KS WELI Student Board 2025 Seniors Pt. 2: Kayla Akly, Vanessa Chen, & Kirsten Shin

We’re celebrating three more incredible seniors — Kayla Akly, Vanessa Chen, & Kirsten Shin — and their amazing journeys with KS WELI and beyond. Kayla, Vanessa, and Kirsten share their leadership experiences, advice for future Student Board members, and what’s next after graduation. 💛🤘✨We hope you enjoy!CONNECT WITH THEM!Vanessa Instagram: @van.117Kirsten Instagram: @kirstennshinKayla Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kswelinstitute.utexas.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Empowering women to lead and encouraging the world to follow while increasing the number of women-owned and women-led businesses"This podcast is empowered by the Student Board of the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.Co-hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Priscilla Olivarez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sydney Key⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We’re celebrating three incredible seniors — Puja Satish, Kena Desai, and Grecia Angeles — and their amazing journeys with KS WELI and beyond. Puja, Kena, and Grecia share their leadership experiences, advice for future Student Board members, and what’s next after graduation. 💛🤘✨We hope you enjoy!CONNECT WITH THEM!Puja Instagram: @puj_satishKena Instagram: @kena.desaiGrecia Instagram: ⁠⁠@[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kswelinstitute.utexas.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Empowering women to lead and encouraging the world to follow while increasing the number of women-owned and women-led businesses"This podcast is empowered by the Student Board of the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.Co-hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Priscilla Olivarez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sydney Key⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We’re joined by Amira Khatib, Principal at Bluestein Ventures, a venture capital firm transforming the future of food, wellness, and commerce. Amira shares her journey to venture capital, how she's empowering founders to reshape the food system, and the lessons she’s learned about staying curious, owning your story, and building an authentic career. 💛🤘✨We hope you enjoy!CONNECT WITH AMIRA!Email: [email protected]@kswelinstitute.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kswelinstitute.utexas.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Empowering women to lead and encouraging the world to follow while increasing the number of women-owned and women-led businesses"This podcast is empowered by the Student Board of the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.Co-hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Priscilla Olivarez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sydney Key⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We’re joined by Nicole Smith, Founder and CEO of Flytographer, the world’s leading vacation photography company. Nicole shares how she grew Flytographer from a side hustle to a global 8-figure brand, and how she’s built a community rooted in joy, connection, and creativity. 💛🤘✨We hope you enjoy!CONNECT WITH NICOLE!Instagram: @[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kswelinstitute.utexas.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Empowering women to lead and encouraging the world to follow while increasing the number of women-owned and women-led businesses"This podcast is empowered by the Student Board of the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.Co-hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Priscilla Olivarez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sydney Key⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We’re joined by Marina Middleton, CEO and Partner at Create & Cultivate, the powerhouse behind the world’s largest events and media platform for women in business. Marina dives into building confidence, personal branding, and breaking barriers as a first-time CEO and woman of color in business. Her journey is all about showing up unapologetically and creating space for others to rise.💛🤘✨We hope you enjoy!CONNECT WITH MARINA!Instagram: @marinaamiddletonCreate & Cultivate Instagram: @[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kswelinstitute.utexas.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Empowering women to lead and encouraging the world to follow while increasing the number of women-owned and women-led businesses"This podcast is empowered by the Student Board of the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.Co-hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Priscilla Olivarez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sydney Key⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We’re joined by Nicole Swartz, trademark attorney and founder of Sprout Law, who’s on a mission to empower women entrepreneurs by protecting their brands! After her own business was served a cease and desist, she turned her experience into a passion for helping others navigate trademarks.💛🤘✨We hope you enjoy!CONNECT WITH NICOLE!Instagram: @[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kswelinstitute.utexas.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Empowering women to lead and encouraging the world to follow while increasing the number of women-owned and women-led businesses"This podcast is empowered by the Student Board of the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.Co-hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Priscilla Olivarez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sydney Key⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We’re joined by Isabella Hughes, co-founder of Better Sour and serial entrepreneur. From the arts to CPG, Bella’s journey is full of bold moves and innovation. As an angel investor and mentor, she’s passionate about empowering fellow founders and was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Hawai’i Venture Capital Association. Tune in for her inspiring story and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs! 💛🤘✨We hope you enjoy!CONNECT WITH BELLA!Instagram:⁠ @[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kswelinstitute.utexas.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Empowering women to lead and encouraging the world to follow while increasing the number of women-owned and women-led businesses"This podcast is empowered by the Student Board of the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.Co-hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Priscilla Olivarez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sydney Key⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We’re joined by Lori Saldivar Schneider, the visionary behind The Cupcake Bar. From custom cupcakes to virtual classes and balloon-floating trays, Lori’s Latina- and woman-owned business makes every day a celebration. Tune in to hear her journey and the sweet success of The Cupcake Bar! 💛🤘✨We hope you enjoy!CONNECT WITH LORI!Instagram:⁠ @[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kswelinstitute.utexas.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Empowering women to lead and encouraging the world to follow while increasing the number of women-owned and women-led businesses"This podcast is empowered by the Student Board of the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.Co-hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Priscilla Olivarez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sydney Key⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode we're joined by Lieutenant Colonel Alma K. Hernandez, Commander of the 566th Intelligence Squadron at Buckley Space Force Base. With 15+ years in the U.S. Air Force, including roles with the NSA and DIA, she’s a powerhouse leader dedicated to empowering women. Lt. Col. Hernandez shares insights on leadership, overcoming imposter syndrome, setting boundaries, and thriving in high-pressure environments. 💛🤘✨We hope you enjoy!CONNECT WITH ALMA!Instagram:⁠ @[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kswelinstitute.utexas.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Empowering women to lead and encouraging the world to follow while increasing the number of women-owned and women-led businesses"This podcast is empowered by the Student Board of the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.Co-hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Priscilla Olivarez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sydney Key⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we are joined by Shandi Nichelle, a hairstylist for almost 20 years and the founder and CEO of Freewell, a personal care company for active people dedicated to creating luxurious products free from toxic ingredients. Shandi is passionate about advocating for and volunteering with survivors of assault to help them thrive.💛🤘✨We hope you enjoy!CONNECT WITH SHANDI!Instagram:⁠ @[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kswelinstitute.utexas.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Empowering women to lead and encouraging the world to follow while increasing the number of women-owned and women-led businesses"This podcast is empowered by the Student Board of the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.Co-hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Priscilla Olivarez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sydney Key⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠