RISE 2022 Highlights

2022 Video Archive

Rise 2022

11 Videos
Play Video
RISE 2022
RISE 2022

We honor the start of the RISE 2022 Women’s Leadership Conference with a Welcome from the Commission on the Status of Women, Poetry, Supervisor Carole Groom and a special recorded message especially for the RISE 2022 Conference from Congresswoman Jackie Speier!

2022 Featured Speakers

Lan Phan: Founder and CEO community of SEVEN

Lan Phan is an award-winning marketer and strategist with over twenty years of marketing, advertising, membership, and leadership training experience. Lan is one of the leading global experts on membership and community development, speaking at Fortune 500 companies and renowned venues such as the United Nations, SXSW and consulting with CEOs and C-suite executives.

Lan is the founder and CEO of community of SEVEN, an invite-only membership community that brings leading executives, thought-leaders, and changemakers together to tackle and solve business and societal problems. Lan has a track history of building startups inside legacy brands; Before launching community of SEVEN, Lan was recruited by Alan Murray, CEO of Fortune Magazine, to join the executive team and develop and lead Fortune Connect, a startup within the storied brand; Lan also helped build CMO Masters Circle and Global CMO Growth Council, a startup within the Association of National Advertisers that includes over 350 CMOs from around the world mobilized to accelerate economic growth and advance societal good.

Lan has played a significant role in the gender equality movement, having served as the General Manager of SeeHer, the gender equality initiative. SeeHer has been instrumental in creating a new advertising discipline around gender equality, equipping the CMOs of the world’s most prominent brands with a framework to eliminate unconscious bias in their messaging and improve their ROI along the way.

Lan is a serial entrepreneur, having built several successful businesses. Most notable, she co-founded the Hype! Agency considered one of the fastest-growing boutique talent and marketing agencies in the United States, specializing in branded entertainment and lifestyle clients such as Coachella Music Festival, Bonaroo, National Basketball Association, Activision, Red Bull, Comedy Central, to name a few.

Lan Phan earned a BA at Stanford University and a master’s degree at Harvard Graduate School of Education. She graduated from Stanford University with honors and is the recipient of the prestigious J.E. Wallace Sterling Award, awarded to one graduating Stanford student each year, whose undergraduate leadership and volunteer activities have made the largest impact on the Stanford community.

Sallie Krawcheck: CEO and Co-Founder Ellevest

Sallie Krawcheck is the CEO and co-founder of Ellevest, a tech-first financial company, built by women for women, to help her earn more money, save more money, and invest to grow her money — by providing the products and coaching to do so — from her first dollar through to Private Wealth services.  Ellevest is one of the fastest growing digital investment platforms and has been named a #24 on CNBC’s top 50 “Disruptor” list, #14 on LinkedIn’s 50 “Most Sought-After Startups” ( #2 in New York), and one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 100 Brilliant Ideas. Krawcheck is also the best-selling author of “Own It: The Power of Women at Work.”

Krawcheck, one of the few executives to find success in large complex companies and as a startup CEO, is widely recognized as one of the most influential women in business.  She has been recognized by Inc. as a “Top Female Founder”, called “The Last Honest Analyst” by Fortune magazine, was named the seventh most powerful woman in the world by Forbes, was # 9 on Fast Company’s list of the “100 Most Creative People in Business and is considered one of the “Most Influential People in ESG Investing” by Barron’s.” She has been called one of the top 10 up and coming entrepreneurs to watch by Entrepreneur Magazine and has landed on Vanity Fair’s “The 2018 New Establishment List.”

Before launching Ellevest, Krawcheck built a successful career on Wall Street: She was the CEO of Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, US Trust, the Citi Private Bank, and Sanford C. Bernstein. She was also Chief Financial Officer for Citigroup. Prior to that, Krawcheck was a top-ranked research analyst covering the securities industry.

Krawcheck received a BA summa cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA with honors from Columbia Business School. She has two children and two cats.

2022 Speakers

Aileen Cassinetto

Commissioner, San Mateo County Commission on the Status of Women
Read More

Aileen Cassinetto is an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow and the Poet Laureate of San Mateo County, California. The founder of Paloma Press and author of two poetry collections, she sits on the Board of Directors of the Daly City Public Library Associates and the Peninsula Art Foundation. She received a Special Congressional Recognition and was appointed Commissioner on the San Mateo County Commission on the Status of Women in 2021.

Anisha Weber

Past President, SMC Commission on the Status of Women
Read More

Anisha Weber is a native to the Peninsula, born and raised in Palo Alto, living in Redwood City, and working in San Francisco. As former COO of Primitive Logic, she is a Managing Director at Logic20/20, focusing on people and operations, client strategy, and mindful solution delivery. Prior to joining Primitive Logic, she worked for Accenture across the financial services industry and PeopleSoft technologies. With over 25 years of digital transformation experience in technology and solution consulting, Anisha is comfortable leading tactical and strategic initiatives and always eager for each new challenge. She is an engaged executive able to bridge business and technical needs, while also growing company culture and employee morale.

Actively involved in her community — around home, at work, and with her alma mater — Anisha continues to provide time, talent, and treasure to numerous boards, committees, and service organizations. As a San Mateo County Commissioner on the Status of Women, Anisha focuses on topics such as STEM for Young Women, Human Trafficking, Women’s Leadership Conference and Hall of Fame, and Women in Tech. She is a long-time member of Vistage and embraces curiosity and lifelong learning. Anisha is a graduate of University of San Francisco’s MBA program, and served on various USF boards and committees, such as Past-President of Alumni Board of Directors, former member of Board of Trustees, former President of MBA Alumni Society, including the Community Service Committee. Additionally, Anisha received her B.A. in Communications with minors in Business and German from the University of Oregon in Eugene. Following her undergraduate degree, she worked for the Rothschild Bank in Zurich, Switzerland for three years and for Stanford University for two years, before her MBA. Anisha is a first generation American, her parents are from Switzerland and Holland, and she continues to maintain close ties with immigrant communities/groups from both countries.

Anixa Carmona

Director of Mental Health and Addiction Care, Sutter Health
Read More

Experienced Healthcare Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the behavioral health inpatient and outpatient settings. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Program Evaluation, Strategic Planning, Behavioral Health, and Accreditation Readiness. Strong healthcare services professional with a Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling Psychology, and completing an Executive Master in Healthcare Administration (EMHA). Fellow of the Advisory Board Company, and active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Anya Drabkin

Well-being Researcher, Meta
Read More

Became a Wellness Coach over a decade ago after losing 140 pounds and feeling inspired to help others prevent lifestyle diseases. Degrees in Exercise Physiology and certifications in Behavior Change, Worksite Wellness, Laughter Yoga, Health Coaching, Medical Exercise, and Brain Fitness. Passionate about reaching people in underserved communities to identify free resources and build a culture of wellness.

Becky Abens

Former Commissioner, San Mateo County Commission on the Status of Women
Read More

Becky Abens has a long history of advocating for women and children in her work and in her community.  Becky has had a diverse career.  She spent her early career working with crime victims at the District Attorney’s Office.  She’s also held senior leadership positions in small business start-ups and in trial consulting.  For the last 18 years, Becky has worked in the healthcare compliance and corporate ethics space within the biotech industry.

Becky has volunteered her time working with numerous organizations supporting women and children including elder abuse, rape crisis services, AIDS patient support, child advocacy, domestic violence, and human trafficking.  Becky has most recently dedicated her spare time to volunteering with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of San Mateo County and recently completed her maximum term limit with the San Mateo County Commission on the Status of Women.  Becky lives in north county with her beloved senior dog.

Bonnie Crater

Co-Founder, President, and CEO, Full Circle Insights
Read More

Buenaflor Nicolas

Vice-Mayor, City of South San Francisco
Read More

Buenaflor (Flor) Nicolas was elected to the City Council in November 2018.  She is the third Asian-American woman elected to the City Council and only the fourth woman to serve in that capacity in the 114-year history of the City. Nicolas was born in the Philippines and became a South San Francisco resident in 1988 when she and her husband with their two young children immigrated to the United States. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree and a Master of Public Health from University of Massachusetts Amherst. Currently, she is the Vice-President and Head of Global Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance at a precision oncology company based in Newark, CA. Her professional career includes more than 20 years in leadership positions at various biotechnology companies – Gilead Sciences, InterMune, Kalobios Pharmaceuticals, and Cytokinetics, and Forty Seven (acquired by Gilead Sciences in 2020).

Charlene Margot

Co-Founder and CEO, The Parent Venture
Read More

Charlene Margot is the co-founder and CEO of The Parent Venture, a leading provider of inclusive, high-quality parent and community education in Silicon Valley. The Parent Education Series, an organization she founded in 2006, is a program of The Parent Venture, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Charlene holds a B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University and a Master’s in Education from SJSU with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development. She lives in Menlo Park with her partner, and is the parent of two young adult children—and an expectant grandparent!

Christine Padilla

Community Advisory Panel (CAP) Member, KQED
Read More

Charlene Margot is the co-founder and CEO of The Parent Venture, a leading provider of inclusive, high-quality parent and community education in Silicon Valley. The Parent Education Series, an organization she founded in 2006, is a program of The Parent Venture, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Charlene holds a B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University and a Master’s in Education from SJSU with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development. She lives in Menlo Park with her partner, and is the parent of two young adult children—and an expectant grandparent!

Colleen Buggs

Clinical Supervisor, County of San Mateo
Read More
Colleen Buggs, LCSW, is the supervising Mental Health Clinician, for Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Access Call Center, San Mateo County Health. The Access Call Center assists clients in accessing mental health and substance use resources in San Mateo County and serves residents who have Medi-Cal or those who are uninsured. Colleen is ambitious with the day- to-day management of the call center, collaborating with various medical and behavioral health providers, working to eliminate barriers to accessing care, and providing knowledge, support, and direction to the team.   Colleen’s model of leadership stems in her value in community decision-making and shared commitment to wellness and healing. More about Colleen’s Career: Colleen Buggs is a compassionate health care advocate and leader with over 25 years of experience.  She began her career as a teen activist for a Planned Parenthood HIV prevention program in Richmond, Virginia. Colleen continued to work in HIV prevention and care services during her undergraduate career at Virginia Commonwealth University and traveled abroad to work at a HIV community-based organization. After graduation, Colleen became a VISTA/AmeriCorps volunteer, creating a project to help children affected by HIV in a Big Brother/Big Sister mentoring program. In that position, she met a community of women living with HIV, who desired a program solely for women and families living with HIV.  Together, they developed a unique psychosocial program and obtained a grant from the city’s health department to provide the care.  Colleen managed the program for 3 years while completing her master’s in social work at Portland State University. Colleen then moved to San Francisco for an opportunity to work with UCSF Women’s HIV program at San Francisco General Hospital.  Colleen led harm reduction groups, Seeking Safety Trauma groups, and provided individual psychotherapy at various health centers and community-based organizations.  Concurrently, Colleen became a LCSW. Colleen next worked for the San Francisco Behavioral Health Access Line for four years in a leadership role.  Currently, Colleen is the Supervising Mental Health Clinician for the County of San Mateo Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Access Call Center.  She has been in this position for 3 years.

Congresswoman Jackie Speier

Member of Congress, U.S. House of Representatives
Read More
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (pronounced SPEAR) is a fearless fighter for women’s equality, LGBTQ rights and the disenfranchised who has dedicated her life to eliminating government corruption while working to strengthen America’s national and economic security. She was named to Newsweek’s list of 150 “Fearless Women” in the world and one of “Politico’s 50” most influential people in American politics for bringing the Me Too reckoning to Congress. She proudly represents California’s 14th Congressional District, stretching from the southern portion of San Francisco through San Mateo County to East Palo Alto. Speier serves on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), where she is the Chair of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, and on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where also she serves as Chair of the Strategic Technologies and Advanced Research (STAR) Subcommittee and serves on the Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Counterproliferation (C3) Subcommittee. Additionally, she serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, where she serves on the Subcommittees on National Security and Economic and Consumer Policy. Speier is also Co-Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC), the Congressional Armenian Caucus, the Bipartisan Task Force To End Sexual Violence, and the Gunviolence Prevention Task Force. Learn more about Congresswoman Speier at: https://speier.house.gov/about-jackie

Dayna Chung

Executive Director, Community Equity Collaborative
Read More
Dayna Chung blends global business experience with community organizing and consulting. She is passionate about empowering women and children while advocating for greater equity, inclusion and justice. In Dayna’s more recent non-profit and community organizing roles, she has applied her business and international experience to local organizations driving systemic change through collective action. She was one of the original Organizing Members and now is the Executive Director for Community Equity Collaborative, a non profit that advocates for equity in education, with programs ranging from the Teacher Pipeline Project to the Child Care Relief Fund and most recently the Rainbow Kids initiative. In 2020 and 2021, Dayna co-sponsored legislation with Assemblymember Marc Berman to support early childhood education workforce development.  She actively engages in local, state and national conversations on apprenticeships and other workforce pathways for early educators. She also participates on the San Mateo County Child Care Partnership Council, the Santa Clara County Strong Start, the National Apprenticeship Work Circle and Child Development & Education Advisory Board(s) at Foothill and Skyline.  Dayna graduated Summa Cum Laude with Highest Honors in International Studies from Butler University. She also holds an MBA in International Management from the University of London.

Dina Klarisse Dugar

Editorial Director, Sampaguita Press
Read More
Dina Klarisse (she/her) is a writer, poet, editor, and serial procrastinator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Poetry is her way of making sense of her experience as a queer Filipina American immigrant and recovering Catholic, as well as her interest in the intersections of history, language, culture, and identity. Her work has been published in ASU’s Canyon Voices, The Daily Drunk Mag, Chopsticks Alley, and Kalopsia Literary Journal, among others. She serves as Poetry & Issue Editor for the online literary magazine Marías at Sampaguitas, as well as Editorial Director for the indie micropress, Sampaguita Press. Her debut chapbook, Handspun Rosaries, is coming out in Summer 2022.

Georgia Farooq

Executive Director, Thrive, The Alliance of Nonprofits for San Mateo County
Read More
Georgia is a passionate nonprofit executive with experience leading bold change throughout all life cycles of an organization. She has served as Executive Director of Thrive Alliance for over six years, where she leads a cross-sector network of nonprofit, public sector, and private sector leaders working together to strengthen the community. Georgia serves as a board member for the Palo Alto Community Fund and as a founding board member for Leadership Council San Mateo County. She is on the Advisory Council for AbilityPath, an advisor for the SF Urban Film Festival, and a graduate of Leadership San Mateo. Georgia is an American Leadership Forum (ALF) Senior Fellow and a graduate of ALF Class XLI. Back East, Georgia was a founding board member for the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network and she ran the Center for Nonprofit Management at Stonehill College for seven years. Georgia has her M.B.A. from Boston University and a B.A. from Wellesley College. She lives in Redwood City with her husband Armaghan and their preschooler son Keyaan, who enjoys outrunning her and participating in her Zoom sessions!

Giselle Hale

City Council Member, City of Redwood City
Read More

Gladys Lozano

Early Childhood Educator and Owner of GLO Family Daycare, Glo Family Daycare
Read More
Gladys Lozano is an early childhood educator and child care provider with over 12 years of experience working with diverse families and cultures. She is the founder of GLO Family Daycare and co-creator of the eclectic inclusion curriculum in Spanish used in her daycare. Gladys is the daughter of a humble Mexican family, wife, and mother of two children. She immigrated to the United States in 2003 and worked various jobs until she achieved her dream of educating and sharing knowledge when she founded her daycare. Gladys studied early childhood education at Cañada College to pursue her passion for preschool education and is also a cosmetologist.

Hope Nakamura

Directing Attorney, Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County
Read More
Hope Nakamura oversees Legal Aid’s Senior Advocates program, Government Benefits Unit, and LIBRE program. She is considered a state-wide expert on public benefits. Hope graduated with an A.B. in Economics from Stanford University before attending the UCLA School of Law, and came to Legal Aid after working at the American Civil Liberties Union in Washington, D.C. In her 30+ years at Legal Aid, she has developed several programs and worked in partnerships that educate, advocate for, and assist low-income families and individual residents who need safety net benefits. Hope is the recipient of the Western Center on Law and Poverty’s Mary Burdick Advocates Award in 2020 and the Stanford Asian American Community Alumni Award in 2007.

Jamillah Moore

Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, San Francisco State University
Read More
“Jamillah Moore is Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management at San Francisco State University. Previously, Moore served as the president of Cañada College in Redwood City from 2016 to 2021. During her tenure, she worked to establish the anti-racist framework, a program to support Latinx students with transfer pathways to San Francisco State and co-chaired the San Mateo County Community College District’s Basic Needs Task Force. A prominent social justice advocate and higher education leader, she is recognized as an advocate for educational access and equity with a focus on student success for minoritized and low-income students. Her approach in covering diversity, equity and inclusion issues in higher education and their impact on access has garnered praise from intellectuals and activists. She has published and presented on a variety of topics related to equity. Dr. Jamillah Moore has become known for her passion for educational excellence, commitment to students, and tackling difficult issues. Her work examines the intersection of race, access, and institutional failure. Her research on affirmative action and college admissions has been recognized by professional organizations and garnered praise from higher education leaders and activists. She has consulted with college systems and policymaking organizations in California and Washington D.C. on educational policy issues. She was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve on the California Student Aid Commission and served as Vice-Chair of the Commission from 2019-2021. Focused and committed describes Dr. Moore’s contributions to higher education. Among her awards and honors, she is the recipient of the 2014 California State University, Channel Islands African American in Higher Education Achievement Award and the 2018 National Coalition Of 100 Black Women Educator of the Year Award. She was also named the 2020, California State University, Sacramento Distinguished Alumni recognizing her for her outstanding achievement in the field of education and support for students. Dr. Moore has published articles, book chapters and other publications, and her work has appeared in Psychology Today and Diverse Issues in Higher Education. A social justice advocate to her core, Dr. Moore’s book, Race and College Admission: A Case for Affirmative Action (McFarland, 2022), examines the policy of affirmative action and its impact on college admissions. Her research into the policy gives voice to the need for affirmative action and shares the stories of students and colleges who have benefitted from the policy. Dr. Moore also served as vice-chancellor of Educational Services and Planning at the San Mateo Community College District, chancellor of the Ventura Community College District, president of Los Angeles City College, interim superintendent president of Compton Community College and senior vice chancellor for Governmental and External Relations for the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. She spent a decade as a legislative staffer and policy analyst in the California State Senate and is a former director of Governmental Relations for the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Dr. Moore holds two degrees from California State University, Sacramento: a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a master’s degree in Intercultural Communication and Public Policy. She also earned a doctorate from the University of San Francisco in International and Multicultural Education.”

Jayne Battey

Owner, Miramar Farms
Read More

“Jayne Battey is the founder and owner of Miramar Farms, a leadership development center located  just north of Half Moon Bay, California. For the past seven years, Jayne has provided senior leadership coaching and team facilitation for organizations working on environmental, health, housing, education and other critical societal issues. In addition to her work with clients of Miramar Farms, she currently serves on the board of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board and American Leadership Forum.

Prior to starting Miramar Farms, Jayne held executive roles in three organizations–as Director of Land and Environmental Management at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, as Executive Director of Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council, and as founder and President of Essex Environmental. Jayne also spent five years as a facilitator with the Stanford Graduate School of Business Women in Management program.

Jayne received her Masters of Science degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science and her bachelor’s degree from Boston College. She is certified in the Everything DiSC® and Five Behaviors® leadership curriculum and is a senior fellow of American Leadership Forum.”

Jennifer Wayman

Volunteer, NOVA
Read More
I’m an accomplished marketer best known for creating innovative go-to-market programs that build sales funnel volume and velocity. My skills transition across multiple industries most recently in renewable energy.

Jing Yi

VP Data Science, Erasca
Read More

Kaarin Hardy

Co-President, Co- Founder, Leadership Council SMC
Read More

Keiki Leni Ward

Read More

Keiki Leni Ward is a spoken word poet and Ravenswood Middle School alumna. She writes about her history and heritage, the environment, her community, and her hopes as a young woman of color. Her work is featured by the Ravenswood Education Foundation as part of their Giving Tuesday campaign. Her poem, “Mirroring Sea,” about sea level rise and its impact on East Palo Alto, is featured in the San Mateo County Youth Ecopoetry Project.

Lan Phan

Founder and CEO, community of SEVEN
Read More
Lan Phan is an award-winning marketer and strategist with over twenty years of marketing, advertising, membership, and leadership training experience. Lan is one of the leading global experts on membership and community development, speaking at Fortune 500 companies and renowned venues such as the United Nations, SXSW and consulting with CEOs and C-suite executives. Lan is the founder and CEO of community of SEVEN, an invite-only membership community that brings leading executives, thought-leaders, and changemakers together to tackle and solve business and societal problems. Lan has a track history of building startups inside legacy brands; Before launching community of SEVEN, Lan was recruited by Alan Murray, CEO of Fortune Magazine, to join the executive team and develop and lead Fortune Connect, a startup within the storied brand; Lan also helped build CMO Masters Circle and Global CMO Growth Council, a startup within the Association of National Advertisers that includes over 350 CMOs from around the world mobilized to accelerate economic growth and advance societal good. Lan has played a significant role in the gender equality movement, having served as the General Manager of SeeHer, the gender equality initiative. SeeHer has been instrumental in creating a new advertising discipline around gender equality, equipping the CMOs of the world’s most prominent brands with a framework to eliminate unconscious bias in their messaging and improve their ROI along the way. Lan is a serial entrepreneur, having built several successful businesses. Most notable, she co-founded the Hype! Agency considered one of the fastest-growing boutique talent and marketing agencies in the United States, specializing in branded entertainment and lifestyle clients such as Coachella Music Festival, Bonaroo, National Basketball Association, Activision, Red Bull, Comedy Central, to name a few. Lan Phan earned a BA at Stanford University and a master’s degree at Harvard Graduate School of Education. She graduated from Stanford University with honors and is the recipient of the prestigious J.E. Wallace Sterling Award, awarded to one graduating Stanford student each year, whose undergraduate leadership and volunteer activities have made the largest impact on the Stanford community.

Lauryn Williams

CFP® Professional, Worth Winning
Read More
Lauryn Williams, CFP® is a 4-time Olympian, and founder of Worth Winning, a virtual, fee-only financial planning firm. With unique services such as group coaching and financial retreats Lauryn and her team help young professionals get the answers to the financial questions that matter most to them. She also hosts Worth Listening, a podcast encouraging listeners to start having financial discussions and take control of their own money stories.

Ligia Andrade Zuniga

Board Trustee, San Mateo Union High School District · Full-time
Read More
Ligia Andrade Zuniga, M.P.A. believes that education opens the path to opportunity. She has dedicated her focus on educating, advocating for, and empowering individuals with disabilities and young people of color around higher education, reproductive health rights, civil rights, and disability justice. For over 20 years she has served on many commissions, boards, and committees such as the San Mateo County Commission on the Status of Women, Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of San Mateo County, San Mateo County Health Commission, California State Independent Living Council, and the San Mateo County Commission on Disabilities. Ligia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Administration and Counseling, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California. Ligia is a parent of two graduates of the SMUHSD and resides in San Mateo.

Lisa Tealer

Co-President, Co- Founder, Leadership Council SMC
Read More

Lupita Avalos

Read More
She immigrated to the United States from Jalisco, Mexico when she was 14 years old. She has been an East Palo Alto and Menlo Park resident since then. She is a consumer and a mother of 5 (4 adults and 1 teenager) Three of her children live with mental health challenges and because of that she attended the Parent Project 12-week class which lead to many other classes and to become a San Mateo County BHRS Health Ambassador in 2020, a NAMI SMC Peer to Peer and Nami Basics facilitator. She graduated from BHRS’ Lived Experience Academy. She is an active member of a monthly meeting in EPA and Menlo Park that addresses the needs of mental health in the community for adults and youth. Since she is in recovery, she enjoys gardening, walking, and hiking with her family. Her passion is to support and give hope others that are going through their own mental health challenges.

Ly Nguyen

Principal Consultant | Let's Connect & Kickstart your Comms!, Opal Maven Communications | opalmaven.com · Self-employed
Read More
Ly Nguyen is a writer who grew up in San Francisco and is the daughter of Vietnamese refugees. Earlier in her career, Ly co-founded Oasis for Girls, a program based in San Francisco that partners with young women of color from under-resourced communities to discover their dreams and build strong futures. Following her passion for writing, Ly then built a career in Corporate Communications crafting messages for grassroots organizations and publicly traded companies. Ly is also a published writer helping to bring the Vietnamese American experience to life. Her passion lies in making a difference in the world and making sure those in her orbit have the tools to create a just and equitable community. Her work has been awarded the Daniel E. Koshland Award from the San Francisco Foundation, Quill Award from the International Association of Business Communicators, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from UC Santa Cruz. In her free time, she continues to try to master yoga, swimming, gardening, and homemade pho.

Maija Cruz

Life & Well-being Coach, Stanford University
Read More

Maija is a certified coach and lecturer at Stanford University, supporting both graduate and undergraduate students, and also has her own private practice. Her work centers decolonizing well-being, celebrating authenticity, and evoking transformation in the lives of her clients.

Maya Tussing

Life & Well-being Coach, Stanford University
Read More
We founded Fairlight Advisors to help nonprofit leaders fulfill their mission with first-class financial and investment solutions honed while working at the most respected institutions in the world. Fairlight provides nonprofits and mission-focused organizations financial planning and investment management services customized and aligned with their financial goals. Fairlight also provides Financial Forecasting and Enterprise and Investment Risk Management services to craft a robust strategic plan to help nonprofits meet spending needs and prepare for the unexpected. In working closely with philanthropic leaders, we offer pension consulting as an ERISA 3(38) Fiduciary for a nonprofit’s 403(b) or 401(k) plans as well as retirement planning and education for their workforce. Prior to Fairlight, I was the Head of BlackRock’s Institutional Index Allocation Group, where my team managed over $200B across all asset classes, investment styles and vehicles. Over the last 20 years, I have held senior risk management roles at firms such as BlackRock, Barclays Global Investors, Visa, and GE Capital. Additionally, I have coached hundreds of men and women at all levels of corporate and non-profit organizations to achieve personal and professional success and satisfaction. I am a graduate of Pomona College and hold an MBA in international finance from the University of Washington.

Melissa Dinwiddie

Virtual Experience Designer/Innovation Strategist, Creative Sandbox Solutions™
Read More
A former professional artist and trained improviser and jazz singer, Melissa Dinwiddie works with innovative, people-first companies to infuse connection, joy and delight into virtual trainings and events. From custom-designed offsites, to trainings on how to lead amazing, effective virtual meetings, she’s known for designing creative, interactive, playful experiences that attendees rave about because they acquire new skills and behaviors and build connections while having a blast. An acclaimed creativity instigator, Melissa is the author of The Creative Sandbox Way™: Your Path to a Full-Color Life, an interactive playbook that countless readers have sworn freed them from creative block virtually overnight. She is the founder of Creative Sandbox Solutions™, and has degrees from UC Berkeley and the University of Birmingham, England.

Melissa Wong

Wellness Coordinator, County of San Mateo
Read More
Melissa Wong is the Wellness Coordinator for County of San Mateo Employee Wellness and is currently training to become a certified meditation and mindfulness teacher. She earned her B.A. in Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara and her certificate in integrative health coaching through Duke Integrative Medicine. An advocate for whole-person health, Melissa finds joy in supporting people through their well-being journey and working with her team to foster a culture of health at work that prioritizes self-care and support for employees. Some of Melissa’s favorite self-care activities include sitting in nature, sipping hot tea, doodling, dancing, and learning how to roller skate.

Michelle Blakely

Read More

Monica Payne

RN/Certified Jazzercise Instructor, 200 Hour YTT Yoga Instructor,
Read More
Monica has been involved in the health and wellness community for 40 years. A Registered Nurse, Jazzercise and Yoga instructor, she brings her knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and wellness practices into her classes. She believes in the need for accessibility and inclusion for all. Under her guidance she encourages her students to be gentle with themselves, while empowering them to personalize their practice. She is always excited to share the joy of mindfulness, breath, and movement!

Nicole Ibarra, LMFT

Area Director Behavioral Health, Kaiser Permanente · Full-time
Read More
We founded Fairlight Advisors to help nonprofit leaders fulfill their mission with first-class financial and investment solutions honed while working at the most respected institutions in the world. Fairlight provides nonprofits and mission-focused organizations financial planning and investment management services customized and aligned with their financial goals. Fairlight also provides Financial Forecasting and Enterprise and Investment Risk Management services to craft a robust strategic plan to help nonprofits meet spending needs and prepare for the unexpected. In working closely with philanthropic leaders, we offer pension consulting as an ERISA 3(38) Fiduciary for a nonprofit’s 403(b) or 401(k) plans as well as retirement planning and education for their workforce. Prior to Fairlight, I was the Head of BlackRock’s Institutional Index Allocation Group, where my team managed over $200B across all asset classes, investment styles and vehicles. Over the last 20 years, I have held senior risk management roles at firms such as BlackRock, Barclays Global Investors, Visa, and GE Capital. Additionally, I have coached hundreds of men and women at all levels of corporate and non-profit organizations to achieve personal and professional success and satisfaction. I am a graduate of Pomona College and hold an MBA in international finance from the University of Washington.

Olivia White Lopez

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, POST
Read More
An organizational leader inspired by the power of community engagement to enact real change, Olivia White Lopez currently serves as the first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Peninsula Open Space Trust. Over the last 12 her career has been geared toward building innovative volunteer and workforce development programs, strengthening cross-sector partnerships, and creating inclusive learning and working environments. She’s previously worked in DEI and community engagement roles within the realms of financial inclusion/fintech and youth and young-adult serving educational nonprofits. Outside of work she enjoys going on hikes, volunteering with the People’s Kitchen Collective, and serving on the Greenbelt Alliance Climate Smart Development Endorsement Committee and the board of Southern Exposure. Olivia holds a Bachelor of Art in anthropology, sociology, and studio art from Agnes Scott College and a Master of Science in Organization Development from the University of San Francisco.

Pamela Ward Pious

Contractor - Office of Diversity and Equity, San Mateo County Health Foundation
Read More
Pamela Ward Pious is a community activist and public speaker on living with mental health challenges and finding recovery. Pam is a person with lived experience and a former employee of BHRS in the Office of Diversity and Equity, she has served the county in a variety of capacities to include present Co-Chair of the African American Community Initiative and the Co-Chair of the Spirituality Initiative. In addition, she is a former Instructor at City College of San Francisco.

Petra Silton (she/her)

Director of Advocacy & Education, Thrive, The Alliance of Nonprofits for San Mateo County
Read More

Renee Harris

Read More
“Born in Oklahoma became an East Palo Alto transplant in 1978. She is the eldest of six. Two of her siblings and herself were raised by their grandmother after her mother’s murder. She is a mother of 4. She has been in long-term recovery for 21 years of substance abuse and mental health challenges. She was a client of San Mateo County Behavioral Health Services from 2000 to 2006 until she became a Peer Support Specialist for the East Palo Alto Clinic supporting people going through tough times to help them find a path to recovery and have a life of greatness. Renee says: “That is what I do because I’m living proof that there is recovery after life’s challenges. I love my work because I can give back to my community. She is a graduated of the BHRS Lived Experience Academy, part of BHRS African-American Community Initiative, Suicide Prevention Committee, Diversity and Equity Council, MHSA Steering Committee and a WRAP Facilitator. She owns her own home in East Palo Alto, and enjoys gardening, hiking, and lying on the beach. Self-care is her ultimate goal.”

Rita Mancera

Executive Director, Puente de la Costa Sur
Read More
“Rita Mancera Hernandez was born in Mexico City and grew up in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. Her experience with non-profit organizations goes back all the way to her teen years. Rita’s previous work with the YMCA of Mexico and the Latin American and Caribbean Alliance of YMCAs gave her a foundation for understanding the many challenges and strengths of North, Central and South America, an introduction to poverty, inequality and immigration, and a taste for the results of collaboration among agencies. Rita joined Puente in 2006 and became Puente’s Executive Director in January 2016. She is passionate about increasing opportunities for people of color, low-income families, and immigrants within her community as well as advocating for regional policies that make communities better. She is a fellow of the American Leadership Forum class XVIII, a member of the Founding Board of Directors of Leadership Council San Mateo County and a member of Board of Directors of the Half Moon Bay/Coastside Chamber of Commerce.”

Sallie Krawcheck

CEO and Co-Founder Ellevest
Read More
“Sallie Krawcheck is the CEO and co-founder of Ellevest, a tech-first financial company, built by women for women, to help her earn more money, save more money, and invest to grow her money — by providing the products and coaching to do so — from her first dollar through to Private Wealth services. Ellevest is one of the fastest growing digital investment platforms and has been named a #24 on CNBC’s top 50 “”Disruptor”” list, #14 on LinkedIn’s 50 “Most Sought-After Startups” ( #2 in New York), and one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 100 Brilliant Ideas. Krawcheck is also the best-selling author of “Own It: The Power of Women at Work.” Krawcheck, one of the few executives to find success in large complex companies and as a startup CEO, is widely recognized as one of the most influential women in business. She has been recognized by Inc. as a “Top Female Founder”, called “”The Last Honest Analyst”” by Fortune magazine, was named the seventh most powerful woman in the world by Forbes, was # 9 on Fast Company’s list of the “”100 Most Creative People in Business and is considered one of the “”Most Influential People in ESG Investing”” by Barron’s.”” She has been called one of the top 10 up and coming entrepreneurs to watch by Entrepreneur Magazine and has landed on Vanity Fair’s “The 2018 New Establishment List.” Before launching Ellevest, Krawcheck built a successful career on Wall Street: She was the CEO of Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, US Trust, the Citi Private Bank, and Sanford C. Bernstein. She was also Chief Financial Officer for Citigroup. Prior to that, Krawcheck was a top-ranked research analyst covering the securities industry. Krawcheck received a BA summa cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA with honors from Columbia Business School. She has two children and two cats.”

Shireen Malekafzali

San Mateo County
Read More

Sophie W. Cole, MD

City Council Member, HILLSBOROUGH, TOWN OF
Read More

Subha Rajana

Founding LP, on How Women Invest
Read More

Sue Datta

Director, Intuit, Inc.
Read More

Susan Kokores

Commissioner, Commission on Status of Women, San Mateo County
Read More

Sylvia Kwan

Chief Investment Officer, Ellevest
Read More
“Sylvia is the Chief Investment Officer at Ellevest, a technology-enabled financial services company built by women, for women. In this role, she is responsible for creating the investment solutions, strategies, portfolios, and proprietary algorithms that drive Ellevest’s investment recommendations across both automated digital and customized private wealth advisory services. She guides the firm’s investment philosophy and leads the development and due diligence of Ellevest’s impact and gender forward investments. Prior to joining Ellevest, Sylvia was a founding member of the investments team at Financial Engines, L.L.C. one of the first successful digital advisors. During her tenure, she developed scalable, robust investment processes to manage over $14B in AUM for over 200,000+ client accounts. In 2010, Sylvia co-founded the boutique RIA firm SimplySmart Asset Management, serving individual investors with fully customized global investment solutions. Her financial services experience also includes portfolio management positions at Charles Schwab Investment Management, where she was director of equity quantitative research, and at the Boston Company, where she managed over $500 million in institutional fixed-income assets. Sylvia is a Director of Exit 182 Group, LLC where she shares responsibility for the fiduciary oversight of Grinnell College’s $3B endowment. She recently joined the Board of Lotus Campaign, a startup non-profit focused on housing-driven solutions to homelessness. Sylvia holds both Chartered Financial Analyst® and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst® designations. She earned a B.S. in applied mathematics and computer science from Brown University and a Ph.D. in engineering-economic systems from Stanford University. Her doctoral dissertation on investor behavior and social interaction was one of the first in the field of behavioral finance.”

Vivienne Hsu, CFA

Founder, CEO, LENDonate
Read More
“Vivienne’s vision at LENDonate is to create a new ecosystem for nonprofit finances. This idea was a culmination of her 20+ years of experience as an investment professional and a seasoned nonprofit fundraiser. Prior to her work as a social entrepreneur, Vivienne was Senior Vice President at U.S. Trust, where she advised clients on a wide range of investments. She served as Senior Portfolio Manager for Charles Schwab Investment Management where she oversaw its active equity strategies and was the lead portfolio manager for the Schwab Hedged Equity Fund. Prior to that, she was at American Century Investments where she co-managed mutual funds that totaled more than $10 billion. Rounding out her experience was her roles as investment risk consultant at MSCI Barra, and pension actuarial work on retirement plans. Vivienne’s volunteer fundraising experience includes a one-year position as Development Director at Women’s Initiative for Self Employment. She has led three successful capital campaigns ($5m+ total), among other volunteer positions. She received an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, where she also received an undergraduate degree in applied mathematics. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) charterholder.”

Zoe Dorado

Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate
Read More
Reimagine. Inspire. Support. Empower