Cindu Thomas- George is a seasoned Inclusion and Belonging Practitioner and Professor dedicated to developing catalysts of inclusion and agents of change. As the Founder and Principal Trainer of Shakti Training, she specializes in designing and leading professional development experiences that promote inclusion, equity, and intercultural intelligence
Alicia Del Real is an executive coach and CEO of the Center for Advanced Emotional Intelligence (AEI). At AEI, Alicia helps leaders reach their potential. Alicia focuses on the whole person to increase both self and social knowledge resulting in meaningful growth.
CWLA Advisory Council
We are deeply grateful to our Advisory Council for their dedication, expertise, and commitment to the CWLA mission. Their leadership ensures CWLA’s longevity and impact, empowering women leaders across Chicago.
CWLA Team
The CWLA thrives because of our talented team. Their vision, creativity, passion, and dedication are central to maximizing the experience for all attendees. If you're inspired to contribute and join this dynamic team, please contact us.
Desiree Vargas Wrigley, CWLA Founder & Strategist | Founding GP of Velocity Catalyst
Desiree is the Founding GP of Velocity Catalyst, a $50M hybrid early stage venture fund, that aims to transform our region's venture ecosystem, one layer of the capital stack at a time. She's an innovative problem-solver who loves building businesses that matter. Previously she was Chief Innovation Officer at P33 and built solutions for entrepreneurs and investors, including TechRise by P33, which has helped founders raise $160M in follow on funding, and the Josephine Collective, now Chicago’s most active angel investing group in just over 2 years. Earlier in her career, Desiree founded GiveForward, one of the world's first crowdfunding platforms.
Pooja Shah, CWLA Photographer | Founder and CEO | Tembo Tones
A multidisciplinary artist from Kenya with roots in India, Pooja Shah’s photography explores themes of womanhood, cultural identity, diaspora, and intentional living, with a focus on the BIPOC experience and depicting black and brown people in states of joy. In addition to her photography work, Pooja is a creative director, consultant, and former public relations specialist, working with designers and brands to ideate and execute real world activations and events across the globe.
Heather Moore, CWLA Creative Director | Founder of Moore Creative Media
Heather Moore is a multidisciplinary creative and strategic storyteller with expertise in photography, videography, graphic design, illustration, editing, and writing. As Creative Director for the Chicago Women’s Leadership Accelerator, she shapes visual narratives that inspire, engage, and amplify impact. With an MBA and a background in marketing, Heather seamlessly blends artistry with strategy, ensuring every project is both visually compelling and purpose-driven.
Prior Panelists
Paving Pathways: Women Leaders of Chicago
Chief Brand Officer | Blue Meridian Partners
Managing Director | Exposition Ventures | Early Stage Venture Investor
Philanthropy Executive in Residence | Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation
Chief Executive Officer | Purpose Brand
Chief Executive Officer | DeVry University
Managing Director | Birch Lake Associates, LLC
Sr Director | Commercial Sales Strategy | PepsiCo Beverages North America
Founder & Chief Executive Officer | WeSolv
Maria Sotelo
Chicago Community Builder & Innovator
Director of People of Culture | MacArthur Foundation
Chief Executive Officer | inFlow
Speaker, CMO, CCO and Resiliency Expert
Chief Growth Officer | P33
CEO | Jellyvision
Immigration Attorney & Partner | Quarles & Brady LLP
CFO | COO I Startup Advisor
Kimberly Dickens
Chief Strategy and Growth Officer | Momentus Capital
Deborah Witzburg
Inspector General | City of Chicago
Rachna Velmati
Chief Diversity Officer & Head of Talent | Heitman
