About us | Team | Board of Directors

Connecting people and organizations to Silicon Valley

SILICON VALLEY FORUM

We connect people and organizations to the knowledge, networks, and companies in Silicon Valley. We leverage our 37 years of experience and our proven impact on a global scale – as well as our vast network in local ecosystem, to provide resources for both U.S. and global entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders to help build and scale your company and innovation.

Our customized programs for entrepreneurs, corporate executives, university students, and strategic partnerships with top Silicon Valley technology companies provide the necessary tools to drive impact and thrive in today’s fast-paced digital economy.

Dream Team

The Silicon Valley Forum team - connect with us!

Denyse Cardozo CEO and President

Our Chief Almighty drives the organization’s vision, strategy, and innovating future growth opportunities through strategic partnerships and programs. When she’s not thinking of new strategies or creative ways of making things better (she can’t help it!), you can find her driving the coast listening to Bob Dylan, or snuggling on the couch with her sweet terrier Quincy and eating Haagen Dazs ice cream.

Krystina Cortez Event & Office Manager, Co-Producer of Women in Tech Festival

Krystina’s role is an invaluable force in the organization. Her mighty force couldn't be further from mousy. She not only manages the office logistics and calendar, but she is the CEO's right hand woman. Krystina keeps the SVF engines running 24/7. She is also the co-producer on our annual Women in Tech Festival, and spearheads our partner programs and conferences ensuring every detail is covered. Don't let the tiny voice fool you—she has a lot to say and will definitely let you know!

Micaela Youmans Chief of Staff & Director of Communications

Micaela is second-in-command, leading the overall communication strategy and overseeing the day-to-day execution of SVF’s initiatives. Additionally, she creates unique designs and branding for each event, and leads our digital media strategy to amplify our story and activities as we grow our local and global community. She specializes in half-done craft projects, movie references, and forgetting to go to yoga.

Nick Sramek Director of International Relations

Nick focuses on building and cultivating valuable and sustainable partnerships with international organizations that are looking to strengthen their ties to the Silicon Valley ecosystem. He oversees a key area of the business that’s slated to drive future growth, focusing on expansion into global markets. When he's not on email, he's enjoying the great outdoors in the Bay Area and beyond.

Patrick Froehlich International Programs Manager

Patrick has a diverse international backround in both public and private sectors. As manager of international programs, his main role is to execute our pipeline of international startup and corporate programs and help identify strategic global business opportunities. He's fluent in 5 languages and in his spare time loves to write and record music as well as hike the vast Bay Area trails (rain or shine).

Sebastian Wendell Media Production Specialist

Sebastian has a diverse video production background ranging from helping small businesses produce web videos to TV commercials for larger companies. He is the force behind our online video content; filming and editing of all the videos you find on our Startupedia page and company website. He's a big fan of hockey and craft beer—and when the two go together, even better!

Shubham Singla University Programs Manager

Shubham supports our university program efforts with the launch of a two-week program, the Silicon Valley Start-UP program, for students who are looking to launch their entrepreneurial ideas. A recent Berkeley grad, Shubham is passionate about entrepreneurship, especially for young internationals looking to build in Silicon Valley—ask him anything!

Board of Directors

Our esteemed Board of Directors

Denyse Cardozo

As CEO, Denyse drives the vision, goals, and strategy for Silicon Valley Forum, overseeing more than 70 events per year for the global technology and startup community - everything from customized immersion programs, workshops, bootcamps, to large conferences, pitch events, and evening programs with strategic partners.

Michael Torosian

Mike Torosian, Partner at Pillsbury, acts as general outside counsel to companies across all phases of their life cycle, particularly in the technology, renewable energy and life sciences industries. He represents emerging companies and investors in financings at all stages.

Lauren B. Lichtblau

Lauren is a partner in the Palo Alto office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati where she practices corporate and securities law, representing companies at all stages of their life cycle, from start-ups to mature public companies, as well as venture capital firms and other institutional investors.

Kevin Surace

Kevin Surace is an American technology innovator, speaker and entrepreneur. He is the CEO of Appvance, creator of an AI-based software QA platform. He was Inc. Magazine’s 2009 entrepreneur of the Year.

Leo Bley

Leo develops PwC businesses, investments and opportunities with the venture ecosystem. He also advises investors, entrepreneurs and enterprises on innovation and disruptive opportunities.

Purnima Kochikar

Purnima has over 20 years of experience leading application development, marketing and technical-engineering management for startups and leading mobile companies.

Jitendra Kavathekar

Jitendra is a globally credentialed senior executive of companies from Fortune 500 to trail blazing startups as entrepreneur and business operator. He is an active investor and advisor to VC/PE fund.

Debra Brackeen

Debra has more than 25 years of leadership at innovative high-tech companies, including Apple, Sun, and eBay. Her experience in business development and strategy is enhanced by connections to the VC and startup communities in Silicon Valley.

Chris Yeh

Chris is the co-author, along with Reid Hoffman, of Blitzscaling, the book that explains how to build world-changing companies like Amazon, Alibaba, and Airbnb in record time. As a writer, investor, and entrepreneur, Chris has had a ringside seat in the world of startups and scaleups since 1995.

Deborah Magid

Deborah Magid represents IBM’s $25 B software business in the company’s Venture Capital Group. Her expertise spans several industries, and she brings insight from the venture community to the development of IBM’s growth strategies.

SVF Advisors, Mentors, and Champions

Our Expert Advisors

Janna Nallet

VP of Strategic Communications, Sparkpr

John Stanton

CEO, Coralba USA

Jonathan Tower

General Partner, Catapult VC

Michelle Messina

CEO and Founder, Explora International LLC

Adiba Barney

Board Member, Advisor, Mentor, Angel Investor.

Bill Reichert

Managing Director, Garage Technology Ventures

Steve Goldberg

Operating Partner, Venrock

Global Ambassador

Would you like to be a global ambassador?

Bring the Silicon Valley entrepreneurial and innovation spirit to your country! Do you have a passion for startups? Are you the ultimate startup connector in your country?

BECOME A GLOBAL AMBASSADOR

Global Ambassadors

Leaders of change in communities around the world

Bengt Eliasson

I´m a "catalyst" that connect the dots between Strategy, Tactics, IT and Operations. With 20+ years’ experience and a global mindset, I see myself as a general manager and results oriented leader with an edge in strategic business development. Commercially astute new business architect & doer, innovator, technology translator to business needs. Status quo disrupter with over 15 years of experience in building trusted ecosystem, creating business models, expansion and sustainable growth.

Rafael Odreman

Rafael has more than 10 years of cross-functional experience working with corporates, VCs, and startups in Growth, Expansion, and Business Development efforts across Latin America. Providing a unique perspective in projects involved. He has been involved in businesses in 9 countries within the region and has a strong connection with the entrepreneurial ecosystem, especially in Mexico.

Mariana Stegagnini

Mariana Stegagnini is from Argentina. She graduated in Communication and has completed postgraduate studies in the fields of Education, Human Resources, Government and Development, and in the area of Digital Communication. Her vast professional experience has involved working both within the private sector and non-governmental organizations. Since 2016 she has been the President of CEDEF Foundation, an organization aimed at promoting new technologies for food production based on the principles of inclusion, sustainability and taking into account the diversity and potential within Argentina and the region. Working within the context of non-governmental organizations for many years, Mariana considers that these play a central role towards the development of future, as they have the capacity to transform and enhance all organisations.