Vivian Kaye, Founder & CEO KinkyCurlyYaki

Vivian Kaye is the Founder & CEO of KinkyCurlyYaki, a premium textured hair extension brand for Black women that she bootstrapped to over $6 million in revenue as an immigrant, college dropout and single mom.

Her presence and genuine desire to continuously learn and grow while keeping it REAL quickly made her a personality who transcended the title of Founder and CEO.

Ultimately, she organically grew her personal platform by exchanging tips and tricks that she learned on her personal entrepreneurial journey.

As a self proclaimed Gary Vee meets Oprah remix, Vivian acts a the bridge between big and small business. is a business and empowerment expert, as well as a TV, radio and podcast personality. Through her magnetic energy, Vivian empowers, uplifts and educates her audience into taking action.

Along with her philanthropic efforts through mentorship, she has worked with many notable brands such as Shopify, Porsche Canada, Uniliever, LG, RBC, Fairmont Hotels, BMO, American Express Canada and Rogers Media, to name a few.

Sue Conley, Co-Founder, Cowgirl Creamery

Sue founded Cowgirl Creamery and Tomales Bay Foods in 1997 with her long-time friend, Peggy Smith. Through their efforts, a network of successful dairies and cheesemakers have flourished in coastal Marin and Sonoma.

Growing up in Washington, DC, Sue earned a degree in Political Science at the University of Tennessee and later an Associate Degree in Restaurant Management from San Francisco City College. From there, she co-founded Bette’s Oceanview Diner in Berkeley were local politics a vintage juke box and good food created a lively environment.

Sue is active in promoting agricultural stewardship as evidenced by her 18 years as a board member for the Marin Agricultural Land Trust. She is currently serving on the boards of the American Cheese Education Foundation, Sonoma Ag and Open Space District, Straus Family Creamery and Point Reyes Mesa Writers’ Retreat.

Esther Park, CEO, Cienega Capital

Esther is the CEO of Cienega Capital, a regenerative investment firm utilizing an integrated capital approach to systemic change in the areas of soil health, regenerative agriculture, and local food systems. Prior to joining Cienega Capital, Esther founded Commons Stock, an impact-focused due diligence consulting firm. There she assessed and structured investments in social enterprises on behalf of high net worth individuals, foundations, and investment advisors. Esther has over 15 years of experience in mission-based financial services ranging from microfinance to risk capital investments. She also serves as a Board member at City Fresh Foods, Custom Food Solutions, and Carman Ranch Provisions, and is an Advisor to Kitchen Table Advisors.

Esther has also served as the Vice President for Strategy and Business Development at RSF Social Finance, and oversaw all lending activity from 2007-2011, which resulted in a tripling of the loan portfolio, and the development of a mezzanine debt fund. Prior to joining RSF, Esther was a senior consultant for ShoreBank Advisory Services, where she provided strategic and capital planning advice for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), particularly small business and affordable-housing loan funds. She also trained lenders internationally in small business lending practices, and underwrote Program Related Investments (PRIs) for private foundation clients. And in a previous life, Esther lived in Nukus, Uzbekistan, teaching English and conducting program evaluation work for the United Nations. Esther received her MPP from University of Chicago and BA in Social Welfare from the University of California Berkeley. She lives in Berkeley, California with her husband, Greg, and their two children, Evangeline and Bryce.

Sharon Bond, Founder & CEO of Kekuli Cafe

Sharon Bond-Hogg is a member of the Nooaitch First Nation from the N?la ka’pamux Territory. She was born and raised in Merritt, British Columbia. Sharon is married to Darren Hogg of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and together they founded and own Kekuli Aboriginal Foods Inc., also known as Kekuli Café. They co-own Kekuli Café in West Kelowna. “Do Not Panic…We Have Bannock”!

Sharon is also the owner and CEO of Kekuli Café Properties Inc, which she founded with the goal of extending her passion and vision for Indigenous Fast Casual eateries to every community in Canada. Every town requires a gathering space, a place to belong, a place to celebrate and enjoy Indigenous cuisine, Bannock, and coffee.

Kekuli Café is Canada’s first Indigenous fast-casual restaurant franchise. Sharon franchised their second site in Merritt, British Columbia. Kekuli Café’s third site in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Sharon & Darren, with the help of their amazing Kekuli Krue, won several awards over the years:

• 2009 ANTCO Indigenous Woman in Business of the Year
• 2010 BC Achievement, Indigenous Business of the Year
• 2013 Indigenous Tourism BC, Food & Beverage Award,
• 2013 Westbank Key Business Award
• 2013 You Gotta Eat Here, Food Network Canada
• 2016 Moosemeat & Marmalade, APTN
• 2020 National Aboriginal Capital Corporation, Businesswoman of the Year

Sharon’s passions include social media and Marketing, recipe creation, snowmobiling, sponsoring her local baseball team, the Bannock Slappers, and baking/cooking in fifteen minutes.

Additionally, she presently serves on the ITBC (Indigenous Tourism BC) Board of Directors for twelve years, most recently as Co-Chair, assisting in the promotion, development, and sustainability of Indigenous Tourism enterprises. Additionally, she was recently elected to the board of directors of the All-Nations Trust Company in Kamloops, British Columbia, where she serves on several financial committees. Sharon is presently enrolled in the Indigenous Business Leadership Executive MBA programme at Simon Fraser University.

Sharon shares her passion for business and tourism services with you in the restaurant, tourism and hospitality industry, with a focus on Indigenous food, culture, tourism and business development, social media, marketing and the pow wow customer service.

Erica Perez, Co-Owner, Oaktown Spice

Erica Perez is co-owner of Oaktown Spice Shop, an Oakland-based business offering premium, small-batch spices and blends for home cooks and chefs alike. Erica is a generalist, problem-solver and Jill of all trades. She handles marketing, human resources, operations and financial administration for the business. Prior to co-founding Oaktown Spice Shop, Erica worked as a journalist.