Meet the 2023 Champions of Change Award Nominees
Join us for DivInc’s 5th Annual Champions of Change Awards presented by Notley!
This special event recognizes and celebrates local individuals who champion diversity, equity and inclusion in the Austin ecosystem.
Champions of Change takes place on March 2, 2023 at Distribution Hall.
Space is limited - be sure to get your tickets early.
Meet the 2023 Nominees
All nominees were carefully reviewed by a Selection Committee, comprised of diverse and distinguished leaders and advocates in Austin.
Executive of the Year
The Executive of the Year award recognizes an executive at a for-profit, or an established non-profit, who provides authentic leadership and engagement to their organization and team. They not only shine a light on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice but also drive that light forward with action and results.
Kana LiVolsi, CEO & Co-Founder at Dos Mundos Creative
Ricardo Martinez, CEO at Equality Texas
Shaleiah Fox, Chief Advancement Officer at The Thinkery
Shuronda Robinson, CEO of Adisa Communications and Austin Woman Magazine
Wendy Howell, Co-Founder & CEO at Executive Council Network
DEI Leader of the Year
The DEI Leader of the Year award recognizes a DEI professional - an individual in their company or organization, or a consultant who is working with a company or organization - who leads a team activating DEI initiatives that create significant impact and change in their organization and beyond.
Amy Maldonado, Global Inclusion Programs Coordinator at Indeed
Brion Oaks, Vice President of DEI and Operations at Charles Butt Foundation
Dr. Elizabeth Medina, Chief Diversity Officer for Civil Air Patrol and Former Inclusion & Accountability Director at Everly Health
Rachel Lauren Pierce, Vice-President of People & Culture at Dream.Org / Founding Partner @ Diversified Consulting Firm
River Holley, DBI Specialist, AMD
Young Leader of the Year
The Young Leader of the Year award celebrates an outstanding young leader, early in their impact career, who is already, exceptionally and impressively, driving outsized impact within their community, school, place of work, or otherwise.
Ash Hall, Founder & CEO at Justice Strategies, LLC
Azteca Sirias, Founder & Developer at Aztech Kidz Code
Alyse Gamble, Public Affairs D&I Content Specialist at HEB & IV League Fashion Model
Chastiny Brown, Programs Manager at 3 Day Startup
Corey Alan, Program Associate at 3 Day Startup, Community and Youth Engagement Consultant at OutYouth
Champion of the Year
The Champion of The Year award recognizes an absolute powerhouse of an individual who is making an outsized or novel impact in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice that is cross-functional, multi-faceted, and uncategorizable. They are a community leader, a changemaker, and a true champion.
Dr. Angela Valenzuela, Professor in Educational Leadership and Policy at The University of Texas at Austin
Hailey Easley, Executive Director at Austin Asian Community Health Initiative
Maria Brown-Spence, Founder & CEO of Hearts2Heal and Director of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) at SThree.
Judge Maya Guerra Gamble, Judge, 459th District Court
Jaryn Holbrook Janeway, Director of Operations & Programs, Out Youth
Investor of the Year
The Investor of the Year award recognizes an individual who has implemented programs, partnerships, and/or equity investments with the intentional purpose of increasing the number of opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Andy Ambrose, Partner at TheFund Austin
Betty Wu Adams, Managing Director of Equity Investments at The Disability Opportunity Fund
Cat Dizon, Co-founder at Active Capital
Juan Thurman, Co-founder and Managing General Partner, SWAN Impact Fund
Sanika Bhave, VC at Capital Factory
Rising Star of the Year
The Rising Star of the Year award recognizes someone who has catalyzed their commitment to and impact toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. In the last year, this individual has had a recent rise in their influence in this space and is making a significant impact in their field. You can tell their impact is just getting started and with notable momentum.
Alyse Gamble, Public Affairs D&I Content Specialist at HEB & IV League Fashion Model
Daniela Silva, Consultant at Farmshare Austin
Dante Clemons, Co-Founder Origin Studio House
Jazz Mills, Founder and Director of Operations at Free Lunch
Nicole Cardoza, CEO at Reclamation Ventures
Nonprofit Leader of the Year
The Nonprofit Leader of the Year award recognizes an individual working at a nonprofit who is leading from their position, management, or staff, and is creating an outsized impact within their organization and for the communities they serve.
Diana Anzaldua, Founder & CEO at Contigo Wellness
Kelenne Blake-Fallon, Executive Director, Black Mamas ATX
Rockie Gonzalez, Deputy Director, Austin Justice Coalition
Timeka Walker, CEO at United Against Human Trafficking
Phyllis Everette, CEO/Founder at Saffron Trust Women’s Foundation
Startup Leader of the Year
The Startup Leader of the Year award recognizes a startup founder, team member, or ecosystem organizer in the early-stage entrepreneurial community whose work has advanced diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice for historically excluded populations.
Carley Deardorff, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Capital Factory
Hans Scheri & Luis Gramajo, CMO/CEO, Wunderkeks LLC
Katrina Tolentino, Executive Director at Naturally Network
Sierra Pena, Co-Founder & CEO at Shelfleet
Sugar Tennon, Founder & CEO, Pink Sugar Treats & Eats
Spacemaker of the Year
The Spacemaker of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has, through their work, created or grown a unique community-gathering space, physical or virtual, powered by the principles of diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice.
Diana Melendez, Esq., Co-Founder, Women of Color Collective; Attorney, Diana Melendez Law, PLLC
Dominique McLeggan Brown, Founder, The Sisters in Law LLC
Katrina and Eric Brooks, Owners, Black Pearl Books
Marissa Rivera, Founder & Community Curator, Ola Wellness _OFCOLOR
Natalie Sanders, Founder of House of LEPORE & the ORISHA mere project