Our Team

Rachel Vestergaard

Founder & CEO

Following a career in finance as a trader at Zealous Capital Markets, Rachel became Director of Business Development, Americas of Wildlife Works Carbon. In that role, Rachel was part of the team that developed the world’s first validated and verified UN REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from forest Degradation and Deforestation) project and sold the first REDD+ carbon offsets to the private sector, including buyers such as Coca-Cola, UPS, Microsoft, Hershey’s, and more. She later joined CBL Markets as SVP of the Americas driving and overseeing the company's expansion in the US voluntary carbon market. Rachel was an advisor to The W+ Standard for eight years.

Jess Kwong, PhD

Director of Communications

Jess holds a doctorate from the University of Cambridge, with a focus on how language has historically been used to depict and define women across genres and media. Jess brings her expertise in gender and language and her background in journalism, education, and content strategy to support Empower Co. in elevating the conversation around the power of women.

Brooke Bland

Director of Operations

Brooke specializes in logistics and outreach and holds a Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Her many international moves as a military spouse have allowed her to explore a host of interests including banking, real estate, and a variety of leadership positions. She brings this wide range of experience and love of connecting with people to support Empower Co.’s mission.

Our Advisors

Author and Founder of the Soul of Money Institute and Co-Founder of The Pachamama Alliance

For more than 40 years, Lynne Twist has been a recognized global visionary committed to alleviating poverty, ending world hunger and supporting social justice and environmental sustainability.
From working with Mother Teresa in Calcutta to the refugee camps in Ethiopia and the threatened rainforests of the Amazon, as well as guiding the philanthropy of some of the world’s wealthiest families, Lynne’s on-the-ground work has brought her a deep understanding of people’s relationship with capital. Her breadth of knowledge and experience has led her to profound insights about the social tapestry of the world and the historical landscape of the times we are living in.

Global Corporate Communications Manager at Nestlé Nespresso

Sharon Anderes, a commanding presence in global corporate communication and public relations, brings forth finely-honed expertise in sculpting strategies for international organizations. Currently an EMBA candidate at IMD and a recipient of the prestigious Women Leaders Scholarship, her impact reverberates. As the driving force behind Global Corporate Communications at Nestlé Nespresso, she orchestrates with finesse. Moreover, Sharon plays an integral role as part of the Nestlé Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champions and stands as a valued member of Nestlé Global Women on the Move, amplifying her commitment to fostering meaningful change.
Sharon's journey spans key roles heightening organizational impact.at distinguished institutions including the World Economic Forum and United Nations ITU, among other esteemed International Non-profit organizations.
With a decade-long background in broadcast journalism, Sharon's roles as an executive producer, talk show host, and media mentor have left an indelible mark. Her academic accolades include a master’s in Political Science from the University of Geneva and a Bachelor of Social Sciences from Rhodes University.
Hailing from South Africa, Sharon's path has spanned the United States, Argentina, and Colombia, ultimately anchoring in Switzerland. Outside her professional sphere, she's passionate about outdoor pursuits and documentary filmmaking, channeling her skills as a strategic communications advisor for NGOs.

Managing Director of Wafra and Co-Founder of Commit2Change

Sumana is the co-founder of Commit-2-Change (C2C), a non-profit organization focused on educating impoverished and orphaned girls in South Asia. Before C2C, Sumana's passion for public service led her to become one of the founding members of the leadership council for AIF-Sahaya, which focuses on raising awareness for women's and children's health in India, with an emphasis on HIV/AIDs. Non-profit organizations that promote immigrant rights and education programs for the South Asian Community have also benefited from Sumana's efforts; her work through the pro-bono program at Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLP helped rebuild communities in South Asia that were torn apart by civil conflicts and natural disasters. Sumana's belief that every woman should be empowered inspired the co-creation of Catrinka, a socially conscious fashion brand that collaborates with women around the world to make fair trade, fair wage handbags with a mandate to give back to girls education initiatives around the world. Sumana is also a managing director of a private equity fund based in New York, and having straddled the corporate and non-profit sectors for well over a decade, Sumana strongly believes that creating measurable impact in the global economy is the pathway to creating systemic change.

Entrepreneur

Carrie Hammer is a fashion designer, entrepreneur, consultant, and global speaker. Hammer has been credited in kickstarting the “Body Positive” movement in the fashion and advertising industries through the creation of her powerful campaign “Role Models Not Runway Models.”
Hammer was honored by Forbes as 30 Under 30, she was named by Glamour Magazine as a 2015 Hometown Hero, and Entrepreneur Magazine said that she was one of 15 Female Entrepreneurs to watch. Hammer studied Economics and Women’s Studies at UCLA and Fashion Business and Marketing at the Parsons Paris School of Art and Design.

Humanitarian and Development Professional

Mercy Machocho is a gender and development expert with over eight years of experience in the Humanitarian and Development sectors. With a passion for empowering women and girls, she has dedicated her career to creating positive change in communities worldwide.
Mercy has worked with renowned organizations such as FilmAid Kenya, Terre des Hommes Netherlands, and Plan International throughout her professional journey. These experiences have enabled her to gain valuable insights and expertise in addressing gender inequalities and promoting sustainable development. Mercy holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Development and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Gender, Women, and Development Studies from Egerton University in Kenya.
With a rich experience in program management, Mercy has demonstrated her exceptional leadership abilities by spearheading the development and execution of impactful programs with marginalized communities including refugees and asylum seekers that have enabled women and girls to amplify their voices and lead their empowerment.
Leveraging her wealth of experience, passion for gender equality, and commitment to making a difference, Mercy is pivotal in creating safe spaces for women and girls to advocate for their rights and explore innovative solutions to create a more inclusive and equitable world.

Additional advisors named soon.