Board of Directors.
Our board of directors is a dedicated, mission-driven group of leaders.

Leslie J. Sacks
Founder (In Memoriam)
The vision of Leslie J. Sacks, the founder and seed funder of Women’s Voices Now, sparked our first project: Women’s Voices from the Muslim World: A Short-Film Festival. Leslie was a Los Angeles-based art dealer and an active fundraiser and promoter of charitable organizations and causes, in particular, those areas promoting moderate Islam, including the advancement of women’s rights. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Leslie earned degrees in both psychology and computer science from the University of Witwaterstrand, South Africa.
After a decade-long battle with cancer, Leslie passed in September 2013. His untiring quest for justice lives on in WVN’s mission.

Gina Brourman-Sacks
Board Chair
Gina was born and raised in South Korea where she attended the prestigious Yewon School of Arts in Seoul. At the age of 15, she and her family emigrated to the United States. After winning a piano competition, Gina won a full scholarship to the University of Illinois, where she earned a degree in Classical Music with a minor in Business. She has worked as a medical administrator/manager and is a co-founder of the ALS Research Fund (of the ALS Association). Gina is actively involved in numerous philanthropic causes, specifically those which support medical and humanitarian endeavors. Growing up in South Korea, she witnessed cultural, economic, and gender inequality firsthand.
Gina carries on Leslie’s legacy as the successor chair of the board of Women’s Voices Now, and continues his fight for the equal rights of all women. She oversees and advises on all aspects of WVN’s projects, networking, and fundraising.

Caron Bielski
Vice President
Born in South Africa and living in Israel since 1980, Caron Bielski is the CEO and founder of BSP Funds, a research and investment company specializing in the construction of hedge fund portfolios and funds. She co-founded and served as the managing director of BAIN software, specializing in the development of product data management systems.
Caron served as the board chair for Beit Issie Shapiro, an international non-profit organization that provides cutting-edge services to improve quality of life for people with disabilities, and to effect social change by breaking down the barriers preventing people with disabilities from full societal integration – assuring them the rights and opportunities for maximum growth and development. Beit Issie is a special advisor to the UN on disabilities, and impacts over 30,000 children and their families every year.

Tali Bielski
Director
Tali is a social entrepreneur, marketing expert, and currently the Communications Director for El HaDegel, a movement dedicated to building a new generation of leadership for Israeli society.
She began her professional journey as a Client Director at a leading advertising agency in Israel. During her relocation to Amsterdam, she served as Vice President of Marketing for Omnam Investment Group, a global real estate developer in the hospitality sector. Tali was also part of the founding team at EarthToday, a startup focused on accelerating funding for nature protection. In parallel, she served as a board member at Delitelabs, a startup school for newcomers and refugees.
Tali is an alumna of the Executive Creative Leadership Program at THNK School of Creative Leadership in Amsterdam. She holds a BA in Business Management from IDC Herzliya and a Master’s in International Communication Management from The Hague University.

Filipe Nogueira
Director
Born in Portugal and currently living in Los Angeles, California, Filipe Nogueira is the Vice-President for Finance and Sales Operations for Wonderful Sales, the sales and merchandising unit for The Wonderful Company. Previously, he served for several years as a consultant with McKinsey & Company, supporting clients in Portugal, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, and the United States, in multiple strategic topics across several industries.
Filipe graduated with a major in Biology from the University of Porto, and earned his M.B.A. at Porto Business School.

T. Candice Nakagawa
Director
Candice oversees Wealth Management services across the state of California for Wilmington Trust, including administrative and business development functions for personal trust, investment management, and private banking. In this role, she oversees the development and coordination of Wealth Management services for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional investment accounts, including nonprofit organizations, business owners, corporate executives, and professional service firms.
With over two decades’ experience in financial services, Candice most recently served as the Private Wealth Management market leader at U.S. Bank, where she was responsible for the Orange County market. She previously held many positions at MUFG Union Bank, leading Private Banking and Wealth Advisory teams in Southern California. During her tenure, Candice created the Wealth Management Professional Development Program as a pathway for career development and mentorship for the next generation of wealth advisors. She also served as the firm’s head of Women & Wealth, a community for women and women-owned businesses geared toward enhancing financial confidence and capabilities.
Candice holds an MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in Japanese studies from the University of California, San Diego. She is also a graduate of the national graduate school of banking, Pacific Coast Banking School. Beyond her career, the native Angeleno is passionate about giving back to her community and paying it forward. She serves as a board member for the California Council on Economic Education, whose mission is to improve the state’s future by teaching economics and financial literacy, especially in underserved communities.
Candice takes joy in traveling the world and learning about new cultures. A former competitive open water swimmer and triathlete, she is also a certified advanced scuba diver who likes to explore the seas. She also enjoys skiing during the winter.

Diana Means
Director

Snehal Chitalia
Director
Born and raised in Southern California, Snehal Chitalia is currently an MBA candidate at Harvard Business School. Before pursuing her MBA, Snehal worked as a Product Marketing Manager for Disney Streaming as well as a Strategy/Technology Consultant at Qvest.US for a range of entertainment studios across Los Angeles including NBC Universal, Warner Media, and Amazon Studios.
During her time in consulting, Snehal began the Pro Bono Consulting chapter of her company, where she managed consulting projects for a wide variety of non-profit organizations and was subsequently honored the “Humanitarian of Qvest.US.” award by her company’s firm partners. She initially became involved with Women’s Voices Now through her consulting project but continued her work with the organization due to her passion for WVN and its mission.
Snehal graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics. In the past, Snehal has had active involvement in many philanthropic causes including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Pediatric Aids Coalition at UCLA. In addition to her current involvement with Women’s Voices Now, she spends her free time volunteering with OC Pom Rescue as a dog foster and member of the social media team.

Kristie Wallis
Director