Your trusted voice advisers, by your side—from crisis response to cancel culture, high-stakes negotiations to compelling public address, our industry experts will seamlessly guide you every step of the way.
Lily Lapenna is an entrepreneur, investor, and executive coach with a deep interest in strategic communication and voice identity. She is the founder of GLEOW Group, a global leadership advisory firm, and has worked with Fortune 100 companies, governments, and non-profits on leadership, social impact, and communication.
Passionate about financial inclusion, Lily founded MyBnk, the UK’s leading financial education provider. As an investor, she backs AI-driven solutions in emerging markets, focusing on the future of work and financial access.
She is a Visiting Social Innovator at Harvard University and an advisor to the University of Oxford. Lily was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II and is recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, as well as a Fellow of Ashoka, Aspen, and the Milken Institute.
Amy Ewbank is a leadership coach, communication strategist, and expert in voice identity, drawing from her dual background as a LAMDA trained actor and CIPD qualified HR / L&D professional. With a career spanning the creative industries and corporate leadership, Amy has worked at the intersection of performance, psychology, and workplace communication, helping individuals and organisations harness the power of voice for influence, presence, and impact.
Amy began her career as a professional actor, performing in repertory theatre, BBC Radio, and Channel 4. She later transitioned into leadership and learning, becoming Head of HR at a UK national charity, where she specialized in talent development and executive communication.
As the founder of Doll’s Eye Theatre, Amy pioneered theatrical experiences and storytelling workshops funded by Durham University, engaging young people across the UK in critical conversations about street harassment through performance. Amy has been featured on Sky News, Channel 5 and The Guardian.
With deep industry experience and foresight, our network of Verve Experts are enlisted across our services, to provide tailored communication counsel across sectors. Click on each expert to learn more.
Eric is a seasoned diplomat with over 30 years of service, including as U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (2019-2022) and Associate Director of the George C. Marshall Center. He has held key roles such as Deputy Chief of Mission in Costa Rica and Consul General in Bavaria. As Director of the Office of eDiplomacy, he was named a visionary leader by Fedscoop. Eric has earned numerous awards for leadership, innovation, and public diplomacy throughout his career.
Ayebobo Niang is an investor, venture builder, and social entrepreneur with expertise in sales, business development, and retail strategy. As an Operating Partner at Janngo Capital, she leads investment strategies and accelerates startup growth across Africa. Ayebobo works closely with founders to refine business models, optimize market entry, and secure funding. Passionate about social impact and gender equality, she advocates for entrepreneurship and investment as drivers of sustainable transformation and economic empowerment.
Robin is the Chief People and Operations Officer at Gainsight, overseeing global people strategy and operations across 16 countries and 1,500 employees. She leads Employee & Organizational Success, DEI, Talent Acquisition, Business Operations, and Social Impact. Named a Top 50 Women Leader in Software 2024 by The Software Report, she also founded Pulse Impact, Gainsight’s social responsibility initiative, which has helped nearly 400 diverse candidates earn ~$15M in income expansion through careers in Customer Success.
Rebeca is a venture capital investor, entrepreneur, and ecosystem builder. She co-founded Kalei Ventures, investing in early-stage Latin American tech startups, and previously led Rivet Ventures, focusing on women-led markets. She also co-founded YouNoodle, supporting open innovation for companies and governments. A recognized expert on AI’s impact on education, family businesses, and parenting, Rebeca is a thought leader shaping the future of technology and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Raghu Appasani is an Integrative & Addiction Psychiatrist and Entrepreneur dedicated to holistic mental health. He is Founder of The MINDS Foundation and Chief Medical Officer of PYM Health as well as Co-Founder & CMO of GINKO, supporting healthy digital habits for families. He is Head of Mental & Metabolic Health at the California Institute for Stress & Resilience, with faculty roles at Mount Sinai and UCSF. He researches psychedelics, mindfulness, global health, and digital health. Featured in CNN and Forbes, he is a sought-after speaker and mental health advocate.
English Sall is a data enthusiast, researcher, and CEO of Cymantix, specializing in insight generation from unstructured data. She holds a Master’s in Biomedical and Health Informatics from UNC and a PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from NC State. A principal at the Community Health Acceleration Partnership, she also serves on the boards of CARE USA, The EndFund, and more. She is a board member of the Sall Family Foundation and actively supports global health and development initiatives.
With extensive leadership experience at both global and local level, Lorenzo has successfully managed marketing and sales teams, ranging across multiple areas and functions. His track record includes from pioneering First-In-class initiatives for buy-up opportunities to opening new markets across Europe, US and Asia, as well as leading start-up-like Digital Transformations, achieving double-digit growth and managing numerous brand launches. As a manager and mentor, he has guided large teams and individuals in cultivating a culture of growth and collective success.
Mahak Sharma is a tech leader with expertise in AI, GTM strategy, and partnerships. She was an early team member on Google’s Gemini (formerly Bard), leading GTM & Ecosystem Partnerships. With experience in startups and enterprises, she has driven AI adoption across industries. Previously, she led growth for local businesses at Google and Twitter (X) and helped scale InMobi’s global BD & Sales. She’s also an angel investor, venture partner at Operators Studio, and a speaker at UC Berkeley.
Mike Mompi is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Enza Capital, a venture fund backing tech-driven solutions across Africa. He serves on multiple African tech company boards and previously invested in high-impact ventures at the Global Innovation Fund in London. A Co-founder of the Accra Angel Network, his background spans public equities, entrepreneurship, and venture capital across four continents. He also led early-stage investments at ClearlySo, Europe’s leading impact investment bank, as Director of Impact Investment.
Josie is a journalist, author, broadcaster, and public speaker. She has worked for Reuters, The Independent, and The Wall Street Journal, with bylines in Bloomberg, The Washington Post, Forbes, and more. A regular BBC contributor, she has also appeared on CNN, ABC, and PBS. She co-founded The Persistent and teaches at Columbia University. A Knight-Bagehot Fellow, she holds an MBA from Columbia. Her book, WOMEN MONEY POWER, was published in 2024. She also serves on the Grace Institute board.
Dave Hanley is a serial entrepreneur with exits to Amazon, Deloitte, and Ethos Life. He builds high-impact ventures in fintech, healthtech, AI, and more. As CEO of Tomorrow, he helped 600,000+ families secure their futures. His social media agency, Banyan Branch, was acquired by Deloitte, and his startup Shelfari was acquired by Amazon. A Fulbright Scholar and WEF Young Global Leader, he’s been recognized at TechCrunch Disrupt, Money2020, and SXSW.
Felicity is the co-founder of TheFind, an executive search firm focused on discovering talent beyond the obvious. She began as a recruitment consultant before leading global hiring at Bloomberg and Audible. She later expanded a search firm’s U.S. business, inspiring her to launch TheFind. A published author and former WBC board member, she is also a member of Luminary NYC. Felicity brings fresh energy to leadership search and lives in Westchester, NY, with her husband and two children.
Verve draws on a wide network of experts across industries. To explore other sector-specific voice expertise tailored to your needs, get in touch.