Our Team
Claudia Viek
Founder and Catalyst
Claudia Viek founded the Invest in Women Entrepreneurship Initiative in 2018 after serving ten years as CEO of CAMEO, the premier network of 120 organizations serving 50,000 micro and small businesses in California. She is a pioneer in California's Micro Enterprise and business incubation fields. For 14 years, Claudia was the Founder and Executive Director of Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, an award-winning training, financing, and business incubation program in San Francisco. Claudia was a longtime National Association for Economic Opportunity board member and a previous NAWBO Bay Area chapter president. Continuing her commitment to empowering future leaders, Claudia co-founded the Bob Gnaizda Youth Leaders program, nurturing the next generation of public service professionals.
Advisors
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Carolina Martinez
Carolina Martinez is the CEO of CAMEO (California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity), leading a network of over 300 organizations that serve over 50,000 businesses annually. She has experience in economic development and entrepreneurship support and serves on the Entrepreneurship & Economic Mobility Task Force in the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. Carolina also holds board positions with Pacific Community Ventures, Mission Economic Development Agency, and the Association for Enterprise Opportunity. Her leadership focuses on expanding opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs and fostering economic resilience in diverse communities across California.
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Nancy Swift
Nancy Swift is the Chair of the California Women's Business Center and Founder of JEDI (Jefferson Economic Development Institute). As JEDI's Executive Director, she manages programs, secures funding, and ensures regulatory compliance. Nancy designed the Women's Business Center at JEDI and oversees its operations. A former small business owner, she brings practical experience to her leadership role, focusing on developing prosperity for all and building JEDI's reputation as a responsive, community-focused organization.
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Ruth Garcia
Ruth Garcia-Corrales is the Director of NEW Women's Business Center and Board Member of the Association of Women's Business Centers. With extensive experience in supporting entrepreneurs, she previously led the Canterbury Business Center and VEDC Women's Business Center. Ruth has managed programs helping businesses from inception to growth, focusing on underserved women and women of color entrepreneurs. Her networking with policy influencers and business leaders strengthens advocacy for small business owners in local communities.
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Jenny Kassan
Jenny Kassan, JD, is a legal and fundraising expert with over 25 years of experience supporting mission-driven enterprises. As the founder of Jenny Kassan Consulting, she helps entrepreneurs raise millions from values-aligned investors. Jenny is the author of "Raise Capital on Your Own Terms" and co-founder of the Force for Good Fund, investing in women and people of color-led companies. She serves on the SEC's Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee and is a fellow at Democracy Collaborative, combining her legal expertise with a passion for sustainable, equitable business growth.
Isabel Menendez
Public Affairs and Communications Intern
Isabel is a Public Affairs and Communications Intern at Invest in Women Entrepreneurs, where she supports strategic communications, policy research, and public engagement initiatives. She is a recent graduate from UCLA, where she majored in Public Affairs, with a focus on law, policy, and social equity. Passionate about expanding access to justice and economic opportunity, she brings experience in legal services, community outreach, and organizational communications. Isabel is committed to using storytelling and policy advocacy to uplift underrepresented communities and is excited to contribute to the mission of advancing women’s entrepreneurship. Isabel intends to attend law school in the near future.