Amar is the founder of Shared Studios and guides much of the organization's creative and technological direction. He evangelizes Shared Studios wherever he goes. Amar is an artist and entrepreneur who loves imagining what the world needs but doesn't realize quite yet. Before founding Shared Studios in 2014, He traveled across the world as a multimedia journalist for the Washington Post and worked for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Amar holds a bachelors from Harvard, a master’s from Johns Hopkins, and a JD from Yale Law School. He loves working alongside a passionate, diverse global team that demonstrates every day what a brighter future for all of us looks like.

Tommaso was a member of the founding team of Wimba, where he also served as CEO. Wimba became the leading virtual classroom solution. Tommaso grew the company to 800 customers before it was acquired by Blackboard. Tommaso also founded Tocca, a virtual events platform, and was the CEO of multiple other companies over his diverse career.

Didier founded and served as CEO and Head of Product of inWebo, growing it to become a leading multi-factor authentication solution. He ultimately sold the company to a PE firm.

Brandon helps drive new and existing partners to design and execute programming, and oversees our global community of curators and contributors at Shared Studios. He is a writer, educator, and expert facilitator with a doctorate in intercultural communication from Arizona State University. He has a range of experience across the private, education, and not-for profit sectors where he has worked to harness the power of new communication technologies to bridge cultural divides through transformative conversation. A life-long learner, in his free time you can find him practicing German, reading, riding his bike, and (sometimes) watching bad reality television.

Teun works to ensure that everything gets done when it needs to be in order to successfully deliver all of our activations. He comes from a film production background with an international track record, as well as co-founding and managing several startups in the entertainment sector. Teun is happiest at the helm of a sailboat and loves to cook for family and friends. He loves being constantly challenged, surprised and humbled in equal parts by the Shared Studios team.

Danara oversees the planning, development, and deployment of technical solutions at Shared Studios. She is a creative technologist that has worked on a range of productions, including sound, light, and kinetic installations. Danara was born in Kazakhstan, and grew up in Turkey where she was trained as an industrial engineer, before relocating to New York to pursue her master’s at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program. When she is not playing with code, Danara is likely to be painting or playing fetch with her dog Bobo. Danara values collaborations and being part of an organization that values integration of different cultures while maintaining their separate identities.

Victoria is originally from Brazil and has graduated from NYU’s Film & TV program at Tisch School of the Arts. She has lived in NYC, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Rio and is now back in São Paulo, her hometown. Victoria has spent the last few years working as a production manager for film shoots both in Brazil and in the US, and now joins Shared Studios to provide operational and logistics support to the team. Although very pragmatic and driven in her organizational role, Victoria also loves her creative side. She has a passion for creative writing and travel, having backpacked solo through several countries, teaching yoga in exchange for room and board in hostels and guesthouses. In her spare time, you will find her reading or writing poetry, teaching and practicing yoga, or taking care of her plants.

Jay is a seasoned cross-cultural communication professional with work experience in the Development and Aid sectors across East Africa, as well as within the Entertainment and Services sectors in the Netherlands. He is responsible for coordinating and executing programming across all global sites, ensuring seamless execution of programming with Shared Studios partners and collaborations with our global curator community. His interests in human history, politics, and in arts and culture, combined with his passion for breaking down barriers and connecting people from diverse backgrounds, brings a unique perspective to the team. When out of office, you can find Jay on the road with friends, exploring new cuisines, beaches, and dance moves.

I am a strategist, trainer, brother, friend, husband, sailor, traveler, learner and citizen of the world. Positively affecting lives is my driving force and passion, whether assessing communities and organizations, developing talent strategy and human capital initiatives, supporting global teams or simply helping friends, neighbors and peers. I have degrees in Economics and Human Resources from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and a Masters in Global Management (means I am trained to lead the world!!) from Arizona State University. Thing you may not know is that I've lived in the Caribbean for 8 years and owned a floating bar in Grenada :)

Niko focuses on growing the Shared Studios business and driving strategic partnerships. Having lived and worked across 5 continents, he is a huge proponent of Portals and their ability to create impactful connections from around the globe. He has worked in journalism, sales, brand strategy and venture building, as well as being an avid plant collector, photographer and DJ. He studied undergraduate economics at UC Irvine and received his MBA from Bocconi University in Milan.

Dr. James Ren is a dynamic force in the field of Software Engineering, possessing a wealth of knowledge and a relentless commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements. His thirst for knowledge goes beyond the conventional, as he actively seeks inspiration from new discoveries, novel ideas, and innovative perspectives. Driven by a passion for continuous learning, he embodies the spirit of intellectual curiosity that defines our company.

Carmen is a pioneer of female sports journalism in Bolivia. She had her own TV sports program called Las Super Poderosas featuring Bolivian sports practices, and now has a sports magazine that does the same. Her platforms have covered four Olympic games, Pan-American games and sports across South America. She is also the co- founder of the first and only soccer academy for girls in Bolivia where they empower young girls and provide invaluable community for young female athletes.

Eric Murangwa Eugene is a former Rwandan footballer and survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Because members of his team (Rayon Sports) saved him during the genocide, he was aware firsthand of the power of football to be a positive force for social change. Eric founded the Ishami Foundation that uses football to serve the Rwandan community and promote reconciliation both in the UK and in Rwanda. Eric is an accomplished speaker and facilitator, and was awarded an MBE by the Queen in recognition of his services to the community.

Dennis Walton, born and raised on Milwaukee’s North side in ZIP code 53206, is a community organizer, social entrepreneur and activist. He remains a resident of 53206 where he works daily to make it a better and stronger place to live. He is the co-director of Mayor Tom Barrett’s Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative. He also co-host the Gospel Morning Mix Radio Mix on 1560 am WGLB.

Ineza is an Afrika Ecofeminist and founder and CEO of The Green Protector, a Rwandan youth-lead NGO striving for environmental protection through the design and implementation of youth community- based projects.

Khaled is a Medical Doctor from Herat, Afghanistan. He works with World Vision International in aid projects and has acted during the drought response, flood response and, more recently, the Covid-19 response. Khaled participates in all stages of the aid implementation, from design to execution and wrap up. He has experience working in a context where emergency situations are always threatening the lives of people in the community, where the dire conditions create a desperate need for relief.

Daniela Solano is a Colombian woman, mother, artist and immigrant who has been a refugee in São Paulo, Brazil for 20 years She lived half her life in Colombia in villages and indigenous communities, and the other half in the city of São Paulo. Given her personal history as a refugee, she's had from an early age a deep interest in solidarity for immigrant communities and their culture. Daniela is an artist and audiovisual producer who brings this passion into the work she does. One of the projects she has led in collaboration with migrant communities of São Paulo is the "Pertences" series, a documentary series that tells the stories of those who went to Brazil in search of refuge. The series aims to show not only their struggle for survival, but also their memories and hope for the future. Daniela has also worked as a producer in the project Permanent Visa – Acervo Vivo das Novas Culturas Imigrantes, an audiovisual collection of records of the immigrant communities in São Paulo. The project aims to represent the social struggles of this diverse group of immigrants with the objective of preserving their memory and advancing the complex understanding of the multilocality of traditions and cultures in São Paulo.

Adaeze is a data analyst at Juniper Networks in Sunnyvale, California. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT and a Master in Software Engineering from Harvard. She was born and raised in Nigeria before moving to the United States for a Bachelor's degree. She is passionate about helping young students find and grow their passion for learning and creating through STEM.

Musagara Andre has been a Musekeweya radio drama script writer and director since 2007. His task consists of practicing Musekeweya methodology by infusing psychological messages of healing, unity, reconciliation and sustainable peace in Rwanda. He is also author of many other serial radio dramas about behavior change, as well as several youth educational publications. He is trained in techniques of soap opera and Radio Drama for social change, as well as Edutainment for social change. Musagara Andre is a holder of a Master’s Degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law.

Sveto is the founder of Ayat, an Afghan clothing brand, focused on women's empowerment. She is also the founder of Chadari, a storytelling platform that gives Afghan women an opportunity to express their opinions, share their achievements, and feature stories of bravery.

Luisa is a designer and creative strategist who catalyzes change by collaborating with artists, futurists, technologists, and social impact organizations to prototype meaningful digital and in-real-life interactions. Luisa is a partner at Nomadic Labs, Speculative Futures Global Chapters, at Design Futures Initiative, and Fellow at UKAI Projects. She is a futures thinker, designer and creative strategist who catalyzes change by collaborating with artists, futurists, technologists, and social impact organizations to prototype meaningful digital and in-real-life interactions. Her emphasis on collaborative and participatory design practices celebrates the ordinary and the vernacular – to explore old stories in new ways and imagine possibilities yet to be realized.

Named one of the “Best Undiscovered Comedians” in the U.S. by Thrillist magazine, Kasha Patel has a unique voice that couples life as an Indian-American and her love for science. She produces science-themed comedy shows and gave a TEDx talk called “Sneaking Science into Stand-Up” where she shares a series of surprising revelations pulled from her analysis of more than 500 of her stand-up jokes. She has been featured in The Washington Post, BBC World News, Travel Channel, The Science Channel, The Weather Channel, and hosted a mini series on NASA TV.

Leen is a multidisciplinary designer with 10 years of experience in branding, strategy, user experience and product design. She works with companies to help them solve problems through design thinking and strategy consulting, as well as startups to help them build powerful, lasting brands that resonate with their customers. Leen is a founding member and creative director of Afikra, an initiative that fosters curiosity around Arab history and culture through monthly events around the world. She’s also an active member of the Sandbox Network, a global community of makers and doers. Most recently, she joined ATÖLYE to take on a role that is right at the intersection of her three passion areas: design, entrepreneurship and community. With the support of an amazing team in Istanbul, she’s leading the launch of the second ATÖLYE Creative Hub in Dubai – a space and community that supports regional creatives through impactful work, meaningful content and deep connection.

Chad is the founder of an educational organization in Little Rock, Arkansas called Noble Impact, which focuses on the intersection of social emotional learning and entrepreneurship. He is currently a co-founder of Never Whisper Justice and lives in Flagstaff, Arizona with his wife, Dr. Heather Williamson and their three chocolate labs. Chad grew up around the world as his father was the first Quaker chaplain in the Air Force and his mother a K12 teacher. After serving five years in the military himself, he became a teacher and coach at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida. After his stint at Berkeley Prep, Chad pursued his masters degree at President Clinton's School of Public Service and upon graduation, became the director of philanthropy and community engagement for NFL player, Dhani Jones.

Rebecca is a Senior Mechanical Engineering Manager at Juniper Networks. She did her undergraduate in Mechanical in India and her Masters in USA. Rebecca went back to India in 2007 for 4 years to start Mechanical design organization to cater the need of US companies and to implement round the clock development. She currently lives in San Jose, CA with her husband and son. This will be her 7th year as a TechWomen Professional Mentor. She has travelled to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Egypt as the part of TechWomen Delegation trip to empower women and girls.

Ankit cares deeply about our collective thoughtfulness and the things that bring us together. In various lives, he's been recognized as a community builder, a designer and a strategist. He is the founder and CEO of Tea With Strangers, a global community organization of hundreds of hosts who have brought over 50,000 people in over 25 cities together in real life for small, meaningful group conversations. He also currently works at Facebook, where he works on products to enable community builders, like Groups and Events. Previously, he built community programs for Airbnb Open Homes to enable and connect their host community with refugees and other people in need of free temporary housing.

Kharl has vast experience working in the advertising industry as a director for television commercials and creating concepts for television shows in Uganda. He is a lecturer at Makerere University, teaching the art and psychology of film and focuses his work in the power of art in media in the efforts for social change. He is also a board member, trustee, trainer and current president of Film 256.