Faces of YWSE: Julie Kay

Age: 32
Connection to YWSE: Introduced the two co-founders Niko Everett and Sara Ellis to each other, longtime fan of YWSE, SF board member Adriana Dakin's wedding photographer
Affiliations/memberships: Wedding and Portrait Photographers International, Temescal Masters swim team
Academic background: Stanford B.A., Columbia School of Journalism M.S.
Awards/honors: Kurt Schork Memorial Scholarship, Elaine Exton Scholarship, Mother Jones Magazine Fellowship, Outstanding Media Award from the Association of California School Administrations, Best Business Idea Award, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center - Winter 2008 Business Planning Class
Hobbies: Swimming, camping, time outdoors, art, documenting, spending time with the people I love

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Where did you grow up? What’s your history?

I grew up here in the Bay Area. I've always been drawn to creative things, and I've always had an obsession with documenting things, through any medium I could get my hands on.

Faces of YWSE: Sara Ellis Conant

Age: 31
Title/Organization: National Project Management Office Lead, Enterprise Sustainability, Deloitte Consulting
Connection to YWSE: Co-founded YWSE in 1999
Associations/memberships: Social Venture Network; RSF Social Finance (Board); YWSE (National Board)
Hobbies: Yoga, playing guitar, chanting and singing, running, skiing, sailing, international travel, hiking with our dog, cooking/entertaining

Where did you grow up? What's your history? I grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota, which is in the Black Hills. Growing up in the natural, pristine beauty of the Black Hills gave me a foundation for loving the earth. I also gained a sense of spiritual connection. It’s a sacred place to many people, including the Lakota Native Americans. 

Faces of YWSE: Lauren Travis

Name: Lauren Travis
Age: 28
Title and organization: Founder and Director of Women of the World Exchange; MBA candidate at USF; Intern at Wells Fargo
Connection to YWSE: Former board member
Hobbies: Exploring the beautiful Bay Area, searching for the best wine and cheese pairing, knitting, and of course, traveling!

Where did you grow up? What’s your history?
I lived in Hong Kong for 5 years when I was little, spent the rest of my youth in Minneapolis, came to California in 1997 to go to Stanford University, and then moved to San Francisco. After graduating, I worked at the World Affairs Council and International Diplomacy Council, where I worked in membership, development, fundraising and marketing for each. Later I worked in for-profit marketing at McCann World Group, and then was a coach with Inside Track for 2 years.

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Interview on June 20 and updated July 8, 2007 by Adriana Dakin and Tania Hurter, Board Members, YWSE-SF

Faces of YWSE: Niko Everett

Name: Niko Everett
Age: 31
Title and organization: Co-Chief Executive Officer, Girls for a Change
Connection to YWSE: Co-founded YWSE in 1999
Associations/memberships: Democratic National Committee, Planned Parenthood, NARAL: Pro-Choice America
Awards/honors: Draper Richards Foundation fellowship for social entrepreneurs in 2007, one of the “40 Under 40” up and comers in the Silicon Valley by The Silicon Valley Business Journal, KQED Local Hero (Women’s History Month)
Hobbies: Outdoors, sailing, triathlons and marathons

This is the first profile we’re writing for Faces of YWSE. While talking about successes, we also want to share the challenges and frustrations you’ve experienced.
I highly value sharing career challenges with aspiring women. At a panel I attended recently, I felt overwhelmed by the successes of the $20 to 50 million companies. I wanted to hear the challenging moments — what happened when they couldn’t pay the bills, when the staff staged a coup. But these people seemed so perfect, when in fact everyone has issues and failures.

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Interview on March 12, 2007, 2:30 pm by Adriana Dakin and Tania Hurter, Board Members, YWSE-SF