneur, and expert in artificial intelligence (AI) with a proven track record in software engineering and technological innovation. He co-founded Acompli, serving as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO), where he led the development of a mobile email application designed for enterprise users. Acompli's groundbreaking approach to email management caught significant attention, culminating in its acquisition by Microsoft in 2014 for approximately $200 million. Post-acquisition, Acompli was rebranded as Outlook Mobile, becoming an integral part of Microsoft's suite of productivity tools.
After his success at Microsoft, JJ joined Instacart as Chief Architect, where he played a pivotal role in the company's remarkable growth and innovation. Under his leadership, Instacart implemented cutting-edge AI-driven technologies, revolutionizing customer experiences with personalized meal planning, optimized grocery shopping, and enhanced operational efficiency. JJ’s contributions were instrumental in Instacart’s evolution into a market leader in the online grocery delivery space.
In September 2023, Instacart went public with a valuation of nearly $9.9 billion, a milestone that underscored JJ’s impact on the company’s technological success and overall trajectory. His expertise in AI and machine learning was a key driver behind Instacart’s innovative solutions, which have transformed the grocery delivery industry.
Throughout his career, JJ Zhuang has been recognized for his visionary leadership and commitment to innovation. As an expert in AI, he has leveraged advanced technologies to solve complex challenges, create transformative digital experiences, and shape the future of industries ranging from enterprise software to online retail. JJ’s work exemplifies the power of AI to revolutionize user experiences and drive organizational success.
Khushbakht Shujat
Advisor
Khushbakht Shujat is a distinguished public servant, educationist, and media professional who has been a steadfast advocate for youth empowerment, gender equality, and community development in Pakistan. With a prominent career spanning journalism, broadcasting, and national politics, she has used her platform to champion the rights of women and children and drive meaningful social change.
An educationist for the past 27 years, Khushbakht has been actively contributing to the field of education and working across various educational platforms to promote accessible, high-quality learning for all. Her dedication to nurturing the next generation through knowledge and mentorship is a cornerstone of her public service.
A former Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, she has played a pivotal role in legislative initiatives supporting youth development and women’s inclusion. In recognition of her exceptional contributions to public service, she was honored with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) in 2012 — one of Pakistan’s highest civilian awards.
Her values and vision align deeply with Empower Sports Academy’s mission to create empowering pathways for young women in sports and leadership. As a member of the Advisory Board, Khushbakht brings invaluable expertise in education, policy, and community outreach.
She continues to be a powerful voice for progress and inclusion, inspiring generations with her unwavering commitment to integrity, resilience, and purposeful leadership.
Tim Kelly
Advisor
Tim Kelly began Bring It Promotions, LLC in response to his own overseas experiences. Following his graduation from UCLA in 1994, Kelly accepted an offer to play in Spain. What he soon realized was that most agents did not have the European wherewithal to adequately advise or represent him as a client. By developing contacts of his own and touring with his fellow American volleyball professionals, he began placing male clients on teams he had established connections with. It didn’t take long for the demand to spread to aspiring female volleyball professionals too, so Bring It Promotions opened its doors to males and females alike in 1997. In 1999, Kelly began preparations for the expansion of his International Tours division. Like wildfire, the International Tours grew rapidly into three categories: University Tours, Exposure Tours, and Recruiting Tours. The Tours have grown to include over 20 different tours annually.
Kelly enjoyed a decorated playing career as a middle blocker at UCLA and as a five-year professional in Europe. He has also served as Head of Delegation for numerous European Champions League and South American Championship teams and tournaments as well as on USA Volleyball delegations. Kelly lived in Europe from 1994 to 2006, and currently splits time between San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua and Santa Barbara, California when not on tour.
Alessandra Campedelli
Advisor
Alessandra Campedelli is a volleyball coach with a unique and international background. She led the Italian Deaf National Team, winning five international medals and helping to promote inclusive sports and highlight the competitive potential of athletes with sensory disabilities.
She has also worked in the men’s sector with two clubs competing in Italy’s Superlega, bringing expertise and vision to traditionally male-dominated environments, and achieving important results particularly in youth development.
On the international stage, she coached the women’s national teams of Iran and later Pakistan—experiences that allowed her to combine sport and advocacy for women’s empowerment in complex cultural contexts.
In Italy, she has won numerous youth championships, significantly contributing to the technical and personal growth of young athletes. In 2025, she was awarded the title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, one of Italy’s highest honors, in recognition of her professional and social commitment through sport.
Nadeem Zaman
Advisor
Experienced marketing executive skilled in achieving profitable growth through strategic foresight and operational excellence. Renowned for building brands, driving top and bottom line, and leading transformations in U.S. and global markets.
Expert in identifying trends and disruptors with consumer insights. Adept at managing the art and science of modern marketing. Ability to drive global consistency and local relevancy. Collaborative Leader focused on scaling portfolios, enhancing efficiencies, and creating impactful consumer experiences.
Specialise in optimising operations, transforming portfolios, and building resilient brands and teams. Elevated brand presence through global speaking engagements, award-winning campaigns (e.g., Cannes Lions, Loeries), and creative frameworks that influenced brand storytelling across 100+ markets.
