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community
A
aligned
purpose
with
Mission
Our Mission
By women
for women
Run
WE Global Studios is first and foremost a community of thought leaders whose mission is your success. As a full-stack startup Innovation Studio and Platform run by and for women entrepreneurs, we know what it takes to succeed, which is why we focus on architecting a solid business foundation from day one that will deliver you traction.
Our Startup
Studio Model
If this model is new to you, a Startup Studio serves as a co-founder for entrepreneurs and provide critical services, advice, and expertise to guide them toward building a successful scalable business at the earliest stages.
WE Global Studios is the first full-stack Innovation Studio dedicated solely to helping women entrepreneurs build their empires.
The development and design of WE Global Studios, was inspired by the Hollywood Studio Model. Instead of making deals with talent to develop, produce and distribute movies and series, we make deals with founders, and their teams to produce companies. We've adapted the Hollywood-style production process to funnel
founders through a sequential series of building stages. This culminates in the completion of a product or service, with traction and the capacity to scale the business.
We are operational experts who nurture female talent and their companies through a very unique and tailor-made process, because we've been there and understand the startup ecosystem pain points they face and how to navigate and around them.
Vision & Mission
high impact
startups
Create
Our operational expertise has taught us that it’s all in the execution and in the details. Therefore, within our platform we created a one of a kind 360° startup ecosystem just for you, to insure you have at your fingertips all that you need to create a successful corporation or small business.
In addition, our collective intelligence community, the educational upskilling of our intensive 5-track curriculum, our tech innovation lab, product-market fit obsession, and our partners make us stand out. We deliver training and a real edge to women entrepreneurs that is unique to our Hollywood roots because we know how to develop and build great IP, brands and companies. We are driven by providing value to you and your investors as you build, launch and to create or scale a company, or small business.
Deliver
high revenue
streams
WE Global Studios innovates internally and partners with founders externally to build great companies. Our platform serves as a pipeline to the Studio.
The program offers an elite mentor and operational advisor network, as well as matchmaking services to key enterprise beta and channel partners to validate product/market fit and go market strategy.
WE Global is dedicated to creating, launching and leading successful startups through an intensive co-creation program that leverages community education, operational expertise, enterprise partnerships, strategists, capital advisors and representation to drive meaningful traction and deliver high revenue streams at the Pre-Seed to Series A stage.
Your team
Get to know
Team: Advisory Board
Executive Management
team
Fernanda
Carapinha
Founder & CEO
Fernanda Carapinha is a serial media/tech entrepreneur, former senior entertainment executive, executive producer, and writer, with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment/technology business.
Fernanda’s deep experience and insight both in the creative entertainment/media business of content development, production, distribution, and promotion, as well as in the data science/software business, has afforded her a unique perspective that has enabled her to be ahead of the curve in the convergence of the entertainment and technology industries.
Fernanda received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and her Master’s Degree with honors from Pepperdine University. She is also the chairperson of the Women In Tech Alliance for the California Technology Council.
Eve
Psalti
Management Team
Tech & Business Development
Eve Psalti is the Senior Director at Microsoft’s Azure Artificial Intelligence engineering organization.
She is working with customers and partners across industries to help them grow their businesses through digital transformation strategies, leveraging Microsoft’s innovative AI, ML, and cognitive services capabilities.
Prior to this role, Eve held business development, sales, and marketing leadership positions at Google, Microsoft, and startups across the US and Europe.
She’s passionate about supporting female founders to develop and commercialize their businesses and also supporting ed-tech initiatives and enabling under-represented communities to have access to leadership and career growth opportunities through STEM.
Stephanie
Granato
Management Team
Legal & Strategic Planning
Stephanie Granato is a corporate attorney and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience advising growing companies, entrepreneurs, and investors. She partners with clients to launch and scale their new ventures and acts as an outsourced general counsel for companies in industries including technology, media, events, e-commerce, and sustainability.
Stephanie is a co-founder and COO of Creative Technologies Inc., a government contractor that conceives, designs, and delivers novel, immersive, cognitive simulation solutions. Before founding Granato Law Office, she practiced corporate law in New York with an international law firm in the corporate transactional group, and in Los Angeles with a boutique corporate firm. Stephanie is a Yale Law School graduate and is admitted to the bar in California, New York, Washington, D.C., and Connecticut.
Leighanne
Neville
Management Team
Finance & Venture
Leighanne Neville is a startup CFO and CPA with 30 years of experience advising founders and scaling high-profile startups. She is currently a startup CFO and Market Growth Lead for Countsy, a division of RGP, Inc.
She partners with founders to raise capital, develop financial projections and KPIs, liaison with investors and Boards, and lead the finance function to scale infrastructure for rapid growth.
She has worked in a wide range of industries, ranging from consumer product, software, SaaS, IoT, e-commerce.
Prior to RGP, she headed up the finance team at True & Co and multiple other venture-backed startups. Leighanne started her career at Pricewaterhouse Coopers as a Manager in the Emerging Technology Practice.
Advisory Board
team
Meet Our Team
Nisa
Amoils
Advisory Board
Nisa Amoils is Managing Partner at A100x Ventures and Advisor to Dragonfly Capital where she, invests in early-stage Blockchain/AI/Crypto/NFT companies with special attention to social impact and diversity.
She has been investing in blockchain since 2016 and her prior fund was Scout Ventures investing in technology. She practiced securities law at Anderson Kill and is FINRA licensed.
Honors: Business Insider’s Women VCs to watch, 2021 systematic leader in asset management, top 100 Women in Fintech, and top 50 global Blockchain thinkers.
Prior to investing, she spent many years in business development and strategy at companies like Time Warner, NBC Universal and has parlayed that into media presence as a former host of FintechTV and Forbes columnist.
She holds a business degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Kirsten
Curtis
Advisory Board | Capital
Kirsten Curtis is a board member, advisor, and consultant, dedicating her time and energy to helping companies scale. She serves on the board of directors at Pure Plus, a company focused on creating healthy candies.
She advises and consults with several other companies, with specialities in operations and supply chain management.
For many years, Kirsten worked as a Principle in the Valor Operations Group.
Her responsibilities included interim executive management, supply chain improvements, lean implementations, project management, business process improvement, and supporting portfolio companies in a variety of growth initiatives across industries as diverse as consumer goods, restaurants, and cybersecurity.
Sally
Drexler
Advisory Board | Studio
Sally Drexler is a Senior Managing Director at Teneo, a former Partner in Odgers Berndtson’s Los Angeles office, and a member of its Consumer, Technology, and Digital Practices.
She has over 19 years of international experience in executive search specializing in consumer digital, retail, as well as media, and entertainment.
She has extensive experience in recruiting Board Members, C-Suite Executives, and Innovation Leaders.
Sally is a member of the Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation’s (EWA) Cohort of Women Leaders for 2020. She is an involved member of Step-Up Women’s Network, a national not-for-profit organization that mentors and works with high school girls in underserved communities. She is an inaugural member of Allbright USA, a network and community connecting women in business.
Alexia
Hefti
Advisory Board | International
Alexia Hefti is a Swiss-Canadian, New York-qualified lawyer and is based out of Dubai.
Alexia is CEO of eGovern, which advises governments globally on transitioning to e-government delivery models and companies seeking to explore blockchain uses within their industries. Alexia is also an Advisor on the FinTech Advisory Board of the Government of Bermuda.
Previously at Deloitte, Alexia co-founded the blockchain tax practice in Canada and Dubai working on improving the delivery of tax administration services using digital solutions in the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Prior to this, she worked in international human rights,
transitional justice and international criminal justice in the Middle East and Africa for several organizations and governments, including the United Nations.
Delilah
Panio
Advisory Board | Capital
Delilah Panio is Vice President of Capital Formation for Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) based in Southern California.
In this role, Delilah advises U.S. companies on the opportunity to list and raise capital on Canada’s premier equity markets.
She is a frequent speaker and pitch competition judge and coach, and was recently named in the “2019 Top 100 People in Finance” Magazine.
Previously, Delilah spent 10 years at TSX and TSXV in business development and strategy.
She has advised many companies
on the going public process and provides an understanding of private and public financing options in Canada and the United States.
Margot
Shapiro
Advisory Board | Capital
Margot Shapiro is currently a Managing Partner at Spiral Sun Ventures, investing in early-stage CPG companies that promote a healthier lifestyle, particularly in the food, beverage and personal care sectors.
She uses a broad resource network and collaborative partnerships with visionary founders to help accelerate the growth of young companies on a path to success.
Margot is a seasoned investment professional with 20+ years in private equity and venture capital.
She started her career in the Investment Banking division of Goldman Sachs, then worked in private equity. In 2010 Margot co-founded a venture fund that invested solely in female-led companies.
She loves being involved in mentorship and is passionate about empowering female entrepreneurs and working to expand roles for women in venture capital.
Deborah
Benton
Advisory Board
Deborah Benton is the founding Partner of Willow Growth Partners, which provides early growth capital to entrepreneurs building the next generation of transformative consumer brands and the disruptive technologies that power them.
A seasoned consumer retail executive with a specific passion for industries focused on women; she brings many years of operational management experience at the highest level to the firm.
Most recently, Deborah served as President and Chief Operating Officer for Nasty Gal, an online women's fashion retailer for the millennial set.
Prior to NastyGal, Deborah was Chief Operating Officer of Shoe Dazzle, an online women's shoe and accessories company.
Deborah is an active supporter of women's entrepreneurship in Southern California and currently serves as a Board Director for The Bouqs, Carbon38, and Vow to be Chic.
Candi
Dalipe
Advisory Board | Capital
Candi Dalipe is the founder of FundamentaXF, a strategic advisory and search/recruitment firm with a mission to partner with clients to solve their most pressing business challenges around talent acquisition and leadership development.
Candi currently works with select venture-backed, private equity portfolio companies and major public companies in N. America and Europe.
She serves as a coach, a trusted advisor, and a strategic partner to the firm's clients, recruiting talented leaders across varied sectors as they build transformative executive teams to help them adapt to the obstacles they are not structured to withstand during certain stages of growth.
Suzy
Feldman
Advisory Board | Marketing
Suzy Feldman is the Senior Vice President of Worldwide TV Marketing at Lionsgate.
She oversees consumer and trade marketing, creative services, PR & publicity, trade shows and events, and social media.
Suzy is responsible for all marketing efforts for the domestic, international and digital sales teams.
Lionsgate is a global content leader that reaches next-generation audiences around the world through films, television series, digital products, and linear and over-the-top platforms.
Suzy has a track record of more than 20 years in the entertainment industry working in positions in marketing, sales, publicity and social media.
Leslie
Knutson
Advisory Board | WE Podcast Host
As the Clinical Psychologist and Executive Coach Leslie Knutson provided training and EAP services to the administrative and correctional staff. Leslie has also taught at the John Jay School of Criminal Justice and has been a guest speaker for State. Department, US Military and Law Enforcement employees in Italy.
Leslie currently maintains an active psychology practice in Milan, Italy working in a number of diverse settings including a consulting group focusing on improving employee morale within Fortune 500 companies; a Crisis Intervention specialist to the State Department and US Military employees during and after September 11, 2001, and for the duration of the Iraq war.
Sara
Qazi
Advisory Board
Chair Capital Council
Sara Qazi is a seasoned senior finance and entertainment professional with an entrepreneurial bent and penchant for building businesses. She is currently the Sr. VP of Investments, and Founder of the Q&M Sports and Entertainment Group at Raymond James specializing in strategic financial consulting for the media, music, and film entertainment industries. Previously she was First Vice President and Director of the Global Sports & Entertainment division of Morgan Stanley,
Sara’s 22 years in the capital markets spanned the prestigious firm of Donaldson Lufkin and Jenrette, where she worked with large institutional clients, hedge funds, legendary technology investors and founding C-suite.
Sara established her private client practice focused on social impact investments for the media and entertainment industry.
Louise
Spinner
Advisory Board
Louise Spinner is a prominent senior talent agent in the Motion Picture Department at United Talent Agency, one of the world’s leading talent agencies. She manages a roster of 35 artists who collectively gross an average of 200m annually.
She has helped discover and develop highly successful breakout talent in addition to supporting the growth of more established artists.
Louise’s tenure in the entertainment business spans over 25 years and began with the representation of prominent commercial and video directors at Limelight, and later theatrical representation at ICM, before joining what is now Management 360, where Reese Witherspoon and Kiefer Sutherland were clients.
Fumbi
Chima
Advisory Board
Co-Chair International Council
Fumbi Chima is the Global Chief Information Officer of Adidas. She is an accomplished senior executive with extensive experience leading digital transformations within established, global corporations across multi-industries.
Fumbi focuses on driving business outcomes through the use of technology and digital solutions. She has deep experience in leading organizational change, global transformational programs and inspiring organizations to embrace a new future
Prior to joining Adidas in 2019, Fumbi has been the transformational CIO for several global organizations, she was most recently the CIO of Fox Network Group; CIO at Burberry Corporation, CIO of Walmart Stores Inc. Asia business operations, and CIO of American Express’ Global Corporate Technologies.
Daniel
Dobson-Smith
Advisory Board
Daniel Dobson-Smith is a transformational executive and global leadership coach, and has over 20 years of experience working in corporations.
As a professional executive, Daniel has held a range of senior executive and C-Suite level roles across a host of sectors and companies including renowned retailer Marks & Spencer Plc, travel and tourism company Eurostar International, Crossrail Ltd, music giant Sony Music Entertainment, and Essence Global.
Daniel is certified as an Executive Coach by both the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and the Oxford School of Coaching & Mentoring, credentialed with the International Coach Federation. He is a coach-supervisor through the Coaching Supervision Academy. Daniel is also an accredited practitioner of Transformational NLP.
Lucia
Gallardo
Advisory Board
Co-Chair International Council
Lucia Gallardo is a Honduran serial entrepreneur building socially impactful emerging technology solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems as Founder & CEO of Emerge.
Emerge's portfolio includes projects in digital identification, global food supply chain, information accuracy, health and financial inclusion, and more.
For its work, Emerge has been nominated for the 2018 Global SDG Awards and Newsweek’s 2019 Blockchain Impact Awards. It was listed as one of Hatch's 20 Most Impactful Startups in the World.
Lucia is also pioneering a progressive, impact-focused platform ecology as the Managing Partner of Penta Network's Impact Ecosystem.
Stefanie
Marx
Advisory Board
Stefanie Marx is a Co-founder of an AdTech startup that modernizes ethical personal data use.
As its head of marketing, she utilizes her entertainment background to create innovative marketing campaigns and positive user-experiences on the (UI/UX) product side.
Stefanie brings 7+ years of work experience at the intersection of Entertainment and Tech, specializing in creative strategy, content development and product marketing.
After graduating from Tufts University with a B.A. in Child Psychology and Communications, she entered the media industry with a focus on the digital space and tv/film development.
She is the producer of innovative, eye-catching viral videos, capturing 50M+ views.
Juliet
Scott-Croxford
Advisory Board | Chair Studio Council
Juliet is the President of North America for Brompton Bicycle. Before joining Brompton, Juliet was the CEO for Worth Media overseeing its transformation from a print publisher to digital content and event platform. Prior to that, she was Chief Delivery Officer at the Guardian News and Media, responsible for the strategic implementation of the brand’s global three-year turnaround plan.
Juliet began her career as a management consultant, learning to code at IBM Business Consulting Services, before focusing on business strategy and organizational change, working with clients to solve complex business problems across a variety of industries through the use of technology.
Juliet also serves as Advisory Board Member for WE Global Studios a startup innovation studio and digital platform for women entrepreneurs around the world.
Advisory Council
team
Beatriz
Acevedo
Advisory Council
Beatriz Acevedo began her career as a young radio and television host.
Her work has earned her three Emmy Awards, an MTV Music Video Award, two Streamy Awards, a Media Correspondent Award, among others. Beatriz was the co-founder and President of mitú, the leading digital media brand for young Latinos in the U.S. Under her leadership, she went on to raise $50M in funding, led by some of the most successful venture capital groups in California.
Beatriz is currently the President of her family’s foundation “Acevedo Foundation.”
For the past 30 years, the Foundation has provided scholarships for students who lack the financial means to pursue higher education.
Joanna
Bloor
Advisory Council
Potentialist - FairyGodmother.
Joanna Bloor believes that it’s time for us humans to rethink how we take on the modern working world.
The what, where, when, and how of work is changing, a shift that technology and business have embraced yet people haven’t.
Joanna’s on a mission to help us prepare for the big leap into the working future. To identify and articulate our human value and our place in the next chapter of the working world.
And while we’re at it, have a great time in the process. “Imagine our careers were more like an adventure than a climb?” A perpetual career adventurer and self-described “startup junkie,” Joanna spent her early career scaling and building brands like Ticketmaster, Cars.com,
OpenTable, and Pandora. Known for building teams, infrastructure, and revenue strategies through their moments of accelerating growth and rapid change, Joanna did so in environments where there were no rulebooks, no career paths, no precedents of how things “should” be done.
Filipa
Carvalho
Advisory Council | International
Filipa Pinto de Carvalho is a Lisbon-based attorney with over ten years of corporate and immigration law experience and assisting in foreign direct investment.
She is a co-founder of Moss&Cooper, a consulting firm aimed at assisting start-ups and SMEs by providing strategic and financial consulting.
She also co-founded and is the managing partner of AGPC, a law firm based in Lisbon focused on assisting clients from other countries who are (interested) in investing, launching, or relocating business to Portugal.
Filipa is passionate about helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into a working plan and build a successful business out of what they love.
Alma
Derricks
Advisory Council
Alma Derricks is an accomplished marketing executive and brand strategist with over 20 years of experience empowering both emerging and established businesses to capitalize on shifts in technology, competition, and consumer preferences.
Known for her shrewd cultural insights and engaging bedside manner, she is the Founder and Managing Partner of REV, a brand management company that empowers accomplished creators, artists, and organizations to craft a distinctive brand story and transform expertise into authoritative and profitable new business ventures.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Stanford University and is a past president of the Stanford National Black Alumni Association (SNBAA) board.
She also holds an MBA from Georgetown University where she was both an NBC Fellow and Dean’s Scholar.
Katja Maroni
Gianella
Chair Marketing Advisory Council
Katja Maroni Giannella is a global citizen with 20 years’ experience in business leadership and transformative marketing for major international and regional brands such as Bose, Nike, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Nokia, Vodafone, Carlsberg and Arla. She has worked all over the world including the UK, Netherlands and US. As a result of her broad cultural experience she has a well-rounded and global perspective and a natural instinct to help brands succeed on a global scale.
Katja brings an analytical mind and a passion for creating environments that foster outstanding creative communications, evidenced by a long list of creative awards she has received from every major advertising award show. She pioneers new approaches to marketing communication and developing effective creative communications aimed at rapid market-share growth. She currently leads communication for the Apple Mac Portfolio globally.
Kerri
Hall
Chair Tech Advisory Council
Kerri Fermino Hall is a highly experienced senior technology sales executive with 25+ years in high tech.
She currently works for Siemens Digital Industry Software and is responsible for sales of electronic design automation technology to the US Government Department of Defense, US Research Labs, and analytical device companies.
Charleen
Kao
Advisory Council | Marketing
Charleen Kao is an Account Executive at Google, advising B2B Mid-Market customers on their digital marketing & growth strategy. She is also the founder of The Growth Collective, a marketing advisory firm helping businesses unlock their full potential for growth.
Charleen is a classically trained marketer with 10+ years of experience across brand, digital, and performance marketing.
She started her career at Disney marketing beloved movie/brands, then joined Google after completing her MBA from USC Marshall. On the side, Charleen enjoys working with startups and helps out with the Google Accelerator team mentoring early-stage startups and founders on their digital advertising strategies.
Charleen remains incredibly passionate about the startup ecosystem and driving meaningful growth, innovation and impact.
John
Maatta
Advisory Council
John Maatta is an attorney who primarily focuses his practice on entertainment and media transactions including the development and production of motion pictures, television and streamed content and matters related to the representation of content creators and performers and the distribution of programming broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.
John is experienced with issues involving production, finance, distribution, affiliate relations, human resources, broadcast standards and matters involving media-related technology, marketing, advertising and branding.
John was also the Chief Operating Officer of the WB Television Network as well as its Executive Vice President and General Counsel.
Valarie
McCall
Chair Gov. Advisory Council
Valarie J. McCall is the Chief of Communications, Government & International Affairs for the City of Cleveland and Mayor Frank G. Jackson.
McCall serves as the Jackson administration’s primary liaison to local and state government, federal agencies and international organizations. She also oversees the administration’s appointments to internal and external boards and commissions, and helps implement the Mayor’s policies to promote regional growth and cooperation.
McCall also oversees the City of Cleveland’s communications strategy, media relations and brand identity. McCall is the Mayor’s primary representative to several national organizations, including the U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities and the National Black Caucus of Local and Elected Officials. She is also past chair of the American Public Transit Association’s Executive Committee (board member emeritus).
Lisa
Mitnick
Advisory Council
Lisa Mitnik is an accomplished digital leader with a 20+ year track record of launching and scaling new businesses with deep experience in strategy, M&A, alliances, product development and sales. She has worked across communications, media, technology, health and government sectors, harnessing the power of technology to bring value added services to customers.
She is currently working with Connected DMV, non-profit regional collaboration across Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, on a “Connectivity For All'' public-private initiative to provide solutions that advance social and digital equality across the region.
Katica
Roy
Advisory Council
Katica Roy is a gender economist and the CEO and founder of Denver-based Pipeline, an award-winning SaaS company that leverages artificial intelligence to identify and drive economic gains through gender equity.
Pipeline launched the first gender equity app on Salesforce's AppExchange.
The Pipeline platform was named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2019 and Fast Company’s 2020 World’s Most Innovative Companies.
Janét
Aizenstros
Advisory Council
Dr. Janét Aizenstros is the founder and CEO of Ahava Digital Group (ADG) -- a women-led digital consultancy working with Fortune companies to help them connect with women consumers using data and technology.
She is an award-winning Canadian businesswoman that is the recipient of the prestigious 2021 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Excellence Award, one of the 2022 EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Ontario finalists, and a recipient of the 2020 WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneur Award: Top 100, 2019 honorary Presidential Service Medallion by the U.S. Presidential Service Center, and the Employer of the Year by Canadian Business.
Paula
Burns
Advisory Council | Government
As Vice President of Operations for Ball Aerospace, Paula Burns is responsible for Facilities, Information Technology Services, Manufacturing and Test Operations, Mission and Process Analytics, and Supply Chain Management.
Most recently, Burns served as the senior director for Ball’s ITS strategic support unit, where she was responsible for setting the strategic direction, architecture, infrastructure and governance of the company’s ITS enterprise. Previously, Burns served as the deputy general manager of Ball’s Tactical Solutions (TS) strategic business unit, where she led operational growth strategies to meet the needs of this rapidly growing business.
Prior to joining Ball, Burns was a management consultant focused on IT infrastructure and risk mitigation.
She managed several IT development projects and played a key role in business strategy and development at a major telecommunications company, as well as several startups. Burns served as a Naval aviator, combat support pilot.
