BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2022–2023
Leah works in software as an operations professional with 9 years of experience supporting executives and teams in fast-paced environments. She has been active in YWA leadership for the past 4 years, and her favorite YWA event is Speaker Series. As a native Texan, Leah enjoys soaking in the Texas sun by playing tennis, walking the trail, and enjoying a margarita on one of Austin’s many great patios.
Leah Christensen
Brittany is the executive director of the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. Her favorite YWA event is Book Club, even when she doesn’t read the book (which happens a lot). Brittany is also the incoming President of the Symphony BATS, the young profesionals wing of the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Brittany was embracing the coastal grandmother trend ahead of the curve and loves gardening, traveling, and spending time with her incorrigible dog, Finn.
Brittany Sharkey
By day, Lauren works at Dimensional Fund Advisors where she provides financial advisors with the tools needed to strategically manage and grow their business. She also oversees Dimensional’s global philanthropic program. By night (and weekends), she is passionate about helping women find their seat at the table. In her spare time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her partner Aaron and their two french bulldogs, Tater Tot and Queso (@theloadedtots). Lauren speaks Chinese, German, and Spanish and holds her Series 7 and 66.
Lauren Kaufman
Bijal has over 8 years of experience in the biotechnology industry. She’s currently a Director of National Accounts, driving strategic customer engagement and leading negotiations to support patient access to medicines. Her favorite YWA event is speed networking with community leaders and fellow YWA members. Bijal is a new mom to a beautiful girl, which has been the most magical experience, while also being the hardest thing she’s ever done!
Bijal Patel
Sheridan is an Imaging Specialist who works with doctors across Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma implementing digital technology in their practice by way of CBCT x-ray machines. Her favorite YWA event is Speaker Series because it’s a great way to connect with majority of the members at once. When she isn’t on the road for work, you can find her playing doubles sand volleyball, hunting, or traveling to chase her next adrenaline rush.
Sheridan Phillips
Sydney is an Account Manager at Mimecast, supporting her enterprise clients and AEs. Her favorite YWA events are volunteer events where she can both socialize and give back to the Austin community. She is also the Sponsorship Chair for the 2022 CASA Superhero Run! Sydney enjoys spending time with her two dogs and her friends, trying new restaurants, and exercising.
Sydney Cardenas
Carley is a Program Manager at Twilio, where she drives the strategy and planning of their customer engagement events with a focus on empowering developers. Her favorite YWA event is Party of 8 because it provides an intimate setting to connect with members she may not have had an opportunity to connect with otherwise. Outside of work and YWA, Carley enjoys spending her time working on projects and home renovations.
Carley Thomas
Alice drives the global product management strategy for service automation at Oracle with over a decade of experience in marketing and sales. Her favorite YWA event: anywhere there’s a chance to film stories of women! In her career, community, and personal relationships, she strives to show up with curiosity, light, and presence. She is a yoga instructor, loves being on the water, and always dreaming of her next travel adventures.
Alice Park
Morgan works in finance at Dell as a Pricing Team Lead. She has yet to attend a YWA event she doesn’t like, but her favorite is Party of 8 because she loves trying new restaurants and chatting with other members in smaller group settings. Aside from checking out Austin’s culinary scene, she also enjoys mysteries, Pilates classes, true crime podcasts, spicy margaritas, and weekend walks with her husband and dog.
Morgan Prince
Andrea is a government relations professional. She is currently working as the Policy & Advocacy Manager at AnitaB.org. Her favorite YWA event is the monthly Book Club because it helps her build community with fellow bookworms and diversify her reading. Besides her 9-5 and YWA, she is a menstrual equity advocate, embroiderer, painter, plant mom of several succulents, and dog mom of Chewie.
Andrea Elizondo
Natalia is a higher education expat now working as a Recruiting Coordinator at Tableau. Her favorite YWA events are Speaker Series and Party of 8, as they create authentic spaces for learning and connecting with other members. Outside of YWA, you may find Natalia taking a walk with her Yorkie, Harley; reading at a local coffee shop; performing at a nearby community theater; or hunting for all the best cookies in Austin.
Natalia Rubio
Nikki is currently the HR M&A Manager for Media.Monks, where she leads the end-to-end HR integration for new mergers in the U.S. and Canada. Her favorite YWA event is the Membership Appreciation Party because we get to celebrate what makes our organization so amazing: our members! She enjoys paddleboarding, running, long walks at Lady Bird, golfing, spending time with her fur-baby (Oliver), and iced oat milk lattes.
Nikki Drozdyk
Anwuli has a passion for learning and connecting the dots. Currently, she’s the Finance Manager at DivInc, an organization focused on increasing equity through entrepreneurship for diverse founders. Her favorite YWA event is anything that allows her to connect to other members. Outside of work and YWA, she loves art, food, and learning new things!
Anwuli Chukwurah
Samantha is a Marketing Operations Analyst at Oracle, where she enjoys creating new ways to streamline and improve processes. Her favorite YWA event is anything that involves golf! Golf is a great way to meet others, spend time outside, and have fun. Outside of YWA and work, Samantha loves to read, travel, try new restaurants, and spend time with family and friends (including her cat, Frankie).
Samantha Nowak
Lauren is a Business Intelligence Developer at Indeed and is passionate about empowering others to make data-driven decisions. Her favorite YWA events are Book Club and Party of 8 because they provide the a smaller setting to connect with members. Lauren enjoys baking sourdough bread, attempting to learn to garden, thrifting, and outdoor adventuring.
Lauren Cowen
Rebecca is a Technical Editor at Apple who is passionate about inclusive language and creating accessible content that empowers people to do their life’s best work. As a lifelong avid reader, her favorite YWA event is Book Club. In her free time, she enjoys trying new recipes, attending concerts with her fiancé, unwinding with cross-stitch or embroidery, and cuddling her household menagerie (two cats and two dogs).
Rebecca Bennett
Natália has over 10 years of experience in sales and enablement in the tech industry. She is currently the Head of Revenue Enablement at Weedmaps, driving the professional development strategy for all sales teams. Her favorite YWA events are the professional development workshops, where she gets to continually develop her skills alongside her fellow YWA members. Outside of work, you’ll find her playing sand volleyball, paddle boarding, or studying for her Masters Program at her favorite coffee shop, Cosmic.
Natália Litoldo
Eunice is an Associate Manager at Accenture, where she creatively solves problems implementing Workday, an HR software. Her favorite YWA events are committee meetings to get to know a small group of members on a regular basis while giving back to the organization! Eunice’s passions are wine-ing and dining at restaurants, running alongside Lady Bird, attempting to be a plant mom, practicing golf at Jimmy Clay, and watching organization YouTube videos.