Executive Team

  • Diana Mao

    Co-Founder, President

    Diana Mao received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics/Accounting and Chinese at the University of California Santa Barbara and a Masters in Public Administration, specializing in International Management at Wagner, New York University. She has expertise in governmental consulting, domestic and international economic development, social entrepreneurship, micro-finance, and launching awareness raising campaigns. Her passion for ending modern day slavery stems from her favorite bible verse "to whom much is given, much is required." Diana is a blogger for the Huffington Post and occasionally the United States Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center. Diana loves her vibrant Nomi laptop case because it makes working fun!

    Diana Mao

    Co-Founder, President

  • Alissa Moore

    Co-founder, Vice President

    Alissa A. Moore graduated with honors from Skidmore College with a dual degree in American Studies and Theatre, concentrating in directing. Since graduating she has been working in the non-profit performing arts sector. Her expertise is in cultivating federal level grassroots advocacy for non-profits and fostering professional development opportunities for their leadership. While launching Nomi Network, she co-produced the inaugural Freedom Week NYC '09, and was the NY volunteer point person for Call + Response, a documentary on human trafficking. Her favorite product is the quilted bowler for the convenient detachable shoulder strap, roomy main pocket and trendy silhouette.

    Alissa Moore

    Co-founder, Vice President

  • Supei Liu

    Co-founder, Vice President of Product Development and Commerce

    Supei Liu is a dual graduate of Penn State University and the Fashion Institute of Technology with over twelve years of experience in the retail and wholesale industry as a buyer, planner, and director. In June of 2005, she volunteered in Zambia, and it was there that she first noticed the need to bridge the gap between local workers and western buyers so they can have the opportunity to move towards a better future for their children. Her favorite Nomi product is the original fish tote because it reminds her of the first time she worked with the women in Cambodia.

    Supei Liu

    Co-founder, Vice President of Product Development and Commerce

  • Lisa Kim

    Legal Counsel and Vice President of Sales

    Lisa Kim graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a dual baccalaureate degree in Film Studies and Law. She obtained her Juris Doctorate at Whittier Law School with a Certificate in International Law and has been admitted to practice law in California and New York. Her experience in Uganda and Cambodia honed her desire to advocate for the local and global communities. As an avid foodie and coffee-fanatic, Lisa loves exploring new eateries with her friends. Her favorite Nomi product is the Buy Her Bag Not Her Body® signature tote because of its functionality and awareness raising message.

    Lisa Kim

    Legal Counsel and Vice President of Sales

  • Mia Marais

    Vice President of Finance and Operations

    Mia Marais is a South African chartered accountant. She has five years of experience auditing various clients including manufacturers, retailers, financial services companies and others. Mia spent the past seven years as assistant controller for an international reinsurance company in Bermuda and now resides in New York City with her husband and young son. Her favorite bag is the signature tote which she uses every day.

    Mia Marais

    Vice President of Finance and Operations

  • Maria Choi

    Director of Marketing and Communications

    A native of New England, Maria Choi received her degree in Sociology and Communications from Hamilton College. Currently, Maria is the Director of Corporate Development at a national non-profit and has held positions in marketing/business development at Carnegie Hall, National Football League and U.S. Fund for UNICEF. After several trips abroad, Maria dedicated herself to help women and children achieve their dreams. Maria works on Nomi’s branding and helps build strategic partnerships to create sustainable jobs. In her spare time, Maria is dancing and eating her way through Brooklyn. Her favorite product is the fish beach tote because its fits everything!

    Maria Choi

    Director of Marketing and Communications

  • Ava Chen

    Director of Programs

    Ava Chen received a Bachelor of Science in Information and Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine. While interning at International Justice Mission, she learned about trafficking and committed to working toward social justice. She then joined Teach For America (TFA) and earned a Masters in Teaching. After completing her term with TFA, she obtained a Masters in Public Health from New York University Master's Program in Global Public Health where she studied violence against adolescents in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. She is currently a Director at a government services firm where she uses Nomi’s laptop case for a pop of color.

    Ava Chen

    Director of Programs

  • Caroline Hughes

    Communications Specialist

    Caroline Hughes graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Psychology minor from Clemson University, South Carolina. Caroline currently works at a media agency as an Integrated Marketing Coordinator for local promotions in the media buying department. She helps spearhead Nomi's Public Relations and is passionate about raising awareness to building support and a network for a cause. Her favorite Nomi product is the signature tote and she uses it for traveling, groceries and the gym. She loved this product so much, she bought one for every woman in her family this past Christmas!

    Caroline Hughes

    Communications Specialist

  • Henry Tseng

    Director of Technology

    Henry Tseng graduated from Rutgers University School of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Electrical Engineering. Over the past 8 years, he has worked on countless projects garnering several industry awards. Now as an entrepreneur, he owns and manages Canvas Digital, an agency involved in building brands through creative design and innovative technology. Henry mentors and leads a development team responsible for building digital solutions across various platforms. Henry believes in fighting social justice by creating opportunities and empowering people for change.

    Henry Tseng

    Director of Technology

  • Annora Wang

    Director of Business Strategy

    Annora graduated from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business with a concentration in Finance. She has experience working in investment banking and currently works for a private capital fund investing in debt and equity of mid market companies. Annora is passionate about leveraging her investment and finance experience to help create a financially and operationally sustainable social enterprise that seeks to empower women and break the cycle of modern day sexual slavery worldwide

    Annora Wang

    Director of Business Strategy

  • Kathryn Yuen

    Development Associate

    Kathryn received her undergraduate degree in English and a Masters in Education, with an emphasis in Cultural Perspectives and Comparative Education, from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She currently works at a medical device company as a Global Clinical, Quality and Training Specialist. The reality of human trafficking and sex slavery was made more evident to Kathryn after a recent trip to southern China. Since then, she has become passionate about ending this vicious global phenomenon through the education of young women and girls at a high risk for becoming trafficked, as well as providing education and rehabilitation services to survivors of the sex slave industry.

    Kathryn Yuen

    Development Associate

Seventy-five of the executive team generously volunteer their time because they are passionate about Nomi Network's mission.

Board of Directors 

Donna Tobin:

Donna Tobin is a partner at Baker Hostetler and focuses her practice in intellectual property law and has a broad range of experience in that area. With over 24 years of experience, Ms. Tobin represents corporations and businesses of all sizes.

Donna Tobin is a partner at Baker Hostetler and focuses her practice in intellectual property law and has a broad range of experience inthat area. With over 24 years of experience, Ms. Tobin represents corporations and businesses of all sizes, as well as nonprofit organizations, universities and individuals, in acquisition, protection, enforcement, licensing, clearance and evaluation of intellectual property rights. Her areas of focus include trademark portfolio management and monetization, trademark search and clearance opinions, oppositions and cancellations before the Trademark Trial andAppeal Board and advising clients on international filing strategies.

Ms. Tobin has extensive experience in assisting clients in a wide variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, apparel, dietary supplements, luxury goods, real estate, consumer electronics, food, insurance, machinery and publishing, in acquisition, enforcement and protection of their intellectual property, including copyrights, patents, trade secrets and trademarks. 

She is an experienced intellectual property litigator, having helped her clients enforce their rights and defended her clients against the infringement allegations of others, and she negotiates favorable settlements where advisable. 

Ms. Tobin also has significant experience in the application of intellectual property laws to computer-related technologies and was involved in one of the first cases under U.S. Copyright law to apply the right to make archival copies to the operation of computer programs on personal computers. Since then, Ms. Tobin has been involved in a variety of wide-ranging issues relating to computer technologies, including the seizure of counterfeit software, enforcement of business method patents, theft of trade secret software relating to energy conservation technology, the use of photographs on Internet web sites and licensing of patents used by financial institutions. She has extensive experience in litigating matters in the federal courts, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in UDRParbitrations involving domain names. Ms. Tobin has written on computer technology-related trademark issues for national law journals and has spoken on the subject at conferences directed to artificial intelligence professionals.

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George Ross, Board Chair:

George Ross has been a consultant and director of Nomi Network since its founding. Since July 2005 he has also
served as Executive Director, New York for World Vision Inc. Since 2002, Mr. Ross has been a consultant to early
stage businesses and a financial investor.

George Ross has been a consultant and director of Nomi Network since its founding. Since July 2005 he has also
served as Executive Director, New York for World Vision Inc. Since 2002, Mr. Ross has been a consultant to early
stage businesses and a financial investor. His business career has included senior financial officer and board member
positions with both public and private companies in diverse industries. Mr. Ross was Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer and a board member of Tier Technologies Inc. from February 1997 to January 2000, which became a
public company during this period. Mr. Ross was a partner and investor with Capital Partners from 1992 to 1997, serving
on multiple boards of directors. He was a senior financial officer and director of various Axel Johnson Inc. businesses
from 1979 to 1992. He also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and director of Aminoil USA,
an R.J. Reynolds (“RJR”) subsidiary, from 1976 to 1979; and in various financial positions with RJR from 1969 to 1976.
He also has worked in public accounting with Ernst & Ernst. Throughout his career he has served on non-profit boards
for education and individual, family and community development.

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Kathy Weida:

Kathy Weida has over 30 years’ of experience in Global Human Resources for Fortune 500 Companies including CBS Inc, Joseph E Seagram & Sons, and most recently Colgate Palmolive Company. She has worked in all areas of Human Resources, and also had experience in Sydney, Australia as HR Director for the South Pacific Region of Colgate Palmolive. 

Kathy Weida has over 30 years’ of experience in Global Human Resources for Fortune 500 Companies including CBS Inc, Joseph E Seagram & Sons, and most recently Colgate Palmolive Company. She has worked in all areas of Human Resources, and also had experience in Sydney, Australia as HR Director for the South Pacific Region of Colgate Palmolive. She has extensive experience working with senior teams, and with employee and executive coaching and counseling. She has also presented at many professional conferences and meetings on various HR related topics.
Kathy received her Bachelor of Science from Georgetown with a focus on Languages and Linguistics. She has been inducted into the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers and has travelled extensively to both the developed and developing world. Her interests include sports, travelling, cooking, and spending time with friends and family. She is an Elder of Central Presbyterian Church in Summit, New Jersey, is on the Board of Directors of Summit Helping its People (SHIP) and is serving as a Consultant to the National Executive Retired Corps.

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Susan Lee:

Originally from Hong Kong, Susan immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of six. She is the product of
the New York City public school system and an alumna of Barnard College, Columbia University where she received a B.A.
in Political Science.

In 2005, Susan received her Masters in Public Administration at Robert F. Wagner School of Public
Service, New York University. She is currently a development consultant for various non-profit organizations in New York
City. Susan served as the Program Manager for Development at AAFE Community Development Fund and the Advocacy
Associate at Covenant House International where worked on its anti-trafficking campaign in Latin America. In 2009, Susan
left her consulting business to serve as Volunteer Coordinator for Margaret Chin for City Council campaign where she
successfully helped elect Margaret Chin to the New York City Council. Susan joined Nomi Network as its Fundraising
Chair in 2009.

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Board of Advisors

Antonio del Valle, JP Morgan Chase
Caroline Okumu, Society of White House Military Aides
Dorothy Sadd
Francine le Frak, Same Sky
Gretchen Beidl
Gayle Embrey, Embrey Interests and Embrey Family Foundation
Greg Furman, The Luxury Council and New York University
Harriet Novet, Time Warner, Retired
Jason Paul McCarthy, Parsons The New School for Design
Jonalie Korengold
Justin Dillon, Call and Response
Kate Ancketill, GDR Creative Intelligence
Ruchira Gupta, Apne Aap
Siddharth Kara, Harvard University, Author
Sridhar Seshadri, University of Austin Texas