Our Team
Malinda Williams
Lisa D. Williams-Sorensen
Leslie Williams-Dunn
Founder, E.S.T.E.A.M. Project Manager
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Malinda Williams, founder of the Arise and Shine Foundation and women's empowerment events series, embarked on this journey five years ago to offer a supportive hub to connect accomplished women. From exchanging ideas to fostering relationships, the Arise and Shine brunch serves as a bri
Founder, E.S.T.E.A.M. Project Manager
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Malinda Williams, founder of the Arise and Shine Foundation and women's empowerment events series, embarked on this journey five years ago to offer a supportive hub to connect accomplished women. From exchanging ideas to fostering relationships, the Arise and Shine brunch serves as a bridge in the opportunity gap for Black women. “My whole life and career, I have been uplifted by and stood on the shoulders of many powerful women. These past few years have illuminated that connection to community is more important now than ever,” said Malinda Williams. “I am honored to collaborate with so many brilliant minds who understand the value of community, sisterhood, and using our resources to empower and give back to others.”
Leslie Williams-Dunn
Lisa D. Williams-Sorensen
Leslie Williams-Dunn
Founding Board Member
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Leslie, a seasoned professional, recently retired as Senior Director of Technology at Johnson & Johnson after 37 years of service.
Throughout her tenure she led organizations and spearheaded initiatives that enabled business strategies.
Leslie was a founding member of the Black Technology Professionals an
Founding Board Member
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Leslie, a seasoned professional, recently retired as Senior Director of Technology at Johnson & Johnson after 37 years of service.
Throughout her tenure she led organizations and spearheaded initiatives that enabled business strategies.
Leslie was a founding member of the Black Technology Professionals and 50:50 Women’s leadership initiative where she shaped strategies to accelerate diversity and cultivate a culture of inclusion within Johnson & Johnson Technology. Leslie’s mission is to inspire and empower the next generation to achieve success in career and in life. She passionately believes if they can see it,
they will believe they can achieve it and will like she did.
Leslie holds a BA from Rutgers University in Computer Science.
Lisa D. Williams-Sorensen
Lisa D. Williams-Sorensen
Lisa D. Williams-Sorensen
Founding Board Member, Guest Relations
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With her heart set on broadening the diversity of yoga practitioners by making yoga accessible and by offering tools and education for holistic health and wellness to communities of all people, Lisa studied to become a 200-hr certified yoga instructor and Health and Wellness expert. Lis
Founding Board Member, Guest Relations
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With her heart set on broadening the diversity of yoga practitioners by making yoga accessible and by offering tools and education for holistic health and wellness to communities of all people, Lisa studied to become a 200-hr certified yoga instructor and Health and Wellness expert. Lisa also holds certifications in yoga for Health and Wellness from Bhakti Barn Yoga as well as specialized courses in anatomy for yoga, taught by Physical Therapist Libby Hinsley, Yoga for osteoporosis, taught by Loren Fishman, and yoga for mental health with Ashley Turner. Determined to continue spreading the benefits of yoga for all people, OneNest Yoga shifted to sharing the benefits of yoga through various digital platforms.
Alicia Moore
Tamika Hawkins Adu
Lisa D. Williams-Sorensen
Event Producer, Program Support Lead
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Meet Alicia Moore, a seasoned Event Producer with five years of diverse experience in event planning. With a background in the United States Navy, serving eight years as a Logistic Specialist and Executive Assistant, Alicia brings exceptional organizational and leadership skills to h
Event Producer, Program Support Lead
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Meet Alicia Moore, a seasoned Event Producer with five years of diverse experience in event planning. With a background in the United States Navy, serving eight years as a Logistic Specialist and Executive Assistant, Alicia brings exceptional organizational and leadership skills to her work. After an honorable discharge in 2018, Alicia founded So Much Entertainment (SME), a full-service Event Production Company in Los Angeles, specializing in a wide range of events from intimate brunches to large-scale galas. With a track record of delivering memorable experiences for up to 1,000 attendees, SME extends its expertise across the United States, driven by Alicia's passion for creating seamless and unforgettable events.
Tamika Hawkins Adu
Tamika Hawkins Adu
Tamika Hawkins Adu
Communications, Media Relations
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Tamika is Co-Founder and Managing Member of Sixth & Bryant – a newly launched strategic communications firm with an emphasis on reputational and issues management. Most recently, she was a Director in Brunswick Group’s Washington office, where she developed strategies and campaigns on i
Communications, Media Relations
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Tamika is Co-Founder and Managing Member of Sixth & Bryant – a newly launched strategic communications firm with an emphasis on reputational and issues management. Most recently, she was a Director in Brunswick Group’s Washington office, where she developed strategies and campaigns on issues ranging from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to litigation communications for some of the most recognizable global brands. She is a graduate of both Howard University’s School of Communications and School of Law, and Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism.
Asim Williams
Tamika Hawkins Adu
Tamika Hawkins Adu
E.S.T.E.A.M. Project Coding Instructor, Curriculum Teacher
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I am a Technology Leader, Explorer, Humanitarian and Musician.
My mission is to be a part of teams who invent technology and music, through entrepreneurship, that universally improve fundamental aspects of life.
If we are to invent technology that universally impro
E.S.T.E.A.M. Project Coding Instructor, Curriculum Teacher
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I am a Technology Leader, Explorer, Humanitarian and Musician.
My mission is to be a part of teams who invent technology and music, through entrepreneurship, that universally improve fundamental aspects of life.
If we are to invent technology that universally improves fundamental aspects of life then we need historically excluded groups included at every level of the development of world changing technologies. Some of those groups being women and people of color.
An integral component of realizing that goal is education.
Thai Eileen
Dr. Yuvay Ferguson
Thai Eileen
Communications, Media Relations
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With more than 20 years of experience, Thai has worked with startup organizations, government entities, major U.S. cities, international consumer goods, Fortune 500 brands, as well as individuals ranging from professional athletes, television chefs, motivational speakers and designers.
Communications, Media Relations
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With more than 20 years of experience, Thai has worked with startup organizations, government entities, major U.S. cities, international consumer goods, Fortune 500 brands, as well as individuals ranging from professional athletes, television chefs, motivational speakers and designers. Thaisa has successfully developed brand identities, created effective and compelling messaging and campaigns, and implemented international marketing communications and public relations strategies. She has an honest and inclusive hands-on approach to help organizations and individuals increase visibility, and generate additional business and revenue.
Omi Phifer
Dr. Yuvay Ferguson
Thai Eileen
IT Manager and Program Tech Support
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Omi Phifer is an SFSU Senior majoring in computer science. He has done work bringing AI to small businesses with AI Collaborator, and played a part in developing and maintaining an online, multi-vendor marketplace, as well as numerous digital marketing campaigns. He is proficient with mu
IT Manager and Program Tech Support
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Omi Phifer is an SFSU Senior majoring in computer science. He has done work bringing AI to small businesses with AI Collaborator, and played a part in developing and maintaining an online, multi-vendor marketplace, as well as numerous digital marketing campaigns. He is proficient with multiple programming languages including Python, C#, C++, HTML, CSS, Java, and JavaScript
Dr. Yuvay Ferguson
Dr. Yuvay Ferguson
Dr. Yuvay Ferguson
Educational Consultant, E.S.T.E.A.M. Project Curriculum Developer
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Dr. Yuvay Ferguson has a proven track record of consulting with global corporations to provide learning and development strategy and curriculum focused on preparing the workforce of tomorrow. Having recently served as an Assistant Dean and Associate Profess
Educational Consultant, E.S.T.E.A.M. Project Curriculum Developer
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Dr. Yuvay Ferguson has a proven track record of consulting with global corporations to provide learning and development strategy and curriculum focused on preparing the workforce of tomorrow. Having recently served as an Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Marketing at Howard University’s School of Business before starting her consulting business, she holds a Bachelors degree in International Marketing from Howard University, a Master’s Degree in Strategic Communication from American University, and completed her Ph.D. in Advertising at the University of Texas at Austin.