Vennesa Van Ameyde serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Kasasa, an award-winning fintech and marketing services company that provides reward checking accounts people love, the first-ever loan with Take-Backs™, and ongoing expert consulting services to more than 600 community financial institutions nationwide.

As COO, Vennesa manages the day-to-day operations, marketing, creative services, client implementation & support services, internal application infrastructure, operating standards, people programs, and culture at Kasasa.

She is a senior operating executive with demonstrated talent for transforming and scaling organizations by developing the operational infrastructure, systems, processes, reporting, and organizational strategies to foster rapid growth. Vennesa is a people's champion, passionate about creating a best-place-to-work culture via the development of innovative programs that focus on talent attraction, development, leadership training, engagement, reward and recognition, community outreach, and DE&I.

She holds an MA in Diplomacy from Norwich University and a BS in Political Science and Anthropology from Vanderbilt University. Vennesa received Lean Six Sigma training from the University of Michigan College of Engineering and studied Theory of Constraints for Operations at The Goldratt Institute. She has been honored to receive recognition by the Austin Business Journal as a “Profiles In Power & Woman Of Influence” Finalist in 2015.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Leadership lessons from team sports.
• Knowing your value, knowing your worth.
• Not letting perfect get in the way of progress.
• Emotional leadership and business leadership.
• Advocating for other women, providing allyship .
• Imposter syndrome, to be worthy of sitting at the table.
• Communication tools, emailing vs meeting, when and why.
• Leaning in, leveraging an opportunity before it passes you by.
• Being human, being vulnerable and being willing to talk about what you're capable of and being able to ask for help.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli’s website

>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

Diane Schwarz is Johnson Controls' chief information officer and the global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings. She is responsible for leading a global, business-aligned information technology organization. Schwarz develops and executes enterprise-wide I.T. strategy to ensure a strong digital core for Johnson Controls to scale and achieve its global growth objectives.

A senior I.T. executive with experience in building and leading best-in-class I.T. teams, Schwarz most recently served as chief digital and information officer for Hunt Consolidated and previously worked at Textron, Bell and Honeywell. With a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, her scope covers digital transformations, cybersecurity, data analytics, infrastructure and cloud operations, ERP/SAP applications and I.T. supplier management.

Schwarz holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She is a board member of NPower, a non-profit that creates pathways to economic prosperity by launching digital careers for military veterans and young adults from underserved communities and of T200, a non-profit that elevates women in technology.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Work Hard, Party Harder.
• Addressing issues one at a time.
• Moment of humility, don't know it at all.
• Having diverse experiences, trying everything.
• Startups don't align with everyone's risk tolerance.
• Recognizing traits that will stop you from scaling as a leader.
• Vulnerability and Empathy are essential skills for becoming a better leader.
• Make the right choice for the family while having a sustainable career.
• You will not be able to do your job well if you don't care for yourself.
• Identifying and addressing behaviours to evolve as a leader.
• Helping others succeed creates opportunities for your own success.
• Self-awareness to become better as humans, as parents, and as professionals.
• She who wants to go fast goes alone; she who wants to go far goes together.
• Mentors can come from different backgrounds, not just the business world.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website

>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

Alina Alam, founder of Mitti Cafe at the age of 23, embarked on a mission to showcase the magic of abilities to the world. She believes that compassion and courage are powerful tools in tackling global challenges, advocating strongly for inclusive development and empowering vulnerable communities. Mitti Cafe, initiated during her university years, provides sustainable livelihood opportunities for adults with physical, intellectual, and psychiatric disabilities.

Alina, a three-time TEDx speaker, is celebrated on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia list and has received numerous accolades, including the Commonwealth Youth Award, Niti Aayog-Women Transforming India Award, Helen Keller Award, United Nations Intercultural Innovation Award, Times of India-She Unlimited Award, Rotary Exemplar Award, and Tiecon Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Emphasizing participatory management, Alina is passionate about her journey alongside the extraordinary team at Mitti, composed of individuals with disabilities who have collectively served over 11 million meals and beverages across 40-plus MITTI CAFE locations. Their work not only provides economic independence and dignity but also promotes awareness about inclusion and disability rights globally.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Money is not the only thing that enables it.
• Faith and her mother were her biggest cheerleaders.
• Scarcity is the best resource for any entrepreneur.
• You don't have to be in sales mode with everyone.
• The transformative power of community kindness.
• Economic independence and dignity are not privileges but rights.
• Anything nice you do for anyone is a favour you're doing to yourself.
• Strength in faith and the belief that after every hardship comes ease.
• Not having enough helps us learn to value other important things in life.
• You need to know when to listen to your heart, which is your best friend.
• The CEO is also the Chief Pitching Officer and has to bring the stories alive.
• Change can only happen when people overcome uncomfortable moments.
• How Mitti Cafe was inspired by the documentary on Emperor Nero's abuse of power.
• When you're passionate, you're your strongest, most leech-like, and most shameless.
• 70 million people with disabilities in India, and over 1 billion people with disabilities across the world.
• Silence or inaction supports oppression, the moral imperative to stand up for what is right.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

Anoushka Jolly is the 15-year-old founder of Kavach who embarked on her journey as a response to distressing childhood experiences with bullying.

Her mission began at just nine years old when she founded the Anti-Bullying Squad (www.antibullyingsquad.com), an impact enterprise that worked on creating awareness against bullying amongst children; she's since impacted over 2 million people in 20,000 schools.

After collaborating with a few NGOs and doing some more groundwork on bullying, she observed that the main reason bullying is such a big issue is that it isn't reported. Based on this ideology and the current education infrastructure, she created an app called Kavach, which is a bullying reporting mechanism.

At the age of 13, Anoushka became the youngest entrepreneur to receive funding for Shark Tank India. In 2023, she won the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (the highest civilian honour for a child) from the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, in the field of social service. As a social entrepreneur and changemaker, she strongly believes in the power of technology for the betterment of mental health, as evident in her work.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Defining Bullying.

• How one can empower oneself.

• Significant role of grandparents.

• Inspiration drawn from Shark Tank.

• Inspiration behind the anti-bullying journey.

• The dynamic with parents as business partners.

• Standing up for oneself without disrespecting others.

• How can the family empower rather than solve problems.

• The role of the school counsellor is to help build empathy and forgiveness.

• Balancing entrepreneurial pursuit, academic commitment, and personal life.

• Expressing emotions in a safe space has the therapeutic effect of releasing pent-up anger.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

NASA’s first South Asian female flight director, Pooja Jesrani has a unique lens on building inclusive environments in high stakes circumstances.

As one of the 24 NASA Flight Directors, apart from guiding mission control Pooja is responsible for managing operations for all human spaceflight programs including the International Space Station (ISS), a habitable artificial satellite and microgravity laboratory that is maintained as a multinational collaborative project.

Pooja has managed life support and motion control systems on the ISS and has also been a capsule communicator (CAPCOM), speaking directly with the astronauts in space.

Recently, Pooja has been working to integrate mission operations for the upcoming commercial crew flights.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Bringing authenticity and vulnerability to leadership.

• Importance of building relationships as Individuals vs team members.

• Finding the balance, you can't have it all.

• Mentoring and Supporting other women.

• Setting your reputation at get go.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

Vedika Bhandarkar, Chief Operating Officer for Water.org, is responsible for the operating efficiency and effectiveness of Water.org and for the attainment of strategic objectives and annual organizational goals. She works closely with the CEO, the executive team, and the President of WaterEquity to support the mission and vision of Water.org. She previously served as Water.org's Chief Global Impact Officer and the Managing Director of India.

Vedika has more than 25 years of experience building teams and businesses with Indian and international financial institutions. Prior to joining Water.org in January 2016, she served as Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Credit Suisse Securities (India) Private Limited from 2010-2015. Previously, she served as the Managing Director and head of Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan, where she worked for over 10 years. She started her career with ICICI Limited in Mumbai.

Vedika serves as an Independent Director on the boards of several companies. She also serves as a board member of the Jai Vakeel Foundation, an institution focused on children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Attitude and Competence.

• Seeing change as an adventure.

• Joy as a leader is the definition of success.

• Recognizing that you don't have all the answers.

• Fostering Allyship, building a network of cheerleaders.

• Trusting Your Gut by listening to your intuition and instincts.

• Embracing Humility, leaving behind preconceived notions and biases.

• Managing Imposter Syndrome: it doesn't go away, but learning how to manage it.

• Not Fearing Mistakes: considering the worst-case scenario when fearing mistakes.

• Embracing Setbacks, viewing them as opportunities. Learning from mistakes and taking ownership of them.

• Learning from the Past, you can't change it, so not obsessing over it. Prioritizing the present and future.

• Prioritizing Ruthlessly by being decisive. Making conscious choices instead of compromising.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website

>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

Brenda Soya is the Public Affairs Officer at the Consulate General in Mumbai. She directs public diplomacy and outreach efforts to reach 400 million people in western India, further U.S. policy, and strengthen people-to-people relations. She leads Consulate General Mumbai's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility organization and is committed to the aspirational goal of women's economic empowerment. Her State Department career includes working in Sierra Leone, the Holy See (Vatican), Togo, and Burkina Faso.

Brenda received a master's degree in security studies at the Naval War College in Newport, RI, and used that degree to teach International Relations at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. Brenda has a B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Colorado at Boulder, was a Presidents Leadership Class and a Boettcher scholar.

In this conversation, Brenda is sharing her personal ideas and not as a representative of any organization or of the U.S. Department of State.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Mind is Your Worst Enemy.
• The Many Layers of Culture.
• Recognizing and Managing Self-Doubt.
• Creativity as a Tool for Problem-Solving.
• Seeking Out Advice, When Ready for Feedback.
• Shadowing Adults to Broaden One's Perspective.
• Work-Life Integration: to Achieve Holistic Well-being.
• Living in a Diverse Community, Adapting to a Mountain Lifestyle.
• Making choices, serving one's Country, and sharing one's own Culture.
• Embracing Change: Focusing on the Potential for New Experiences.
• Navigating Cultural Differences, Cultural Faux Pas, or Cultural Shock.
• Being Open to Seizing Opportunities, Even if They Entail Uncertainty.
• Connection Between Language and the History and Culture of a Country.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website
>> http://www.enmapopli.com/

Judy Vaughan, CSJ, is the Founding Director of Alexandria House, a transitional residence and neighborhood center supporting women and children in need since its establishment in 1996 in LA.

Before returning to Los Angeles, Judy served as Project Coordinator for Women for Guatemala, a solidarity organization committed to raising awareness about human rights abuses in Guatemala.

Judy also served as the National Coordinator for the National Assembly of Religious Women, a Catholic feminist organization dedicated to advocating for justice in church and society and has co-facilitated over 100 "Multicultural Look at Racism" workshops across the United States.

Judy holds a Ph.D. in Religious Social Ethics and an M.A. in Religious Studies and Sociology from the University of Chicago. She also earned an M.A. in Sociology from San Diego State University. Judy holds a B.A. in Sociology (Magna Cum Laude) from Mount St. Mary's College.

Judy is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in Los Angeles and co-parents her 25-year-old daughter.

Judy has received numerous awards, including recognition as a "Woman of Justice" by NETWORK, as an "Outstanding Founder" at the National Philanthropy Day, and as a "Woman of the Year" by the Los Angeles County Commission for Women.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Who gets to write the narrative.
• DNA does not make a family love us.
• Co-parenting Renisha: A Miracle for Sister Judy.
• Those who have the least deserve the very best.
• The work at Alexandria house is really justice work.
• Witnessing miracles and seeing radical changes in individual lives.
• The housing crisis in LA, 84,000 homeless people and 11,000 shelter beds.
• Ensuring a sense of community support, home, friendship, and respect.
• Colonization of the mind, how societal structures legitimize unjust behaviours.
• Blaming those who are struggling to survive, obscuring the systemic obstacles.
• Being more than just t-shirt activists, finding issues that stick in your throat like a washcloth.
• Challenging the dichotomy between liberalism and radicalism, embracing the radical path.
• The transformative impact of engaging with an international community, juxtaposing experiential learning with formal academic education.

Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:

>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/

Visit Enma Popli's website

>> http://www.enmapopli.com/