Our Team.
Meet our team at Women’s Voices Now, where we believe in the power of film to drive social change that advances women’s and girls’ rights globally.
Lupita
2020
Monica Wise Robles
Heidi Basch-Harod
Executive Director
Heidi Basch-Harod serves as the Executive Director of Women’s Voices Now (WVN) and is responsible for the vision, strategy, and international fundraising efforts that sustain and grow WVN’s programs, locally and globally. She is a nonprofit leader, writer, educator, and advocate for girls’ and women’s rights. A two-time Emmy nominated, and one-time Daytime Emmy winning Producer, Heidi regularly sits on, and moderates panels about the power of film to make social change; and facilitates dialogue on divisive socio-cultural issues where more listening is needed. She engages with diverse communities to combat antisemitism and other forms of hatred through interactive workshops, primarily with youth. She is a Middle East History scholar, a published author on topics relating to global women’s rights movements, and participates in interfaith dialogue initiatives.
To learn more about the breadth of Heidi’s work, visit heidibh.com.
Considering herself a practical idealist, Heidi’s commitment to her work derives from knowing she is part of the living chain of people who dream and work for a better world and the future generations who will continue to do so.
Becki Pine
Development Director
Becki is responsible for leading fundraising efforts for Women’s Voices Now. She builds relationships with grantmakers, corporate sponsors, and individual donors to garner support for our programs. She also collaborates across the organization to monitor and evaluate programs, ensuring that supporters know the important role they play in our work. Becki also assists with strategic planning.
A seasoned development and communications professional, Becki brings over 15 years of experience in LGBTQ+ and gender-rights advocacy fields, and began her career in film festivals. Prior to joining Women’s Voices Now, she ran a boutique nonprofit consulting firm where she helped organizations create effective fundraising campaigns, develop communication strategies, plan national events, and grow support and community bases. Becki has worked with organizations including Equality California, Center Theatre Group, Partners in Justice International, and the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival. She holds a Masters Degree in Strategic Communications from Ithaca College.
Bonnie Ayala
Girls' Voices Now Program Manager
Bonnie is the Program Coordinator for Girls’ Voices Now, where she mentors young girls in the art of documentary filmmaking. Through her guidance, they discover the power of emotion in storytelling and learn how to navigate their own journeys to find their North Star.
Bonnie Ayala is a storyteller, makeup artist, and a beacon of hope. Her journey began as a teen mom at 13, a challenge that shaped her path and ignited a fierce desire to empower others. Now, Bonnie weaves her personal story of resilience and transformation into her work, inspiring teenagers to rise above their struggles and find strength in their own stories.
As a makeup artist for TV and film, Bonnie brings characters to life through her craft, but her true passion lies in connecting with young people. Bonnie’s mission is simple: to light the way for those lost in darkness, reminding them that their stories are powerful and their futures are filled with limitless possibilities.
Donesha “Dana” Simon
Social Media Manager
Dana assists with developing and implementing WVN’s social media strategy.
She comes from Pasadena, CA, and earned five Associate Degrees at Pasadena City College, before her tenure at California State University Los Angeles where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication (with a focus on Advertising & Public Relations). There Dana developed a deep understanding of the importance of communication and media literacy in conveying ideas to relate to audiences, as well as an enthusiasm for content creation and community engagement.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Dana is dedicated to making a positive impact in her community through volunteer work. She has volunteered with organizations such as My Serenity Sanctuary, the Armory Center of the Arts, and Community Overcoming Recidivism through Education (CORE), where she advocated for social causes such as empowering women of color, contemporary arts-based education, food insecurity, and post-secondary education for formerly incarcerated individuals. Through these experiences, Dana has developed a passion for innovation, community-building, and advocating for empathy and social justice.
Jazmine "Sage" Mendez
Girls Voices Now Intern
Jazmine “Sage” Mendez (they/them) is a non-binary Animation major at California State University, Long Beach. Sage have contributed to 10 animated films, directing five of them, centered on social change, underrepresented voices, and deeply personal experiences.
Sage’s goal in the film industry is to help expand and open conversations around equity, identity, and representation, while actively working to diversify the stories and storytellers within the medium.
Professionally, Sage has interned with Snapchat as an Augmented Reality Artist, designed student posters for Universal IPs, and earned recognition at national graphic design competitions. They approach each project with curiosity, empathy, and a commitment to growth, because they believe the most powerful stories come from those always willing to keep learning.
Bijan Siyamak
Film Festival Assistant
Bijan Siyamak assists with the annual Women’s Voices Now Film Festival, helping to identify eligible films and liaising with a global community of independent filmmakers. He is an Afghan Filmmaker; writer and director. He graduated from the Asian Film & Television Academy and Shobhit University with a Bachelor of Film and Television in Directing.
Over the course of his career, Siyamak has performed as a leading participant in a variety of distinguished film productions and events, particularly as a producer, writer, and director.
Siyamak has produced and directed numerous films and documentaries that have a distinguished reputation and have gone on to win various prestigious awards. He was commissioned by the Financial Times to produce the documentary short film How the 20-Year War Changed Afghanistan, which became part of the organization’s Film Series.
Among Siyamak’s other distinguished productions are the short film Lady in Red, the music video Daughters for Sale, and We Together. He has also played a leading role in the development and execution of the Herat International Women’s Film Festival in 2019 and 2020 as Executive Director.
Maya Shtangrud
Film Programs Intern
As the Film Programs Intern, Maya works to support and expand WVN’s Film Festival and Voices For Change Film Collection. She is an alumna of the 2022 Girl’s Voices Now cohort during which she co-directed the film, The Bloody Truth: A Look Into Period Poverty. A student at Stanford University studying Economics and Film, Maya is passionate about blending the power of visual storytelling with business acumen to create truly impactful pieces of art.
Sarah Moshman
Media Instructor
Sarah is the Media Instructor for the summer intensive filmmaking portion of our Girls’ Voices Now youth development program. She carries out the detailed curriculum and mentors cohort members along the way, building confidence and skills in the future filmmakers/changemakers who participate in this program.
Sarah Moshman believes in the power of STORYTELLING to change the world. Sarah is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and TEDx speaker whose work has been featured on Upworthy, Marie Claire, PBS, Hulu, CNN, Netflix, and Good Morning America. After directing two short documentaries about female empowerment in young women, (Girls Rock! Chicago (2010) and Growing up Strong: Girls on the Run (2012)) she set out to direct her first feature doc The Empowerment Project: Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things (2014) which has been screened over 1000 times around the US and the world in schools, groups, organizations and corporations starting conversations about gender equality. With Indieflix as the distributor, the film has been sponsored by major brands like Nordstrom, American Girl, and Microsoft to spread this message far and wide.
Sarah’s second feature doc, Losing Sight of Shore follows the incredible journey of four women who rowed across the Pacific Ocean. The film was released globally in 190 countries on Netflix in May 2017.
NEVERTHELESS is Sarah’s third feature documentary which takes a look behind the headlines of #MeToo and Time’s Up to shine a light on the sexual harassment crisis and use the power of cinema for change.
Most recently Sarah brought her talents to the narrative realm and directed an award-winning short fiction film UNBOUND about the first mother to go to space starring Lauren Lapkus (Orange is the New Black). In 2022, UNBOUND won First Place at NASA’s CineSpace Global Short Film Competition and screened on the International Space Station!
Sarah also completed a short she wrote and directed called A Mother is Born about the profound identity shift that comes with early motherhood.
Vjosa Çerkini
WVN Liaison Officer - Europe
As the WVN Liaison Officer – Europe, Vjosa facilitates communication and collaboration between organizations, film festivals, individuals, foundations, and other entities in Europe, and Women’s Voices Now. She also carries out Girls’ Voices Now workshops in several countries across Europe and in Africa, mentoring those who wish to create independent film projects after participating in Vjosa’s workshops.
She is a journalist, reporter, and international documentary filmmaker from Pristina, Kosovo. Vjosa reports for the German TV station DW, MDR, and regional broadcasters in the Balkans. She is involved in international documentary projects in the USA and Europe.
Nancy Estrada
2025 Media Chaperone
Nancy Estrada is a Los Angeles–based content producer with a strong background in sports and live event marketing. She has worked with brands such as Paramount Network, Showtime Sports, and Bellator MMA, specializing in content production and digital strategy. Nancy’s passion lies in storytelling—whether through short-form social content or long-form video—finding fresh and compelling ways to spotlight events, athletes, and brands.
This is her second year working as a media chaperone with Women’s Voices Now, where she helps mentor young filmmakers. Last summer, her group produced the documentary WORDS I CAN’T FORGET, which explores the lasting impact of the words women hear growing up and the importance of building confidence in the face of societal judgment. The experience deepened Nancy’s love for documentary storytelling, and she is committed to supporting and guiding the next generation of women storytellers through the transformative power of film.
Kendra Harris
2025 Media Chaperone
LA based Visual Storyteller & Director With over a decade of experience, Kendra crafts authentic narratives across photography, documentary filmmaking, and brand development, always focusing on creating stories that resonate deeply. Whether producing documentaries that share untold stories, capturing intimate portraits, or collaborating on creative campaigns for global brands and organizations, her passion lies in connecting people through meaningful visuals and experiences.
Kendra’s creative journey began in Third Ward, Houston, TX, where she began documenting life in her community with a 35mm Canon film camera. What started as an exploration of her neighborhood evolved into a passion for capturing real moments and uncovering the power of people’s voices. Kendra believes storytelling has the power to connect people to themselves, each other, and the world. Her journey has taken her to over 20 countries, where she has immersed herself in diverse cultures, learning from every story she encounters. This global perspective shapes everything she creates, grounded in authenticity, empathy, and purpose.
Over the years, Kendra has collaborated with nonprofits, brands, and individuals to develop narrative strategies and create impactful visual content across platforms—from social media campaigns to long-form documentaries. She thrives in roles where she can craft authentic stories that drive engagement, foster emotional connections, and spark meaningful change. In addition to Kendra’s creative work, she facilitates workshops like “Own Your Story,” empowering individuals, especially women and young people to take ownership of their personal and professional narratives.
