I found my niche late in life. After working in tech, telecom, as an educator, and as a new media entrepreneur, I’ve found my passion with Chicas Poderosas.
It’s funny to think back on how this evolution came to be and what forces drew me here. I met Mariana Santos at a Google tech event for women. As with anyone who has personally come in contact with Mariana, you’ll know what I mean when I say she is infectious and a force of nature. Within a few short weeks, I was a “Chica”, working closely with Mariana to strategize the future of Chicas Poderosas and envisioning the possibilities for women in media throughout the world. I love journalists in general, I believe that independent media needs to survive and will survive, and within this we must have more women actively participating as new media leaders. And thus the ignite.
Mariana asked me in January of 2016 while at a lunch in a Palo Alto, CA café, to take on the leadership role of Chicas Poderosas and bring our discussions to reality. Now, fast forward to October 2016, we are officially a non-profit, 501(c)(3) in the USA, we have a 3-year strategic plan, and an outstanding, talented board of directors.
I’d like to introduce you to this board and invite you to help us envision a more informed, connected and engaged society with Chicas Poderosas leading the charge.
Chicas Poderosas 2016 Board of Directors
Lia Valero
Lia Valero is a Colombian journalist with the Rutas del Conflicto team, an investigative platform covering conflict in Colombia.
Giannina Segnini
Giannina Segnini, a native of Costa Rica, is the director of the Master of Science Data Concentration Program at the Journalism School at Columbia University, New York.
Jane McDonnell
Jane McDonnel is the executive director of the Online News Association where she leads one of the world’s largest membership organizations of digital journalists.
Vivian Schiller
Vivian Schiller is the editor-in-residence for Weber Shandwick’s Mediaco, the chair of the Executive Committee for Vocativ, and the director of the Scott Trust, which oversees The Guardian.
Lilia Saul
Lilia Saul is a journalist with El Universal in Mexico City, specializing in data, transparency and information access, with a focus on investigative journalism.
Daniela Pinheiro
Daniela Pinheiro is a senior reporter at Piauí Magazine in Brazil, specializing in political coverage.
Sina Mossayeb
Sina Mossayeb is a global system design lead at world renowned, IDEO in San Francisco, CA with a focus on social impact and organizational change.
Ricardo Mesquita
Ricardo Mesquita is CEO of the Lab Miami in Miami, FL and the creator of Start-up Chile and a co-founder of Beta-I Association for the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Elisa Tinsley
Elisa Tinsley is deputy vice president-programs, for the International Center for Journalists in Washington, DC.
Robert Hernandez
Robert Hernandez is the assistant professor of professional practice at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism in Los Angeles, CA.
Vicki Hammarstedt
Vicki Hammarstedt is the executive director for Chicas Poderosas and a new media entrepreneur in Berkeley, CA.
Mariana Santos
Mariana Santos is the founder and CEO of Chicas Poderosas, and the co-founder of Unicorn Interactive, an interactive data design firm.
