Co-Founder at Heroikka and Founder of the SF International Women Entrepreneurs Forum

Maica's extensive experience in entrepreneurship, government and non-profits, has helped her create a platform for diverse international organizations to collaborate, share resources and give visibility to various projects and initiatives, start-ups and businesses specific to women at the SF International Women Entrepreneurs Forum.

As Co-Founder at Heroikka, Maica is passionate and committed to closing the gap by connecting women-led projects, funding and support systems around the world.

She is also on the Board of Directors for the "Association of American European Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations" and Co- Founder of the California - Spain Chamber of Commerce.

Roya Sabeti is an Evangelist for female entrepreneurs, Photographer, DIY vintage lover, & Contest Queen. Her mission is to empower women in entrepreneurship by providing a place to share their stories, and advance their careers and companies. She is happiest when eating, creating something from nothing, or sharing experiences with others. She currently lives in San Francisco and when she’s not planning her next event supporting entrepreneurial women or scheming about how to win the latest contest, she can be found planning her next photoshoot.

Financial Expert of the popular morning show "Despierta América and Primer Impacto" Univisión TV. TOP Latina Digital Influencer in the USA. Award Money & Business Coach, Speaker, TV Personality, Digital Media Expert. Alexandra has received numerous nominations and awards for her work as Top Digital influencer “Best Latina Business Influencer in USA 2016” by Latism (Latinos In Social Media), ‘Most Influential Person in Social Media 2016” by Miami Life Awards and most recently named “Dama de Lincoln 2016" by Lincoln Motor Company. Founder of Livingmoneywise, a unique business and personal finance blog. On 2015, Alexandra was invited to visit the US Capitol in Washington, DC as a TOP US Influencer. She is also the creator of the unique financial movement for women #FINANCIALLYFITLATINA, leading to empower women financially and help them to reach financial freedom. Her mission is to help individuals to achieve financial independence and to create a better future through financial education.

Amy Thom is global development strategist for Lima Rural Development Foundation, a 28-year-old South African nonprofit working towards equitable economic empowerment in southern Africa. With a background in business management and academic training in sociology and social justice, Amy believes that creating livelihoods for women in rural Africa means merging culture and context with market realities. For the past five years, Amy has engaged in poverty-alleviation fieldwork across South Africa, most recently applying business principles to development practices to strengthen Lima’s national farmer support program. Amy is an enthusiastic advocate for the professionalization of young women in nonprofit leadership, always striving to place women at the forefront of Lima’s work.

Born in the Bronx, Denise Soler Cox is an indie filmmaker, national speaker, and award-winning entrepreneur, cultural blogger for Huffington Post Latino and syndicated content provider for AOL.com. Her high-energy appeal, relatable personality and trademark laugh transcends age, culture, and socio-economic classifications and instantly fosters a bond with all who know her. She is a sought-after speaker in academic, business and community circles inspiring everyday people to better tomorrow’s world by becoming better versions of themselves today.

In 2012, talent intersected with passion and Denise co-founded Project Enye (ñ) with Oscar-nominated documentary veteran Henry Ansbacher. Adding indie filmmaker to her distinguished byline, Denise gave her experiences of growing up first-generation Latina in America an international stage through the project. Project Enye (ñ) is a cultural movement focused on creating new conversations that reinvent the way we view culture and interpret diversity wellness in our lives. Through film and live community engagements, Project ñ bridges the gap between culture and place and facilitates Radical Cultural Self-Awareness, a present-moment introspection of culture, identity and self.

Project ñ has given Soler Cox an opportunity to raise awareness about the opportunities, challenges and “shared experiences” many first-generation, American born Latinos with immigrant parents experience in America. Her commentary has garnered local, regional and national attention in English and Spanish outlets such as CNN; NBC; Fox News Latino; Telemundo; Univision and Latina Magazine. Regionally, she made the cover of Westword Denver offering local readers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of this modern-day movement.

San Mateo County Supervisor of District 5, David J. Canepa.

It is an honor to serve the residents of District 5, one of the most culturally diverse communities in all of America.

From Daly City, San Mateo County’s largest city, Colma, Brisbane, Broadmoor, parts of South San Francisco and San Bruno, the district offers vast open space, sweeping views of the Bay, clean air, clean water, top quality health care, excellent public schools and safe streets.

The real jewel of District 5, however, is its people.

As supervisor, I pledge to work hard to ensure that the children of District 5 achieve the same standard of comfort, happiness and health that I was provided as a child. It’s about getting kids into our public libraries or to experience nature by hiking San Bruno Mountain Park. It’s about giving and sharing. It’s about quality of life.

Like many district residents, I was born at Seton Hospital and pledged to keep its vital health care services intact as it weathered a financial crisis. I’m also a product of Skyline College and recognize the value its programs have provided to thousands and thousands of county residents seeking higher education or new skills as the local job market evolves.

While the county has a high standard of living compared to others, there are still many individuals residing here who need just a little bit of help – whether it be a push in the right direction or a hand to hold when times are tough. I and my staff intend to be that helping hand and our doors are always open.

Ms. Esparza is a trial lawyer at the firm of Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora in Sacramento, CA. She handles and tries a variety of personal injury cases including catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Ms. Esparza is also a recent graduate of the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) Leadership Academy through a partnership with the New Leaders Council. Ms. Esparza is also active in CAOC’s legislative efforts. Last year, Ms. Esparza assisted in the passage of AB 2159, written by her colleague Robert Bale, which ensures equal treatment to injured undocumented immigrants with a future income loss claim. Aside from participating in the strategic planning to ensure passage, she testified for the bill in Assembly and Senate committee hearings. Ms. Esparza has been selected as a Rising Star for 2016 and 2017 Northern California Super Lawyers. Ms. Esparza’s background includes serving as Legislative Aide and Director to former Assemblymember Salinas from 2002 to 2005. She was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and has two children ages seven and five.

Kendra Harris is the Director of Government Relations for Diversity RD Global Consulting Firm. She is a highly accomplished government relations professional with over 13 years of experience in lobbying, policy analysis, and crisis management. A strategic thinker with an extensive background managing government and non-profit policy agendas, contract lobbyists, professional staffs and political action committees (PAC). She is skilled in developing bi-partisan legislation, coalition building, and public/community affairs. Kendra has extensive policy experience with education policy, health, and human services, local government, the welfare of women and girls and issues involving equality, diversity, and social justice movements.

Computer systems engineer in the Cyber Security Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, United States Department of Energy and Founder of GirlsCanHack, an organization dedicated to engaging women in the field of cybersecurity and encouraging them to pursue this career.

She studied computer science in Spain where she was a software developer for 8+ years before she moved to The United States and began working with the Cybersecurity group at the Berkeley Lab.

Her area of expertise is penetration testing using enterprise tools like Burp, Netsparker, IBM appscan, SQLmap and Metasploit, among others, and also scripts and prototypes her own scan tools using programming languages like python. Web scanning annual audits are her biggest projects on this subject: looking for vulnerabilities on around more than ten thousand web servers at LBNL, confirming, prioritizing and helping resolve them. She also performs threat awareness, proactive network traffic analysis, incident response, forensic analysis, and resolution of security incidents as well as promoting a strong security culture through technical security consulting throughout the Lab. The Cyber Security team guards the Lab against computer break ins.

Top 20 Most Influential Latinos in Technology for 2016

Salima Kaissi has an Engineering Degree in Telecommunication and Computer Science from National School of Applied Sciences in Morocco and an Executive Masters in Strategy and Management of International Business from ESSEC Business School in Paris. She has a strong international experience and worked for many companies including Alcatel Lucent, Nokia, Microsoft, Twitter, and also volunteering for international NGOs, mainly IEEE.

Currently Salima is a Co-Founder and VP of eSTEM Morocco, an NGO that aims at Empowering Girls and Women in STEM fields.

Wayne Sutton is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Change Catalyst and its Tech Inclusion programs. Tech Inclusion is dedicated to exploring innovative solutions to diversity and inclusion in tech through the Tech Inclusion Conference, consulting and workshops. Wayne’s experience includes years of establishing partnerships with large brands to early stage startups. As a leading voice in diversity and inclusion in tech, Wayne shares his thoughts on solutions and culture in various media outlets where he has been featured in TechCrunch, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. In addition to mentoring and advising early stage startups, Wayne’s life goal is to educate entrepreneurs who are passionate about using technology to change the world. Wayne Sutton writes about entrepreneurship, startups, diversity & inclusion in tech at SocialWayne.com.

Lexi B. founded Grown Up Truth to discuss the professional and personal experiences of millennials. With statistics that include 10,000+ subscribers and 12,000+ monthly hits, Grown Up Truth has become a destination for candid conversations and opinions about navigating adulthood. Lexi’s writing audience spans multiple platforms such as Levo League, For Women to Women, and Rebel Magazine. In March 2016, Lexi B. joined Airbnb as a project manager, working on cross functional initiatives in finance, compliance and legal. When she is not project managing in SF, she spends her time speaking in panels, leading workshops and participating in key note speaking engagements about a variety of topics including diversity in tech, Blackness in America, career growth and development

Eryn Harrison has been a stylist for 21 years beginning her career in the beauty industry working after school at The Beauty Center Chain in her hometown of Oakland, CA. She spent her early career as a stylist and manager at the Hair Tailor, a salon in Montclair Village prior to opening Calm, A Salon in 2005. In 2016, she opened Harrison's Barber Salon, The Gentlemen's Solution, to meet the needs of all generations of males.

Jessica is passionate about helping people connect to and unleash their own capacity to make an impact on the world in positive, meaningful and sustainable ways. She got her start working with refugees through organizations including UNHCR, the International Rescue Committee/Women’s Refugee Commission, the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants and Mercy Corps. Through her work, she focused primarily on protecting and empowering refugee women and girls, and fighting for greater access to education, basic healthcare and livelihoods. She also headed a program to successfully resettle over 10,000 Burundian refugees to the US.

At Kiva, Jessica helps educate and inspire others to support or create innovative and effective means of overcoming global challenges. In 2013, she launched the international award winning program Kiva U, which is engaging the next generation in microfinance and was recently featured in Chelsea Clinton’s book, It’s Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired, and Get Going!

As a gender and entrepreneurship specialist, Akosua is the founder of the Enabling Enterprise Project. It collaborates with women’s business support agencies, policy makers and women entrepreneurs worldwide. The program focuses on enhancement, empowerment, exchange of ideas and experience, and best practices for women’s enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Creative and enthusiastic Marketing and Communications Professional, Isabelle specializes in partnerships, business development and event management with experience in large corporations to grassroots organizations. She is specifically proud of her role as Director of Marketing for the inaugural Bentonville Film Festival. The Bentonville Film Festival, in partnership with Geena Davis Gender and Media Institute mission, is to champion women and diverse voices. Since her experience at the festival Isabelle's mission is to utilize her marketing and business development knowledge through the lens of a humanitarian and activist instead of a consumer. After 10 years in California, Isabelle recently moved across the pond to London.

Song has designed and executed several national integrated marketing campaigns for entertainment, startups, real estate developments, and consumer tech companies. These campaigns resulted in earned media coverage in various outlets including MSNBC, CNN, Los Angeles Times, Fusion, and many others.

Jack Song received his B.A. in Political Science and Asian American Studies from University of California at Berkeley. He recently obtained his MBA from Haas School of Business, with an emphasis on brand management and marketing. He is a board member of the Alice B. Toklast LGBT Democratic Club and an active member of the California Democratic Party. He is currently the Vice President at the Imprenta Communications Group.

Celia Garcia recently completed two terms as State Deputy Director for Women for CA LULAC and is the Founder and Executive Director of the Latin Business Institute, a non-profit Community Based Organization that is dedicated to economic development through job skills and entrepreneurial training since 1997. She is also the CEO of MujerValiente and miCOACHmx College and Career Planning, private consulting and coaching businesses, working with and for the Latino community in educational and empowerment initiatives. Ms. Garcia is currently serving as a board member for a local Charter School and Community Development Corporation in Santa Ana, California. Recently, she has been elected to serve as a national board member of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals and has the distinct privileged of representing the State of California with a personal focus on customized initiatives in the Southern California community. She is recognized for her work and holds a national certification as a Workforce Development Professional.

Grace Leung Shing is the CEO and Cofounder of Startwise Inc., a crowdfunding platform that enables anyone to invest in revenue sharing investments of companies they believe in. Our goal is to empower people to invest and build companies and communities around them. Grace experience includes Stock Trading, Portfolio Management and most recently at a Silicon Valley Venture Capital Fund.

Ana Valenzuela is a career diplomat and a Salvadoran lawyer who has served as the Consul General of El Salvador in San Francisco since March 2010. Ms. Valenzuela inaugurated the area of Humanitarian Help and Community Affairs at the Consulate with programs to help the Salvadoran community in the Bay Area in collaboration with local non-profits. The Consul General graduated from the Master of Laws Program (LL.M.) in Intellectual Property and Technology Law at the University of San Francisco, School of Law, in 2007. She studied law in El Salvador at the Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado and became a Salvadoran licensed attorney in 2006. With more than 14 years of experience, the diplomat previously worked in the legal department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, in the international/commercial group of an International Law Firm in San Francisco, and in the District Attorney’s Office of El Salvador.

Zoë Flowers is an author, poet, actress, Reiki Master and seasoned domestic violence expert. Her poetry and essays can be found in Stand Our Ground; Poems for Trayvon Martin and Marissa Alexander, and Dear Sister: Letters From Survivors of Sexual Assault and several online journals. Now, with almost fifteen years of experience in the domestic violence field, Zoë has appeared on National Public Radio, works nationally and has spoken internationally on the issue of domestic and sexual violence and works with the Joyful Heart Foundation as a holistic healing consultant for various events including their retreat program, which provides survivors with holistic approaches to healing in the nurturing environment of community In 2014, Zoë launched Soul Requirements, which combines her artistic projects, domestic violence expertise, and holistic healing practice. Since then, Zoë has facilitated individual and group Reiki sessions and practioner trainings and readings to clients across the country and oversees.

Natasha Chatlein created BrainCoral Labs to link Caribbean and European governments, startups, incubators/accelerators, entrepreneurs and investors to the Silicon Valley ecosystem. I focus on creating value to these stakeholders through building communities and ecosystems that give them actionable insights and strategic access to startup programs, mentorship, venture capital and partnerships. Her most recent adventure is SHEEK Organics, a high-end all-organic aromatherapy body care products company, handmade in small batches right here in SF.

Melinda Howard-Herrarte, PMP, MBA is President of the award-winning East Bay Chapter of the United Nations Association. As the youngest President in the chapter's 60+-year history, she leads a Board of Directors in advancing advocacy and education efforts in support of the UN in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Melinda is a health care project manager for Blue Shield of California. She has her BA in International Studies from Bradley University, and MBA from Hult International Business School.

Rosie “The Closer” Zepeda is an International Speaker and CEO of Compelling Conversations, a leadership inclusion training and diversity marketing consulting company. She is also the Founder of Latina Success Network (LSN), the premier member based organization for culturally relevant self and professional development for Latinas. In May 2016 Rosie was awarded a Woman of Influence Award by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. This award is only given to 100 women in Silicon Valley each year.

Cecilia Brizuela is a music entrepreneur, songwriter, videographer, storyteller, director, health advocate, mother and loving wife. Co-founder of Brizz Productions a leading multimedia, music and publishing company and Rize High Records a top independent label catering to pop and urban Latin music. As the VP of Marketing at Brizz Productions, Cecilia propelled Brizz Productions as one of the top music companies in the Latin entertainment industry. Her accomplishments caught the attention of major entertainment companies. She landed contracts with Disney, Universal, Warner, BMG, and 20th Century Fox. One of her most important contributions to the Latin Recording Industry was branding and pioneering a new genre called Urban Regional for Univision/Universal, which achieved international success by selling millions of records.

Mercedes Guzman is the creator of ICLP, powerful technique to heal your inner child. She is an inspirational speaker, teacher and a reverent. She worked with thousands of people helping them heal their past and transform their lives. Mercedes has been featured in many magazines, radio shows and television such as CNN, FORBES, TELEMUNDO, Univision, AIB, Televisa, Defiesta magazine and Mundo hispanico.

Joshua serves as Head of People Development at Outco Inc., where his team facilitates technical and non-technical skills development sessions for job-seeking software engineers with an aim of accelerating their job search process. He is also in the process of writing Redefining The Way We Believe In Others, a book that will expand upon an idea he presented as a TEDx talk in 2015.

He was first exposed to technical recruitment, and facilitating people development programs at Google as part of their staffing services team. He left Google after an invitation to manage technical recruitment, recruitment partnerships (Hackbright, SF LGBTQ Center, CODE2040, BIT), and various people development programs at finance tech startup, Earnest Inc., where he helped the company grow from 60 to 200 employees, hiring software engineers, product managers, and data scientist.

A cultural geographer (Ph.D. UC Berkeley, 2001) and Salvadoran emigrée, Luz is interested in how social inequities play out spatially. She has dedicated her teaching, research, and publications in Latin America and the US to critically addressing the social politics of space in relation to material, represented, perceived and imaginary spaces; in collective, individual, institutional and informal situations. She specializes in gender, racial and class issues, and focuses on urban contexts and marginalized populations. As a dancer (contemporary, ethnic) she explores the relationship between body movement and place; how rhythmic movement produces, resists and transforms social boundaries.

Carmen Milagro considers herself an "ENTREPREN-ARTIST" and is 1st generation SF Native, daughter of Salvadorean immigrants who relishes her life as a lead vocalist, performer & bandleader for MILAGRO and now, The Global Gypsies.

She is a professional visionary, business woman, inventor, story-teller, mentor, teacher, writer, public speaker, spokesperson, philanthropist, start-up maven former radio talk show host, owner of WAAAHOO Productions and Head Nut at her non-profit Peanut Butter & JAMMusic Sessions for Kids.

Her latest focus is as FOUNDER of Borbón Skincare, Inc. and sole creator of the entire product line - starting with the No.1 Revitalising Facial and No.2 Invigorating Body Polish!

Maria is founder of Praxis Socioambiental, a B Corp certified company specialized in building purpose-driven initiatives and operational execution towards sustainability in Brazil. She has over 12 years experience working with NGO’s, private companies and local governments creating successful development models that improved life quality, income, environment and education of local farmers, natives, women and youth communities. Her work was always based on holism, reciprocity, partnership and collaboration methodologies. She is also strongly committed to women empowering initiatives as alumni of 10.000 Women Program (Goldman Sachs Foundation) and as Ambassador of Women Entrepreneur Network of Brazil in Silicon Valley. She has International certification in social business, degree in Environmental Technology Management, MBA in Sustainability Management and Specialization in Environmental Education. She is also working at Global Engagement team for Kiva.org.