WOMEN'S ADVOCATE AWARD

 Vidya is a partner with Ad Astra Ventures where she helps strengthen female founders, guiding them through a research-based curriculum designed for women leaders, and supports them through direct investment. She has deep experience in product management and loves coaching on product-market fit. Vidya thrives on seeing people and teams transform when they understand how to build products that customers love. 

LinkedIn

Company: Ad Astra Ventures

 Samara Hakim, JD, is an international culture and inclusion thought leader, data strategist, speaker, writer, and facilitator. For over a decade, Samara has equipped leaders with the cultural intelligence to work with those who are different than them, by mitigating bias and integrating equity and inclusion into their business practices. Samara has worked on projects in multiple industries, across all sectors, globally and domestically, and in multiple languages. 

LinkedIn

Company:  CulturGrit, LLC

 Safoora B. Awan, Esq. grew up in Stockton, CA in a household that received Food Stamps and Medi-Cal. As such, Safoora is intimately familiar with the financial limitations of working-class individuals and it is her great honor to provide legal services to these individuals who remind her of her mom, dad, neighbors and community members. Safoora offers a full-spectrum of Family Law services, such as assistance with Divorce, Legal Separation, Child Custody, Child Support, Spousal Support, and Domestic Violence Restraining Orders. To make her services affordable to working-class individuals, Safoora offers limited scope representation, flat fees and discounted hourly rates.

LinkedIn

Company:  The Law Office of Safoora B. Awan

 Dana Bristol-Smith is the Founder and Executive Director of Leap to Success, a Carlsbad based women’s empowerment not-for-profit organization. Dana started Leap to Success in 2008 as a volunteer project to empower women who were overcoming domestic violence, homelessness, and other major life challenges. Today, more than 2,000 San Diego women have improved their lives by taking Leap to Success programs. 

LinkedIn

Company: Leap to Success

 Jami Shapiro is the owner and founder of Silver Linings Transitions, a move management company, helping clients move or organize their homes amidst stressful life changes, like divorce or downsizing to senior communities. Silver Linings Transitions is a supportive environment for team members re-entering the job market after facing divorce or caring for family.    

LinkedIn

Company: Silver Linings Transitions