PROJECT TEAM
TAMIR NOVOTNY
Founder and Principal, Ahimsa Strategies
Tamir Novotny is Founder and Principal at Ahimsa Strategies. In this role, he supports individuals and teams in building stronger holding environments that help them stay together through the hard, vulnerable work of dismantling White Supremacy. Tamir has over 15 years of experience in the social sector, most recently serving as Executive Director of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP). Tamir is co-host of In It Together: A Podcast for White Allies, And co-facilitates the workshop, Racial Justice Stances: Grounding in Our Truths. Tamir is a Certified Professional Coach with a Masters in Public Administration, specializing in management, and a BA magna cum laude, both from NYU.
SHEHNAZ NIKI JAGPAL
Principal, Niki Jagpal Consulting
Niki Jagpal is a seasoned leader, researcher and facilitator with over 15 years of progressive organization- and field- building experience. Most recently, she oversaw communications, policy and development at the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD). Prior to that, she authored and oversaw the production of action-based research that supports philanthropies in investing in social justice work at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP). Most notably, she was the primary author of Criteria for Philanthropy at Its Best, the first set of measurable equity benchmarks for foundations. Niki has helped organize women’s marches, increase voter turnout, and support recovery in Post-Katrina New Orleans. She has engaged established and next-gen nonprofit leaders through workshops and talks at universities and national conferences. She has also consulted with several progressive nonprofits and foundations including the Groundswell Fund, the Marguerite Casey Foundation and the Management Assistance Group (now Change Elemental). Niki holds a bachelor’s degree in history and cultural anthropology from Duke University and a master of public policy from Georgetown, with a concentration in education, social and family policy.
SEANA JEAN
Senior Race Equity Culture Associate, Equity in The Center
Seana Jean (she/her) is a recent graduate of the NYU Applied Psychology Master’s program. She is passionate about implementing sustainable and equitable policies & practices for diversity, race equity, and inclusion in the workplace through data-driven research utilizing quantitative and qualitative data. Her research thus far has focused on existing instruments that assess diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace - particularly assessment composition, availability/access, and applicability industries other than social work, and mental health.