Technovation
Team
Leadership
Board of Directors
Kate Parker
Board Chair
Chief Operating Officer, Transcend
Sonya Park
Vice Board Chair
Managing Director of Institutional Sales, State Street Global Advisors
Heather Knight
Board Treasurer
General Manager/President, Baxter International
Ann Gaudard Weeby
Chair Emeritus
Senior Vice President of Trailhead at Salesforce
Dr. Sepehr Moghadam
Board Member
Head of Special Projects, University Relations at Google
Rossana Wang
Board Member
Co-founder & CMO of Wang & Partners
Alicia Hammond
Board Member
Gender Specialist at the World Bank Group
Mukul Aggarwal
Board Member
Consultant, BCG
Jessica Kung
Board Member
Senior Product Manager at Roblox
Sana Khareghani
Board Member
Former Head of UK Government Office for Artificial Intelligence
Adelia Curtis Duarte
Board Member
Operating Partner & Head of Portfolio Operations, Human Capital
Birte Hoehne Mahyera
Board Member
Senior Legal Counsel, Humane
Gabriela Burian
Global Partnerships / Multi-Stakeholder Platform Lead, Bayer
Global Ambassador
Anar Simpson, Technovation Global Ambassador
Anar is a key influencer for women, girls and technology. Her advocacy, partnership and growth efforts span the policy level as a Deputy to the United Nations HLP on Women's Economic Empowerment, to Strategic Partnerships Advisor to US State Department TechWomen initiative, and at the grassroots level, as the Global Ambassador for Technovation Girls.
Staff
Technovation Team
Meet the team of people who keep Technovation programs running
Rebecca Anderson, Senior Director of Programs
Rebecca Anderson leads the program team to support leaders and students around the world to make changes in their community through tech. She previously served as Director of Educational Programs at Global Language Project, where she trained language teachers and developed curriculum for language classrooms. She has worked as an elementary and middle school teacher in The Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Japan and holds a BS in Education from the University of Kansas and an MA in International Educational Development from Columbia University Teachers College. Rebecca was inspired to join Technovation after seeing what participants were doing to fight climate change, and loves being outside to hike, run, explore new places, or aspire to compete in a pun competition.
Deborah Boyer, Chief Operating Officer
Deb is the COO at Technovation and also leads the product team in developing the platform that supports the Technovation Girls program. Prior to joining Technovation, she worked as a software project manager focusing on sustainability and open data initiatives. She holds a Master’s degree in Public History and previously taught digital history at Villanova University and Temple University. Most of her outside of work time is spent chasing after her kids and reading as many books as humanly possible.
Bryant Gomer, Sr. Director of Mentor Programs
Bryant leads volunteer engagement with current and prospective corporate partners. Bryant earned his B.A. in Political Science from UC Santa Barbara and a M.A. in Education and Teaching from USC’s Rossier School of Education. Prior to working with nonprofits in the social impact space, Bryant taught Social Studies in middle school and high school classrooms in the Bay Area and Ann Arbor. While teaching in public school high schools, it was clear to Bryant that many of his students lacked meaningful access to the world of work and career pathways. Technovation participants inspire Bryant because they're girls and young women at the forefront of STEM fields and real world problem solving. Bryant can often be found playing below average guitar, he was once in a teacher band "The Common Hard Core", and it is a huge understatement to say that he is a Bruce Springsteen fan.
Shaun Ambrose, Software Developer
Shaun wears many hats to help build and maintain the platforms. He has over 20 years of software development experience working for companies large and small, and is happy to be using his skill set to help bring more underrepresnted people into STEM. Shaun has a young daughter and is grateful to be working for an organization that would help create more opportunities for her and other girls around the world. He loves coming to work each day and feels honored to be working with such an amazing and talented team. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, playing board games, and learning Japanese.
AC Black, Graphic Designer
As Graphic Designer, AC supports Technovation's mission by building visuals that engage, inform, and inspire. AC is passionate about empowering girls to change the world and focuses on creating an impactful brand experience that reflects that passion. AC and Technovation's passion to empower young girls go hand in hand with Ac's experience in Uganda, Africa founding a non-profit in 2014 that focuses on empowering teen girl survivors of sexual injustice and sex trafficking. Outside of work, Ac enjoys advocating and serving for She is More Than, surfing, photography, hiking, and spending time with her dog Bailee.
Audra Darbyshire, Creative Manager
Audra uses graphic design & video to tell stories and share ideas about Technovation's global community of learners and leaders. Audra earned her BFA in Art from University of Central Florida and from there spent a year as a resident artist at Cub Creek Foundation. After becoming a mother, her determination to contribute to making the world brighter and more sustainable for future generations only deepened. Seeing the accomplishments of Technovation participants fills her with hope for the future. In her free time, Audra is often catching bugs with her kids, tending her vegetable garden, and watching movies with her husband, Sam.
Amy Eernisse-Liang, Alumnae Program Director
Amy leads Technovation's Alumnae Program and the building of programs to support and reengage Technovation Girls' participants as they pursue careers in STEM and entrepreneurship. Her 15 years in the nonprofit sector have been focused educating and empowering humans, with a special focus on youth and young adult leadership and development. Over the last 8 years, she's taken a special interest in workforce development programming specifically within the tech space, working with underrepresented communities, and has supported hundreds of young adults launch sustainable, livable wage careers in the industry. When Amy's not working, you can find her chilling with her favorite pug, Scooter, engaging in a creative hobby, listening to music, or in the great outdoors running, camping, hiking, or climbing.
Kate Fauteux, Alumni Program Manager
Kate works directly with students, volunteers, and alumni, creating opportunities for them to learn and grow. Part of her role includes leading the global Student Ambassador program, which entails engaging with alumni to recruit and mentor students in their local communities. Kate brings with her an extensive background in online education development and managing online learning systems. With a passion for storytelling, Kate's mission is to ensure that every Technovation participant feels empowered to use their voice and vision to build a better world. In her spare time, Kate enjoys listening to music, cooking, and spending time with her amazing niece!
Sasha Galikeeva, Marketing Operations Specialist
As the Marketing Operations Specialist, Sasha optimizes workflows, supports website and event production and maintains digital spaces to collect and organize data and stories. She received her B.S. in Marketing and M.B.A. from the University of Denver and went on to work in legal marketing acquiring experience in communications, business development and marketing technology. Her role at Technovation combines her passion for nonprofit work and marketing operations experience. In her spare time, you can find Sasha being a disability advocate, dancing and reading a book.
Liz Giannini, Development Specialist
Liz is Technovation’s Development Specialist. She assists the Fund-Raising Team by providing behind the scenes support and lending a hand to other departments as needed. With nine years’ experience working at a national non-profit and seven years in IT Technovation’s mission completely aligns with her passions. Liz enjoys spending time at the gym with her husband and talking long walks on the beach.
Natsuyo Ham, AP/Payroll accountant and HR liaison
Natsuyo wears two hats. As Technovation's HR liaison, she assesses and anticipates HR-related needs for technovation, communicates HR & Payroll information proactively to the team, submits HR & Payroll forms and transactions, and helps employees with their HR & Payroll issues. When Natsuyo wears Accounting hats, she makes sure everyone gets paid on time, plus verifies and reconciles transactions against sub-ledgers. Natsuyo worked 5 years as an accountant in Japan and saved up money, and came to New York to see the world. After graduating from SUNY, Natsuyo was offered job training in a company located in Silicon Valley. Growing up in a homogenous society, Natsuyo appreciates differences by living in NY and CA, and she re-discovered her own tradition, customs, food, and safe environment which she took for granted.
Ophélie Horsley, Partnerships Director
Ophélie works closely with our community partners. She helps recruit, train, and support our wonderful Chapter Ambassadors, who manage the program on the ground. Ophélie is originally from France and worked at Crisis Aid International and the Institute of International Education (IIE) before joining Technovation in 2017. The organization's focus on education and empowerment really spoke to her. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, hiking, reading, and trying new food.
Mariana Vega Hurtado, Alumnae Engagement Coordinator
As an Alumnae Engagement Coordinator, Mariana is ready to support the Alumnae and the Technovation team with the many projects ahead, finding and analyzing the information, organizing and searching for events for the alumnae, and finding creative solutions to any issues. In her free time, you can always find her with her dogs, traveling, or enjoying delicious food.
Maggie Jaris, Content Manager
Maggie helps tell the story of Technovation and its participants. Her commitment to fair and equitable education grew out of her experiences as a student in New York City's public school system. She is proud to help share stories of how girls and families around the world are using technology and creative problem solving to change their communities. Outside of work Maggie can be found taking meandering walks through Brooklyn, and stealing time with her sister's dog, Spoon.
Courtney Johnson, Grants Manager
As a Grants Manager, Courtney specializes in the acquisition and management of funding opportunities while liaising closely with the program team. She holds an M.S.W. with an emphasis in macro global social work from Boston College and has worked in the nonprofit/humanitarian field for 5+ years in several different countries including Uganda, Mexico, and Canada. She has a heart for all social impact issues but a specific interest in girls’ education and refugees/migration. Working at Technovation allows her to support a mission she is passionate about while using her fundraising and project management skills. Outside of work, she loves hiking, paddleboarding, yoga, and exploring new places.
Nick Kelso, Corporate Relations Manager
Nick brings 10+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience and 5+ years of creating social impact documentary film partnerships with Global Fortune 500s and NGOs like Target, Toyota, Indeed, and the NAACP. He has presented on plenary stages at national conferences and facilitated dozens of online events and discussions around projects about mental health, racial justice, trauma, and gender identity. He is thrilled to apply this experience to connect visionaries at companies around the globe with opportunities to support Technovation's change-making programming. Nick is currently completing a master's degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management at Arizona State University. He lives in Tucson, AZ with his wife Abigail, who shares his love for 90s hip-hop, thrift stores, bikes, traveling in their vintage camper (Harvey the RV), and spending as much time as possible with their dog Lil Tay Tay.
Karen Lang, Curriculum Developer
Karen is a Curriculum Developer for Technovation, supporting Technovation teams as they learn the necessary skills to successfully submit their projects. Karen spent most of her career teaching Computer Science, in several international schools and around New England. She also led the Education team at MIT App Inventor for 5 years. When she is not working, she likes to spend time outdoors - in the woods, on the water, but mostly at the beach.
Nicholas Luu, Program Specialist
Nick helps keep Technovation running by creating a variety of activities for all Technovation participants to experience. Nick received his B.A. in Geography from U.C. Berkeley and shortly after, he started a tea room. Tea and geography opened doors that helped Nick realize he loves hearing other people's stories and deepened his desire to help uplift people in whatever way he can. Nick found his way to Technovation, where inspired by the stories of every girls' journey, he's happily been since. Outside of work, Nick is likely either cooking a new recipe or walking his cat.
Kiki Mantz, Program Coordinator
As Technovation’s Program Coordinator, Kiki helps engage Technovation’s diverse global community by building resources and connections that enable awesome tech and entrepreneurial education experiences for participants and volunteers. With a background in both the tech industry and the nonprofit space, joining Technovation was the best of both worlds for her interests, since she's helping young girls feel empowered to make change in their communities. Outside of work you can find her at the beach, playing flag football, and woking on her Masters degree.
Shannon Murphy, Development and Communications Manager
Shannon supports Technovation’s fundraising and marketing teams. She holds a master’s degree in global social work from Boston College. Prior to joining Technovation, she worked in various fundraising roles for international development organizations. She is a returned Peace Corps volunteer and currently lives in Saint Paul.
Ana Muñoz, Program Manager
As a Program Manager, Ana supports the Technovation program execution in Europe and Latin America. Ana has 8+ years of experience leading, developing, and executing strategic design and innovation projects and programs to create user-centric solutions based on design thinking and experiential learning methodologies. Ana loves spending time outdoors, especially in the mountains with her husband. She's been a yoga practitioner for more than 12 years and loves dogs and making ceramics.
Abbey Mae Pitcher, Program Manager
As Program Manager, Abbey Mae supports Technovation's global program that equips young women with leadership skills to empower their communities. Abbey Mae's passion for educational equity was fueled by her experience as a middle school science teacher and Master's in Curriculum and Instruction. In her role, she is honored to collaborate with the amazing educational leaders who serve as Technovation's Chapter Ambassadors. Outside of work, Abbey Mae and her husband Zachary love to spend time with friends and family, stay active outdoors, and experiment with creative cooking.
Raeana Samuel, Volunteer Engagement Manager
As the Volunteer Program Manager, Raeana works on the strategy behind building the digital community where volunteers engage with each other as they support Technovation Girls. Raeana received her B.Sc specializing in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Waterloo. Prior to joining Technovation, she worked in community outreach and gender equity at the University of Waterloo, where she was the Chapter Ambassador for the Technovation Girls Waterloo chapter and then at Shopify as a Technovation industry partner. When she isn't building community, you can find Raeana trying her hand at a new crochet project, supporting a small, local business or adding to her growing recipe book collection.
Elizabeth Vodak, Senior Accountant
Beth is responsible for the preparation of the financial records, analysis and creation of the financial statements and ensuring regulatory compliance in Technovation's accounting practices. She graduated from Polytechnic Univ. of the Philippines with a BS in Accounting and has worked for Glaxo SmithKline, MicroFit, Murdoch & Assoc. Consulting. She came to the US in '92 because she believes that this is a great country that allows freedom and equal opportunity for anybody who will work hard and is self reliant. A mother of two boys, she played volleyball in high school and college, loves the outdoors - biking, skiing, zip-lining, hang-gliding, kayaking with her husband, Paul.