As Executive Director of MicroMentor, the world's leading online community for free business mentoring, I am a social entrepreneur and a senior leader at Mercy Corps—influencing organizational culture and evolved leadership at the agency level while balancing strategic planning, business development, technological innovation, and partnership growth. I have over 20 years of combined social entrepreneurship, nonprofit/NGO, and corporate management experience across a wide spectrum of industries and countries. I am committed to seeing a world where mentoring paves the path for equitable and democratized access to social capital for entrepreneurs. I regularly speak publicly about and share insights on mentoring, transformative leadership, and the use of technology for social good and systems level change for gender equity at local, national, and global forums like the World Bank, Skoll World Forum, and the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs. I am a passionate champion for gender equity and racial justice. At the age of 22, I cofounded SAWERA, a nonprofit that helped South Asian women and children affected by domestic violence, developing a direct service and systems level program towards the aim of education and zero tolerance to gender based violence. I chair the People of Color Affinity Group at Mercy Corps, where I promote equity in practice and in systems, and the embodiment of these values at all levels of the organization. Prior to joining Mercy Corps, I managed Operations for Xerox’s North American channel marketing and eCommerce divisions. I serve on several nonprofit boards, including Relay Resources, a social enterprise employing more than 700 people with disabilities, and the Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation, the fundraising arm of a federally qualified health center serving low-income and uninsured patients across a network of clinics. From grassroots advocacy to business operations to global social enterprise, my motivation comes from building something up from a modest place beyond what anyone thought possible. I seek to inspire those around me, cultivating the conditions that allow my team to do the best work of their lives. Social impact and transformative change is never easy, so why not have fun doing it? I am happy to share what I’m learning and constantly learn from others with similar interests and passions. Please reach out if you’d like to connect.