Our Team

Cynthia is a business strategy and operations expert who has spent the last few decades planning, designing and launching complex IT, Web and SaaS services. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Mills college – focusing on small group interactions and the importance of each individual’s contribution to optimal success. She is an inspired, “human-first” leader of people, projects and organizations and a practiced facilitator – using inclusive practices to build and sustain equitable, diverse, transparent work cultures.

Bio pending.

Adrian is a Co-Founder and a Managing Director of Provenance Capital Group where he helps develop blended capital structures that catalyze resilient biological systems and businesses. Before Provenance, Adrian co-founded the boutique consulting firm Hyphae Partners where he helped companies finance and build regenerative business models. Additionally, he worked at Patagonia within its Venture Capital arm Tin Shed Ventures, helping author a standard for Regenerative Organic Agriculture and exploring Regenerative Organic Land Funds. He is an experienced asset allocator, fundraiser, and business model innovator.

Adrian spent six years at Morgan Stanley helping long time horizon investors manage their asset allocations and diligence investment opportunities across asset classes and sectors. He has also lectured on food innovation at the University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business and designed and taught an entrepreneurship intensive for farmers at the Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture.

Adrian is a graduate of Berkeley Haas’ full-time MBA program. At Haas, Adrian was a Portfolio Manager of the Haas Socially Responsible Investment Fund and a Member of the Center for Responsible Business’ Student Advisory Board. He received a B.A. in English from Williams College, studied English literature at Exeter College, Oxford University, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He’s an avid chef, backyard farmer, and budding yogi.

Aparna (she/her) is a former natural resources and business litigator who has devoted the last seven years to helping outdoor and environmental organizations attract and engage a diverse and inclusive base of people and cultivate inclusive cultures. Aparna has facilitated workshops on inclusion, equity, cultural competence, cultural relevancy, and implicit bias for over thousands of outdoor educators, nonprofit leaders, outdoor industry professionals, land managers, conservation grantors, and conservationists. She has also spearheaded projects that encourage public dialogue about diversity and inclusion in the outdoors, including Expedition Denali: Inspiring Diversity in the Outdoors. Most recently, Aparna co-founded and has served as director for the People of the Global Majority in the Outdoors, Nature, and the Environment Summit.

My J.E.D.I Why: “As a female leader in a predominately maleindustry, finding a seat at the table wasn’t easy. It is very important that I mentor and guide other women to find their voice and take their seat.  

The Diversity & Inclusion Council at KeHE is excited to join JEDI in its mission to make our industry more inclusive on a variety of fronts. At KeHE, we are one undivided team. We are led by our KeHE Civility Code; where empathy, trust and equality are the foundation of our desire to be the change in the world. Change starts by loving one another and treating each other with dignity and respect.”

Ari Goldsmith, KeHE’s Vice President of Marketing, has led the distributors’ marketing function since 2010. She is an innovation igniter, strategic partner, and the lead champion of ensuring the Goodness Follows brand reaches every delivery dock and store shelf KeHE serves.

During her more than a decade at KeHE, she and her team have produced over 45 award-winning trade shows, published one million publications, and led the company’s digital buying evolution. She revitalized the KeHE brand from the former family crest to the categorically relevant globe, which ties together KeHE’s three pillars natural & organic, fresh, and specialty.

Ari is a co-founder of KeHE’s CAREtrade® initiative, which supports brands that promote a higher business purpose, and a leader on the Diversity & Inclusion Council. She was recognized for her work by being named Progressive Grocer’s 2019 Rising Star: Women in Grocery and The Shelby Report’s 2020 Women of Influence.

Outside of work, she is the co-Chair of the Myra Rubenstein Weis Leadership Board and serves on the Board of Directors for the ARK Chicago, which aligns with KeHE’s mission: “We Serve to Make Lives Better®”.
Prior to joining KeHE, Ari served in marketing positions for Saks Fifth Avenue, 7-Eleven, White Hen Pantry, and started her career at The Chicago Sun-Times.

Ari completed Northwestern University Kellogg School of Business’ Digital Marketing Strategies program and The University of Illinois’ Race and Cultural Diversity in American Life and History program. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Advertising & Marketing from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Arielle is the Program Director for Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA). She is committed to collaboratively building just food systems that work for people and the planet by centering the solutions of women around the world. Before moving to the Bay Area, Arielle lived in Africa and Asia designing and managing large-scale agricultural development projects and saw how women’s work in food systems was routinely sidelined to the detriment of communities, ecosystems, and the climate. Now with WEA, Arielle works with women environmental leaders and with mission-driven companies to accelerate, resource, and connect the women-led solutions we need to survive on this planet.

Arielle previously worked and lived internationally with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) managing national agricultural and livelihoods portfolios and then served as Regional Technical Advisor for Europe, Middle East, and Central Asia. Prior to CRS, Arielle co-founded Hands of Mothers, an NGO building women’s micro-enterprises globally, and co-founded the raw juice company Earthjuice. Arielle is a founding Advisory Board Member of Ag Innovation Development Group, a Development Impact Lab (DIL) Practitioner in Residence at UC Berkeley, and a 2014 Fellow of the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy. Arielle earned her M.S. in Agricultural and Resource Economics and an M.S. in International Agricultural Development from the University of California, Davis.

Arno Hesse is dedicated to financing a sustainable and equitable future with thriving food systems and regenerative technologies. He co-founded the community capital services Credibles and Investibule. As a co-leader and investor with Slow Money Northern California, Arno has led multiple investments in food businesses with impact on climate change and social justice. Based in San Francisco, he co-produces the annual FOOD FUNDED community convening. Previously, he was Executive Vice President for Retail Markets at MUFG Union Bank.

Arno received an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley. He grew up in Europe and is easily distracted by new ice cream flavors and typefaces.

Ava (she/her) believes a more sustainable future is dependent on simultaneously working towards social and environmental justice. She has devoted the last six years to researching and working in this field. Currently a Ph. D. candidate at the University of Washington in the department of Anthropology, Ava has designed and implemented a research project that investigates diversity and inclusion efforts in American environmentalism and has designed and taught several of her own university level courses covering topics such as power, identity, environmentalism, health, and wilderness. Beyond her academic life, Ava puts her knowledge into practice by working as an outdoor educator. Most recently, Ava served as a lead advisor and facilitator at the LGBTQ Outdoor Summit.

Brigette Wolf serves as Global Head of SnackFutures, Mondelēz International’s innovation and venture hub which launched in 2018 as part of the global snack leader’s growth agenda.

SnackFutures focuses on building and growing well-being and premium brands through a model of Invent and Venture. In her role, Brigette is responsible for fueling the company’s innovation pipeline by creating and launching SnackFutures brands as well as identifying and solidifying strategic investment opportunities. Brigette also oversees the new start-up engagement program CoLab, which launched in 2021 to discover and collaborate with emerging entrepreneurs.

Brigette has been with Mondelēz International for 7 years, and in that time served as the senior director of Global Platform Innovation for the Gum & Candy and Biscuits categories as well the senior brand manager for Global belVita innovation. Prior to this Brigette was with Kraft Foods for almost 10 years having served as the Global Innovation Manager for Oreo and the Brand Manager of several of the pizza and meal brands.

Prior to being part of the food industry, Brigette worked for Credit Suisse First Boston and Morgan Stanley in investment banking.

Brigette received her undergraduate degree from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and her MBA from Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.

My JEDI Why: “As a champion for Inclusion and Diversity, I am proud of the work JEDI is doing to create opportunities for minority groups. I believe it is our job to make sure we see Justice and Equity for every human being, when working together towards progress, we can see the change we want in the world.”

Speaker, trainer and award-winning entrepreneur – these are just a few words that describe Cameka Smith, Founder of The BOSS Network, a community of professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other through conversation, online engagement and event-based networking.  Working towards one simple goal, BOSS® is “Bringing Out Successful Sisters” to promote and encourage the small business spirit and professional development of women.

Under Cameka’s leadership, The BOSS Network has become one of the fastest-growing women business communities, garnering several accolades such as a Top 50 Website for Entrepreneurs (Inc. Magazine), 10 Best Career Sites for Women (Forbes.com) and one of 9 Twitter Accounts to Enhance Your College Experience (BlackEnterprise.com).  In recognition of her achievements, Cameka was listed in Jet Magazine as a 40 under 40 Entrepreneur, named one of the Top 40 Chicago Game Changers by Ariel Investments, The Network Journal listed her one of their 2016, 40 under 40 Business Leaders, and she was presented with a Rising Brand Star award by the Adweek in 2017.

With a Master’s degree in Education, Cameka developed student academic programs for more than ten years. After being displaced from her job in 2009, she established The BOSS Network to support women in their journey to become independent and successful utilizing the power of networking and technology. Since then, The BOSS Network has evolved into a go-to resource for companies seeking female influencers as their target market.  A one-stop-shop for career and entrepreneurial minded women, The BOSS Network provides its members and partners with professional connections, resources, and marketing and promotional opportunities. 

As the author of 7 Steps to Grow Your Professional Network: A Guide for College Graduates and Professionals in a Tough Economy, Cameka frequently travels to college campuses with her non-profit, BOSS On Campus and speaks on career development and leadership topics. Cameka currently resides in Chicago where she is actively involved in charity work and mentoring youth.  In 2019, Cameka celebrated 10 years, empowering women and girls with The BOSS Network.

Cassie is the Vice President of Talent at VMG Partners, a growth equity firm which invests in consumer branded products such as KIND Snacks, Justin’s, Daily Harvest, Quest Nutrition, Bare Snacks, Stone Brewing…and many others. Prior to her tenure at VMG Partners, she did executive search at SPMB and various Operations and Talent roles at Goldman Sachs. She’s originally from Arizona where she completed her Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in Mathematics and Business. Outside of work, you’re likely to find her doing something outdoors (camping, hiking, tennis), with friends, celebrating with a delicious sour beer…and posting all of it to her Instagram story.

As the SVP of Content & Insights for New Hope Network, Carlotta oversees the content strategy for all of New Hope’s in-person, digital and print products serving suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, service providers, investors and consumers in the natural products industry. She is also the co-creator and lead editor of the NEXT Natural Products Industry Forecast, an annual trends and opportunities report for the food, CPG and food service industries. Carlotta is a frequent speaker on natural products issues and trends, and co-founder of a paleo snack company that was sold to 1908 Brands in 2016. In addition, Carlotta is the board president of Naturally Boulder, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing and growing the Colorado natural products community.

My J.E.D.I Why: “I couldn’t be more passionate about the need to support everyone in our society through the products we develop, the people we hire and how we give back to our communities. It is only by sharing our resources, by recognizing and valuing our differences, by embracing our individuality that we will build stronger companies, a more equitable society and an environment that is better than the one we inherited.”

Ciara Dilley, vice president of marketing for Frito-Lay North America, leads the company’s ever-evolving and diverse portfolio of Transform Brands – including Stacy’s, SunChips, Smartfood, Off the Eaten Path, Red Rock Deli, and IMAG!NE – making it easier than ever for consumers to discover new flavors, ingredients and brands powered by purpose.

A seasoned veteran with more than 20 years of industry experience, Ciara’s passion is supporting women, both inside and outside the walls of Frito-Lay. In addition to being personally involved in a number of initiatives that involve coaching and connecting businesswomen, Ciara recently led the launch of WomanMade, a PepsiCo initiative developed to advance female founders in the food and beverage industry through funding and exclusive mentoring opportunities.

Since joining Frito-Lay in February 2019, Ciara has led Stacy’s Rise Project – a flagship grant and mentorship program by the female-founded Stacy’s brand – to flourish as an industry best-in-class initiative, awarding up-and-coming female entrepreneurs with hundreds of thousands of dollars in business grants and providing them with unprecedented access to PepsiCo people and resources to achieve long-term success.

Also under Ciara’s leadership, IMAG!NE launched its mission to fuel kids’ bodies and minds through a multi-year partnership with No Kid Hungry and Smartfood underwent a full brand redesign that involved a complete swipe of its social channels and packaging updates across the entire portfolio.

Prior to joining PepsiCo, Dilley leveraged her experience in communications and innovation to grow major international consumer brands including Diageo, Campbell Soup Company and Kellogg Company.  

A native of Ireland, Ciara now makes her home in Dallas with her husband and two sons.

David Cooper has 20 years of experience directing the acquisition, financing, ownership, and disposition of early-stage mission and purpose-driven companies. David brings a deep knowledge of equity and debt transactions including due diligence, structuring, closing, and operational management. He has a track record of profitable impact investing, strategic advising, and has long-standing relationships with key industry participants in multi-cycle finance, growth, and disposition. 

David is the senior portfolio advisor at Mission Driven Finance. His focus is business development, alternative asset finance, and impact due diligence. He and his partners create offerings that match risk with returns and reconnect investors with the performance of the companies they invest in. David works with J.E.D.I entrepreneurs in need of growth financing that make a positive impact in the world – without sacrificing returns. 

David has a track record of high impact investing. He was a venture partner at Clean Pacific Ventures, an early stage Clean Technology Fund, General Partner at InHouse Ventures, a boutique investment fund focused on building and acquiring multi-generational, impact-oriented organic foods brands, and Co-Founded Montcalm Capital, where he aligned investing in companies solving the world’s most pressing environmental and social problems with investors’ desire to make conscious values-driven investments in alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

Prior to Clean Pacific, David led Aquacue’s commercial and consumer market development program. Aquacue was sold to Badger Meter, a public company (NYSE: BMI). David served as CEO to Clean Pacific Ventures portfolio company, American Efficient, where he led the restructure and eventual stock sale of American Efficient to BriteBuild, Inc., a consumer internet services company. David recently helped raise a Series A investment for Savonix, a global digital health technology Company solving global cognitive health needs. Post the financing David continued with the company as interim COO and CFO helping it prepare for international growth. 

David is a managing member of his family’s clean technology fund West Coast CleanTech. WCCT was founded on the belief that the confluence of economic, social and environmental factors driving rapid technological change in green technologies offer positive investment opportunities. West Coast Clean Tech invests in capital-efficient companies where time-to-adoption and technological risks are reduced, and in demand-driven solutions with proven management teams that possess a clarity of purpose and mission alignment. 

David is a board member of the Baja Coastal Institute, a non-profit organization devoted to regional environmental and socioeconomic research throughout Baja, Mexico, The Whales of Guerrero Research Project (WGRP) launched in 2013 to study the marine ecology of Southwest Pacific Mexico and is a member of The J.E.D.I Collaborative taskforce of industry peers and experts leading the project for the natural products industry to frame the business case for embedding justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into our entire food ecosystem. ​David is a graduate of The University of New Hampshire. He, along with his spouse Jennifer, thrives in Sausalito, CA.

Derek Peebles is the Executive Director of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA). AMIBA has supported and formed more than 60 independent business alliances (IBA’s) that are geographically dispersed around the country. These IBA’s count for over 60,000 local businesses as members throughout 26 states that are united in support of protecting local economies.

Derek is a leader in community economic development with extensive success moving organizations forward by building on cross-cultural and cross-sector collaboration. He began his career in small business banking and over the past 15 years has successfully organized local business communities, residents, and institutions to leverage both social and private capital for sustainable economic development.

Prior to AMIBA, Derek served as the Director of the Economics of Compassion Initiative, funded as a ministry of Cincinnati’s Christ Church Cathedral. Through this ministry, Derek led numerous Episcopal congregations through “Sacred Ground”, a 16-week conversation series on the history of Racism in America. Recently joining Bella Bank’s advisory board, Derek also serves as an advisor and board member for the American Sustainable Business Network, the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network, Green Umbrella, Christ Church Cathedral’s Next Century Committee, and Brick Gardens. He currently resides in the greater Cincinnati Ohio area.

Inessa O’Childs is the Director of Development at Treasure8, a food tech company leading a Resource Revolution® to bring disease-fighting, sustainable nutrition to a rapidly growing planet. She is responsible for much of the company’s growth strategies, including leading partnerships and investor relations, and it is partly because of her support and leadership that Treasure8 has earned a number of grants and awards, most recently the ReFed COVID-19 Food Waste Solutions Grant. 

Inessa comes to Treasure8 from a strong background in angel investing and entrepreneurship and has been based in San Francisco for more than two decades. She is very passionate about work that addresses global challenges, specifically nutrition insecurity and climate change. Prior to joining Treasure8, Inessa worked as a managing partner at the IVO Technology Fund and was also a founding member of the Future Food Center. In addition to her work at Treasure8, Inessa is a board member at Creative Visions Foundation, a member of the investor task force at OSC/JEDI Collaborative. 

A Russian native, Inessa is a catalyst for food system change. She works with leaders in the food industry to advance sustainability and drive strategic growth.

My J.E.D.I Why: “The Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (J.E.D.I) work supports two of Guayakí’s regenerative aspirations: Conscious Leadership and Social Justice. The J.E.D.I Collaborative provides Guayakí with important learning and tools with which to evaluate and improve our performance. It is valuable to network with other members of the Collaborative and share our J.E.D.I journey as it evolves.”

Gretchen has directed corporate sustainability for two natural product brands over the last seven years. Other experience includes co-founding and leading a corporate foundation, budget management for a national environmental nonprofit, serving on numerous nonprofit boards, environmental consulting, ecopsychology writing, and volunteering at a winery for 10 years. Gretchen is an advocate for personal regeneration and regenerative business as a solution to reversing climate change and social justice.

My J.E.D.I Why: “As a board member, former CEO and investor in the industry, I’m committed to the ‘J.E.D.I Strategy’. The time is NOW for CEOs, leaders, and companies to transform our industry with a proactive and engaged commitment to creating ‘for all cultures’ they support justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.”

James is a transformational leader with over 30 years as a CEO and operating executive in the Consumer Products, Retail and Restaurant industries. An experienced Board Director/Advisor with 15 years of experience in a dozen public and private Board appointments.

He is the former Chairman, President and CEO of Jamba Juice where he led the successful turnaround
and transformation of the company from a made-to-order smoothie shop to a global, healthy active
lifestyle brand. Prior to his role at Jamba, James also held senior executive positions at Safeway Stores, Inc., the Gillette Company, and Nestlé-Purina PetCare.

James currently serves on the boards of Adtalem Global Education, Panera Bread Company-JAB
Holdings, Simply Good Foods, and Schnucks, and is a Board Advisor at Ocean Spray. He previously
served on the boards of Callidus Cloud, Hillshire Brands and several other boards. His non-profit board experience includes Directors Academy, where he also is a founding member and currently Board Chairman, as well as Fair Trade USA where he is also Board Chairman. He previously served on the non-profit boards of the NASDAQ Entrepreneurial Center, The Organic Center and the Network of Executive Women.

My J.E.D.I Why: “By overcoming ignorance and divisiveness with Justice, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we can emerge stronger to create an industry and world that celebrates differences, where each of us are treated equally and have the freedom to live with dignity.”

Jill is a Managing Director and Partner of William Hood & Company, a differentiated  industry-focused investment banking firm covering the Consumer, Food and Retail sectors with a specialization in Health and Wellness.

Jill’s notable transaction experience includes the sale of Persona Nutrition to Nestlé, The sale of W3ll People to E.L.F. Cosmetics, the sale of OLLY to Unilever, the sale of Atrium Innovations to Nestlé and the sale of The Nature’s Bounty Company from The Carlyle Group to KKR and LetterOne.

Prior to William Hood & Company, Jill was Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for The Nature’s Bounty Company, focused on M&A, Corporate Development and Growth Strategy. During her tenure at The Nature’s Bounty Company, Jill also held a variety of operating leadership roles including managing the Nature’s Bounty, Pure Protein, Body Fortress and Met-Rx brands, as well as the company’s Private Label business. Jill’s passion for brands combined with her retailer relationships resulted in her driving a number of the key strategic growth initiatives behind the success of the company leading up to its sale.

Prior to joining The Nature’s Bounty Company, Jill was the Brand Director for natural skincare line Naturopathica Holistic Health. In that role Jill was responsible for product design, marketing and distribution.

Jill also serves on the Global Board of Advisors for Vitamin Angels.

My J.E.D.I Why: “I am passionate about JEDI because for our industry to thrive and drive better health outcomes for everyone in our society over time, we need the best talent. Period. Working as an industry to build and boost the diversity of our talent, backgrounds, perspectives and lived experiences will bring great benefits to everyone, and will help us ensure that the impact potential of our entrepreneurs and companies can be maximized for the benefit of our entire ecosystem and society as a whole”

John Foraker recently left his role as President of Annie’s, Inc. and is a cofounder and CEO of Once Upon a Farm. He is a leading authority in the organic and natural foods industry. With more than 20 years of business experience and a sharp focus on sustainability and social responsibility, Foraker’s vision for growing Annie’s has always relied on transparent leadership and an over-arching commitment to creativity, innovation and honesty. In addition to his role as President, Foraker also leads within the greater General Mills organization as an advisor for the company’s small business incubator 301, Inc., a new venture group that invests in small promising companies.

Prior to assuming his role as President in October 2014, Foraker led investors to place growth capital into Annie’s in 1999, earning his title as Chairman of the Board. Beginning in 2004, Foraker led as Annie’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), taking Annie’s public under the BNNY symbol in 2012, just prior to the company’s buyout by General Mills, Inc. in October 2014.

A respected expert spokesperson in the organic and natural foods industry, Foraker has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes and Wall Street Journal, in addition to other platinum media outlets. Foraker has also shared his leadership and expertise with business owners and audiences at home in the Bay Area and across the country, addressing organizations like the Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum, the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and the Nutrition Business Journal Conference, among others. Most recently, Foraker was awarded EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 in Northern California, recognizing his entrepreneurial excellence in the retail and consumer products category.

Prior to his tenure at Annie’s, Foraker served as Vice President at Bank of America, overseeing commercial banking client relationship management in the bank’s premium wine business portfolio. Foraker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics from the University of California, Davis and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley.

José is a social entrepreneur who has built a reputation as a visionary leader, strong manager, innovator and relationship-builder. He has been recognized for building mindful and creative organizational cultures and convening public, private and community people and resources to solve complex community, business and public sector problems.

Currently, as Vice President of Programs & Partnerships, Jose leads all grantmaking, partnership and programmatic efforts for Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation – a new foundation the Currys launched in 2019 that is becoming one of the country’s most innovative and impactful philanthropic organizations through its commitment to creating equal opportunities and bright futures for every child. In 2020, Eat. Learn. Play. was able to play a major role in the fight against rising hunger, helping to provide more than 15 million meals to children and families in the foundation’s hometown of Oakland. This strategy included engaging over 130 local restaurants who were able to rehire 850 of their employees in order to prepare and deliver over 2.5 million meals to those who needed meals during the pandemic.

Prior to joining the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, José served as the Director of Equity and Strategic Partnerships under Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. In this role, José served as senior advisor to the Mayor, with the responsibility of creating, coordinating, and facilitating public/private/ philanthropic partnerships. In this role, he led the development of the City’s first Economic Development Strategy in 21 years, grounded on creating equitable economic opportunities for all Oaklanders.

José also served as Chief Executive Officer of ICA (now known as ICA.fund) from 2004 to 2015. He led ICA to become a nationally recognized, award-winning organization for its work on scaling small businesses and entrepreneurs as a way to create good jobs, especially for people with the highest need. In the ten years with ICA, he oversaw a portfolio of companies that created over 5,000 jobs, creating over $200 million in wealth for local residents and collectively generating over $350 million in revenue. He also created a platform for hundreds of professionals to participate by contributing over $40 million of total pro bono investments into the organization’s mission. His innovative thinking led ICA to launch Fund Good Jobs – an investment fund focused on using capital to influence the creation and retention of quality jobs – and the Talent Management Group – an innovative approach that opened up career pathways for inner city residents and sought to enhance the workforce development sector.

In 2020, Jose served as the Co-chair of the City of Oakland Economic Recovery Advisory Council, charged to safely open businesses in Oakland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jose is an Aspen Fellow and serves on the Boards of Northern California Grantmakers, The Unity Council and the Oakland Museum of California.

Konda Mason is a social entrepreneur, financial activist, earth and social justice activist and mindfulness teacher. She is the Co-founder and President of Jubilee Justice, Inc, a nonprofit working to bring climate resilient farming and economic equity to Black farmers in the rural South in order to restore and accelerate Black land ownership and stewardship and create thriving Black farming communities. Jubilee Justice also convenes deep transformational learning journeys across race and class exploring conversations at the intersection of Land, Race, Money & Spirit. She is also the Co-founder and VP of Potlikker Capital, a charitable loan fund specifically designed to deploy integrated capital to Black American farmers.

Konda is Co-Founder and founding CEO of Impact Hub Oakland (newly renamed Emerge Oakland), an award winning co-working space that supports socially engaged entrepreneurs and changemakers. She is the Strategic Director of RUNWAY, a micro-lending fund for African American entrepreneurs, and the co-founder of the annual COCAP (Community Capital) conference in Oakland, with a focus on closing the racial wealth gap, restorative economics and the next economy just transition.

Along with her partner, actor Woody Harrleson, Konda opened the first home delivery service of organic food in the Los Angeles area and was responsible for negotiating the first organic food section in a major supermarket in the area.  Ms. Mason holds a Permaculture Design Certificate from Commonweal Institute and has an honorary MBA from Presidio Graduate School of Business. She teaches mindfulness at retreat centers throughout the U.S.A.

Konda is on the Board of Directors of The Historic Clayborn Temple in Memphis, TN, On Being with Krista Tippett, One Generation with Paul Hawken, Lion’s Roar Magazine.

She was one of the co-founders and co-facilitator of The Well-Being In Business Lab – Oakland, a cross-sector initiative guiding prominent business owners, non-profit leaders and government officials to a deeper level of intention within themselves and their businesses.

My J.E.D.I Why: “These business are critical to delivering the innovations we need to repair our world and regenerate a future in which all our children can thrive. However, they can only realize that potential by acknowledging the injustices that scaffold our economic system — and authentically striving to represent, reflect, and inspire the change we want to see.”

Joy Basu is currently an senior advisor to innovative food businesses and financial vehicles seeking authentic and impact-integrated growth.  She was the first Chief of Staff at TPG Growth, where she served as an architect and engine of The Rise Fund. She was also The Rise Fund’s inaugural impact sector lead for food and agriculture. Prior to joining TPG, Joy was a consultant at McKinsey & Company; she focused on agricultural development, working with businesses, governments and donors to improve agricultural value chains in emerging markets. Joy served as project manager to the World Economic Forum’s New Vision for Agriculture, and has closely supported strategic projects for the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency and Starbucks Coffee Company. 

Joy earned her JD and MBA from Stanford University with a certificate in public management and social innovation; while at Stanford, she served as President of the Women of Stanford Law, a leader of the Afghanistan Legal Education Project and an Arbuckle Leadership Fellow. Joy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy and Economics from Duke University. She currently serves as a Trustee for the Heifer Foundation, a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project. Born and raised in Illinois, Joy strives daily to be a mindful global citizen with strong Midwestern roots.

coming soon

Laina Greene is founder of GETIT Inc, a strategic tech consultancy based in Silicon Valley since 2000 and is co-founder of Angels of Impact. She also served as Senior Advisor to Ashoka, as Associate Director (Community Development) of the Asia Center for Social Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy at the NUS Business School, as Advisor to Acumen plus chapter in Singapore, and currently teaches social entrepreneurship and Lean Startup at NUS Business School in Singapore as Senior Adjunct Lecturer. Her work experience spans 25 years in the telecom industry with a focus on Green telecoms and on bridging the digital divide in developing countries. The last 12 years she invested and worked on tech for good and women led social enterprises. She currently lives between Singapore and Silicon Valley.

Lara works with leading brands in the Natural Foods industry as partner at Pluot Consulting. She deploys her 20 plus years of natural foods experience to work on executive level marketing, sales, and strategic planning with some of the most mission  driven food companies in the world, including  Alter  Eco  Foods, Numi Organic Tea, Nutiva, Jamba Juice, The Fruit Guys, Choice Lunch, and many others. She also serves as Executive Director and Co-Founder of OSC2 (One Step Closer to an Organic Sustainable Community), a group of founders and CEOs working together to support each other’s business growth and more sustainable food solutions. With OSC2, she has launched several industry collaboratives, including the OSC2 Compostable Packaging Collaborative, The Rising Star Chapter, and most recently, the Climate Collaborative.

Lara is a founder in the Climate Collaborative, a project of OSC2 and SFTA.

Lara was the CEO of LightFull Foods, VP Retail Sales & Marketing at Numi Organic Tea, and VP of Marketing at the Balance Bar Company, where she helped drive sales growth from $10M to $110M and sell it to Kraft Foods.

Lara has spoken on food trends, sustainability, and innovation at Natural Products Expo West, So Cap, SXSW Eco, Zero Waste Summit, SFTA, Bioneers, Net Impact, the Brower Center, and Esca Bona. Prior to her natural foods industry work, she was a product manager at Reckitt Benckiser. Lara received an MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School, a BS in Finance from the University of Southern California and completed graduate work at Oxford. She lives in Piedmont, CA with her husband, three young children and 10 chickens.

coming soon

Lisa Curtis is the Founder & CEO of Kuli Kuli. Kuli Kuli is America’s leading moringa company with the highest quality moringa on the market. Moringa is more nutritious than kale and provides a complete plant protein. Over 60% of Americans say incorporating more vegetables into their diet is their #1 priority but only 4% of Americans are getting our recommended serving of veggies per day. Kuli Kuli’s delicious Moringa Superfood Bars, Pure Moringa Powder and Moringa Green Energy Shots make it easy for Americans to get their greens on the go while planting moringa trees and supporting women farmers worldwide.

Lisa began working on Kuli Kuli while in the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa. As a volunteer in her village’s health center, she gained a first-hand understanding of the common nutritional challenges faced in West African villages and how moringa can play a role in helping to address those challenges while providing Americans with a healthy new superfood. Prior to Kuli Kuli, Lisa served as the Communications Director at Solar Mosaic, wrote political briefings for President Obama in the White House and worked at an impact investment firm in India.

Magatte Wade is Skin is Skin CEO & and founder. This is her third entrepreneurial venture. She is a leading thinker and speaker on the subject of using business as a solution to poverty and social issues. Magatte was born in Senegal, educated in France and Germany and was drawn to the entrepreneurial spirit of America, where she came to start her career. Skinisskin is her new baby, focused on encouraging curiosity beyond the skin and giving everyone a chance to flourish.

As President and CEO of Ibis Communications, MaryAnne leads a team of consultants and creative professionals to connect visions with purpose to diverse communities through the integration of inclusive conversations, messaging and communications, branding, PR, direct, social and digital marketing, and strategic partnerships to deliver authentic social impact.

As Founder and CEO of the Global Diversity Leadership Exchange, MaryAnne leads a forum designed to facilitate an on-going dialogue with thought leaders, influencers and C-Suite executives who are at the nexus of inclusion and sustainability in the US, BRICS nations, and other emerging markets. The annual summits have been held at the New York Stock Exchange and in the ECOSOC Chamber at the United Nations Headquarters.

MaryAnne currently serves as Vice Chair on the board of the American Sustainable Business Council. The mission of American Sustainable Business Council is to advance public policies that ensure a vibrant, just, and sustainable economy. She is a past chair of Social Venture Network, the premiere organization of mission-driven social entrepreneurs who are transforming the way the world does business.

DEI Advisors-meets quarterly to support and guide progress, available to open doors, attend industry level launch, support networking and fundraising

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My J.E.D.I Why:“We know that opportunity is not equally distributed and industries have the greatest opportunity to change that and ensure all voices are heard and all people represented. JEDI is leading with action and with heart to pull all of us together to be a part of the change.”

Rebecca Messina most recently served as Global Chief Marketing Officer of Uber. As Uber’s first-ever CMO, Messina focused on standing up Uber’s first global marketing organization, building a world class marketing network, with the mission of helping the company define a strong brand in the hearts and minds of the consumers, drivers and communities it serves.

Prior to joining Uber, Messina was the Global Chief Marketing Officer of Beam Suntory and was responsible for the company’s global brand strategy development and communications, product innovation, research and development and consumer insights for Beam Suntory’s world portfolio of brands – including Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Courvoisier Cognac, and Yamazaki Whisky, among others.

Prior to joining Beam Suntory, Messina built a 22 years career at The Coca-Cola Company. In roles of increasing responsibility and leadership, Messina joined Coca-Cola in 1994 in Atlanta and soon went on to marketing roles in Chile, Australia, France; and ultimately, back in Atlanta. In 2014, Messina assumed her role as SVP, Marketing & Innovation, Ventures & Emerging Brands (VEB), the internal incubator at TCCC where she was responsible for leading the marketing strategy, innovation and capabilities for Coca-Cola’s VEB portfolio of premium, high growth brands like Zico, Honest team, Fairlife, etc

A native of Batavia, NY, Messina holds a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and speaks English, Spanish, French and Italian. Messina is currently serving as a Senior Advisor at McKinsey & Company, together with private advising and board work. Messina is married, has two children, and currently lives in San Francisco, CA

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Bio pending.

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My J.E.D.I Why: “My younger brother became disabled at age 17 and continually faced injustices throughout his life. My mom fought most of her life to support his livelihood and dignity in a health-care system that ignored his basic needs and an economic system that viewed him as worthless. Michael — and my mom’s love for him — are my inspiration. I became conscious of the bigger injustices in my community and then in the world. I also began to realize that I too, at times, was unconsciously benefiting in ways because of my privilege as a white, heterosexual, able-bodied person. I became devoted to honoring the dignity of every individual and delivering justice for all. Over the past 35 years, I’m lucky to have led some special companies, such as REBBL, that have had a commitment to justice from their inception, and now I find myself wanting to expand this commitment throughout the industry I care so deeply about. My goal is to support the beautiful human beings whose lives are touched by our industry: to amplify the voices of those who have been marginalized, and to increase their influence in decision-making, not only for their own benefit, but to strengthen the natural products industry. I believe our industry needs to actively – intentionally – be much more inclusive, to open our arms wide and embrace the multitude of talents and perspectives that will nourish our industry, help it to be stronger, more resilient and more agile, thriving well into the future.”

Sheryl O’Loughlin is an accomplished entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience leading natural products companies with her trademark bold humility rooted in love.

In 2017, Sheryl introduced her first book, Killing It: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Keeping Your Head Without Losing Your Heart (HarperBusiness). The book has been featured in Fortune, Conscious Company, Inc., Forbes and Huffington Post, among others.

From 2015 to 2019, Sheryl was CEO and “Chief Love Officer” of REBBL, the first plant-based, super herb adaptogen beverage company. In partnership with Not for Sale, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a future without human trafficking, REBBL works to create regenerative and just supply chains.

With a heart for human rights and mental health advocacy, Sheryl is the co-founder and co-leader of both the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Project and the Women on Boards Product for the natural products industry through One Step Closer to an Organic Sustainable Community (OSC2), a nonprofit whose mission is to address the toughest sustainability problems by building new regenerative businesses.

Earlier in her career, Sheryl served as the CEO of Clif Bar and Company. There she led the concept development and introduction of Luna, the first whole nutrition bar for women, which became a $70 million business in three years and continues to be a core brand in the company’s portfolio. She went on to co-found and serve as CEO for Plum, Inc., a healthy, organic food company that aims to nourish kids “from the high chair to the lunch box.” In 2013, Plum was successfully sold to Campbell Soup Company.

After Plum, Sheryl was the Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and she held a faculty position at Sonoma State University, where she taught hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs and other professionals.

Sheryl currently serves on the board of OSC2 and Foodstirs, and she is on the advisory board of Once Upon a Farm. She is also a member of the Forbes San Francisco Business Council. Previous boards include Zuke’s, thinkThin, Sugar Bowl Bakery, Gardein and the American Sustainable Business Council.

Sheryl earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and her Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. An avid camper and traveler, she lives in Santa Rosa, California, with her husband, Patrick, and their two sons.

Learn more at www.sheryloloughlin.com

Steven was a pioneer in the development of organic virgin coconut oil as a successful mass consumer product, helping to launch Nutiva’s coconut oil product line in 2002. His technical expertise not only helped to overcome the packaging and seal security issues inherent in the manufacture of this product, but was also instrumental in developing and maintaining the primary supply from the Philippines.

In the 30+ years of food & supplement experience, Steve’s evident ability to develop strong businesses, client relationships, and products has culminated in the development of 400+ new products and packaging, including private label items for many major retailers, distributors, and health and nutrition brand owners. Results-oriented, he has also successfully negotiated custom packaging contracts with major multi-national companies.

Steven is grateful to be a part of the health and wellness community offering organic regenerative foods. When he isn’t traveling around the world he enjoys spending time with his four boys in Canada.

Bio Pending

Trisha is a Partner in the Atlanta office, and brings 25 years of experience in retained executive search.  She leads searches across a broad spectrum of industries including branded and private-label packaged goods, durable consumer products, organic and natural products, home and hardware, and direct and interactive marketing.  Her work has focused on the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief marketing officer and division president levels.  She excels in identifying key functional leaders in the areas of sales, marketing, e-commerce, research and development, and supply chain operations.

Trisha’s primary clients have included multi-billion-dollar corporations, as well as start-up and fast growth companies, and she has a particular interest in working with companies that focus on providing sustainable and socially responsible products.  She also has depth of experience in the recruitment of executives to family-owned businesses, as well as founder-influenced and private equity backed companies.  Trisha has consulted with several start-up companies on organizational strategies and structures, as well as compensation and equity programs for key executives.   

Prior to co-founding GreenSight Executive Search, Trisha spent 13 years as an equity partner with the boutique search firm Chartwell Partners.  Her earlier experience was with Boyden Global Executive Search and was a Managing Director of the consumer products practice.  She worked extensively with multinational companies on a global basis and provided assistance to numerous U.S. corporations in attracting key leadership around the world.  Trisha began her career in executive search with Heidrick & Struggles where she was an associate in the firm’s industrial practice.

Trisha received a BA in communications from The Ohio State University.  She currently sits on the Board of J.E.D.I Collaborative, an organization that is dedicated to embedding justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into the food and beverage ecosystem and its hiring practices. 

VALERIE RED-HORSE MOHL, of Cherokee ancestry, is the CFO of East Bay Community Foundation, founded in 1928, whose mission is to eliminate structural barriers, advance racial equity, and transform political, social, and economic outcomes. She is also CEO/founder of Red-Horse Financial Group, Inc., and has more than 25 years of in-depth experience in the financial services and investment banking industry with a unique expertise in the Native American tribal government sector.  Red-Horse Mohl has raised, structured, and managed over $3 billion in capital and holds seven FINRA registrations.

Red-Horse Mohl is the former Executive Director/CEO of Social Venture Circle, a non-profit leading the way in the field of social impact investing and sustainable business. She is also the CEO/founder of Red-Horse Native Productions, Inc., a film and television production company primarily focused on bringing important documentaries to the screen for which Red-Horse Mohl directs, produces, and writes.  She is the Advisory Board Chair of Stanford University’s Center for the Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity and teaches two undergraduate courses on Entrepreneurship for Social Impact and Racial Equity at Stanford.

Red-Horse Mohl was inducted into the NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) Hall of Fame in 2008. She serves as a Board of Directors Member for Intentional Endowments Network & the Crane Institute of Sustainability, Board Trustee for the California Indian Nations College, Board Chair of the National Boys and Girls Clubs Native American Services, an Advisory Board Member for NDN Fund and as a Board Member for the Northern California Chapter of the International Women’s Forum.

Red-Horse Mohl earned a B.A. with Cum Laude honors from UCLA and has founded several nonprofit ministries on tribal reservations nationwide. Red-Horse Mohl has been married since 1982 to former NFL professional Curt Mohl and they have three children, Courtney- Stanford University ‘07; Derek-California Lutheran University ‘12; and Chelsea–Stanford University ‘21.

Vincent launched Dang Foods in 2012 after his mother gave him a recipe for Miang Kum, a Northern Thai dish that requires toasted coconut. At the time, he was cooking experimental dishes for the SF Underground Farmer’s Market. Vincent made the dish, tasted the toasted coconut, and then immediately called his family in Thailand to find more because it tasted so dang good. Dang is named for Vincent’s mother – it’s a popular women’s name in Thailand as well as the word for the color red.

Vincent is a New York City native who started his career research environmentally and socially beneficial products for the City of New York. He moved to the Bay Area to work with GoodGuide, a natural product ratings company headed by a UC Berkeley Professor. There he helped create rating systems for hybrid vehicles, food and beverage items, recycled paper and other categories. His academic background includes two engineering degrees from Cornell University and five years of sustainability and natural product research across the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Dang Coconut Chips are sold in 7,000 locations around the US, including Whole Foods, Target, Kroger, Safeway, Stop n’ Shop, The Fresh Market, Sprouts, CVS, Amazon and many independent grocers. The coconut chips are made of sliced copra (coconut meat), seasoned and toasted to perfection. The toasting process caramelizes the sugars and creates a wonderfully buttery umami flavor from naturally occurring aromatic coconut oil. It’s a wonderful snack and a healthy alternative to fried chips, dried fruit and nuts. For home cooks, it’s a versatile topping that can be used to enhance ice cream, yogurt, salads, oatmeal and baked goods.

Vincent holds both Bachelor and Master of Engineering degrees from Cornell University and currently resides in Oakland, CA. He is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and received a SOFI Gold award for “Best Snack” for Dang Original Recipe Coconut Chips.