Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF)

Team AACSA had the honor of attending the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) Women in STEM Leadership Gala! A big thank you to The Health Trust for the invite. This inspiring event celebrated women leading in STEM, featuring powerful messages from Shonte Jovan and Diya Wyn, who issued a call to action—urging women to double down like never before and create opportunities for others to step into their greatness. A huge congratulations to Dr. Lisa Andrew and Lisanna Dominguez, MBA for organizing an incredible and successful STEM Leadership Gala!

Equity in STEM isn’t just a conversation–it’s a necessity. Our Founder, Brandi Sinkfield M.D. recently attended the Women in STEM Leadership 2025 conference in Mountain View, CA. The dynamic event, hosted by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) and sponsored by Open Sauce, was truly invigorating. In a panel discussion hosted by Tugba Yanaz CEO LEADANDVISION, Shonté Jovan Taylor, Neuroscientist, Success Trainer, Speaker and AI Specialist Diya Wynn shed light on the need for inclusivity in innovation. Witnessing the next generation of technologists gain the visibility, connections, and opportunities they deserve made us feel hopeful about the future of technology and its potential to transform women’s health. Thank you, OpenSauce, a proud Women in STEM 2025 STEMinist Sponsor, for investing in the future of STEM, and to tami jo hodson for inviting Women's Digital Health to the conversation! 💜 #womensdigitalhealth #WomenInSTEM #EquityInTech #FutureOfSTEM #InnovationForAll #DiversityInTech #WomenWhoLead #womenintech #digitalhealth #womenshealth #futureoftechnology #ai

[🧠 A Neuro-Reflection] Last week, I had the honor of delivering the keynote at the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) Women in STEM Leadership Gala at the iconic Computer History Museum in CA. And what a powerful room it was! Not just because of the brilliance of the minds present—but because of the courage to question what’s no longer working and reimagine what could be. I asked tough questions—and we were all invited to grapple with them: How do we move COLLECTIVELY toward a truly inclusive and equitable future in STEM education? Do YOU, do WE, do our organizations genuinely want an equitable society—or just the appearance of it? Why are we still teaching STEM with OUTDATED methods and systems that don’t serve today’s minds or tomorrow’s future? Why are we allowing leaders operating from FEAR, scarcity, and exclusionary rhetoric—from what I call the limited brain—to shape decisions about our STEM future? And most URGENTLY... How do we preserve CONFIDENCE, passion, and curiosity in girls and historically marginalized students—especially in an era where educational access and funding are under siege? What if... (hear me out)... What if we rewired HOW we teach and lead in STEM? Not just to test facts—but to ignite the whole brain, honor every kind of brilliance, and finally close the equity gap sooner, not later? Because when outdated systems fail to evolve, the brain can—and MUST—lead the way. I left them with these words on top of minds... "Fear and scarcity shrink the brain’s capacity to thrive and innovate. Empathy and equity expand it—unlocking the mental clarity to outthink oppressive mindsets." I’m deeply grateful to these lovely humans... -Dr. Lisa Andrew Andrew, for her equity-driven leadership and vision -Lisanna Dominguez , the SVEF team & board members, for making this event flow with grace -My red-haired twinsie Nancy Ulloa, who reminded us that “You’re not meant to fit in—you’re meant to stand up!”   -Diya Wynn & award recipient, who shared that “The greatest leaders don’t just climb ladders--they build elevators.” - Tugba Yanaz, our moderator, whose insightful and intentional questions brought out the depth of our collective wisdom. We didn’t just talk about STEM... We talked about reengineering it from the brain up— Rooting it in humanity, equity, and imagination. To every girl, every curious mind, every future STEMinist know this: There IS room for you. And we are building it with YOU in MIND. Here's our pledge to you... We're going to stop asking “What if?” And start declaring: “Just watch us.” ~The Neuroscientist 🧠 #WomenInSTEM #STEMinists #EquityInEducation #Neuroscience #NeuroLeadership #Innovation #SVEF2025 #Leadership #STEM #nonprofit Boys & Girls Clubs of America Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area Girls Inc. of Greater Pittsburgh Black Girls Code California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls Girls Scouts of The US

A week ago, Thursday, I had the pleasure of hosting and supporting Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF)’s Women in STEM event at the Computer History Museum here in the Bay. A wonderful group of trailblazing ladies from Intel Corporation joined me Diane Takeuchi Muge Tanik Fernanda Prata along side Educators and students from our local communities. It was a truly inspiring event filled with determination, wisdom, and more than a little sass. We need to double down and continue to support our women and girls as they pursue their dreams and try to advance in systems that were not built for them. The work of organizations like Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) is crucial in fostering a more inclusive and diverse STEM landscape. By supporting these initiatives, we can ensure that the next generation of innovators and leaders reflects the diversity and talent of our communities. I'm grateful for the work SVEF does to bridge the gap in education, access and opportunity, and for their unwavering commitment to their mission. Dr. Lisa Andrew Lisanna Dominguez, MBA Anastasia "Stasi" Brown, CPA Tugba Yanaz CEO LEADANDVISION Dave House Jaime Campos Cecile Galvez Cecil Mak Sahil Bhardwaj Diya Wynn Shonté Jovan Taylor, Neuroscientist, Success Trainer, Speaker Thank you to our honorees and speakers for your words of inspiration and grace on stage 🔥⭐️ #stemleadership

Innovation starts with opportunity—and Intel Corporation is making sure more students have access to both! As a Future Builder Sponsor for Women in STEM 2025, Intel is committed to preparing future leaders in technology and engineering. We’re grateful for their partnership in advancing STEM pathways! 💡 Thank you for your support! ⚛️ #WomenInSTEM #STEMinistsAtWork #SVEF #BridgingTalentAndOpportunity

It was our honor to represent San Francisco Bay University at the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) Women in Stem Leadership Gala, with Anzar Khaliq, Sheri Snider Boscaro, CPA, Jolee David, MBA, Irina Chukhray, PhD, Leesa Riviere, Ph.D., Rein Soros Townsend, Margaux John, MA, CRC, Leslie Ji, and Heather Herrera, PhD!

Inspiring night at the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) Women in STEM event. Thank you Dr. Lisa Andrew and Lisanna Dominguez, MBA for including me in this amazing evening. Grateful to the speakers, Shonté Jovan Taylor, Neuroscientist, Success Trainer, Speaker and Diya Wynn who gave a call to action for our girls who need us to double down on them more than ever to open doors for them to step into their greatness. Great to see so many women leaders there supporting this work Cynthia Teniente-Matson, Tamara Alvarado, Shawn Gerth, Kathleen King, Dolly Sandoval and so many others

Like Shonté Jovan Taylor, Neuroscientist, Success Trainer, Speaker, I must've written my acceptance speech over a thousand times in my mind... In that moment, I wanted to capture something that would resonate beyond just the evening. More on that soon... I've received other awards but last night was epic. Maybe it was the sass that Dr. Lisa Andrew brought to the room and her unwavering commitment to lifting up women when so many are steering clear. Maybe it was the exuberance of Nancy Ulloa, Latina winemaker or the brilliance of student Speaker @Siya Aggarwal who is being trained in cybersecurity through one of Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) programs. (She made my heart smile.) A part of it definitely was all the brain talk (Shonté) but also the energy, the community, and the spirit of celebration created by the friends and supporters of #SVEF to honor Women in STEM Leadership 2025 and me. A tremendous thank you to Lisa, the board and Lisa's amazing team for the honor. I am full and definitely felt celebrated. And my friend, Visionaryfilmmaker C'vonzell, coming through to support. Thank you! 🙏🏾 #trailblazer #WomeninSTEM #responsibleinnovation #inclusionmatters #coloringoutsidethelines

I’m feeling incredibly inspired after attending the Women in STEM Leadership and the Women Who Empower It, hosted by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF). It was such a rewarding and beautiful experience to be surrounded by so many women who are leading the way in STEM and championing the importance of education. It was truly uplifting to hear from the speakers, Shonté Jovan Taylor, Neuroscientist, Success Trainer, Speaker and Diya Wynn, both left me inspired and motivated. A special thank you to Dr. Lisa Andrew the CEO, for her bold vision and for always going above and beyond. I am truly inspired by Lisa and grateful for the meaningful relationship we are building.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) - thank you for the energetic and inspiring Women in STEM presentation last night! Thank you, Jared Darby for the invitation. What a fun evening celebrating a great cause with like-minded individuals who care about education, community, and collaboration! Thank you, SFEF and Dr. Lisa Andrew's team for a great event. Congratulations to Diya Wynn on your award. As Shonté Jovan Taylor, Neuroscientist, Success Trainer, Speaker said, the stronger our mission, the faster you'll get to your goal. So happy to share vision with so many wonderful people in one room! So great to have a chance to talk to Marcey Winawer and Emily Darby and see Teri Faught outside of the office. Bryan Gillson - I always love time with you supporting great causes.