Leadership — B Local Illinois

Meet the Board

The board members of B Local Illinois are committed to changing the world and being a force for good. They donate their time, energy and passion to build a community for our local B Corps.

Leadership Board

Shilpa is an award-winning brand executive with a deep passion for helping individuals, brands, and teams build lasting leadership legacies. She firmly believes that to build organizations that change the world, we have to start by building leaders who redefine it. Having been classically trained in her craft at world-renowned institutions like Procter & Gamble and The Hershey Company, Shilpa has had first-hand experience in designing, building, and leading high-performance teams across large, mid-sized, and start-up companies. She is the Founder and Chief Educational Officer (CEO) of SEE GOOD STRATEGY GROUP, a training & development advisory firm focused on upskilling mid-level managers across organizational discipline, communication & influence, and people leadership skills. She is also a regular and Featured Guest Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health and lectures at other universities around the world to inspire future leaders to cultivate the courage, empathy, and vision needed to build a better world.

Shilpa Gadhok, Executive Chair

Emily is currently the Business Operations Manager (or the ‘BOM’ as some colleagues call her) for her team at Arabella Advisors, a fellow Chicago B Corp. She manages the team’s strategic and operational priorities, as well as spearheads their internal communications and engagement efforts. Arabella Advisors, a philanthropic consulting firm, has given Emily the chance to combine impact with business and has led her to pursue this passion here with B Local Illinois. In her free time, you can find her reading by the lake, cooking a new recipe, or trying out a new local restaurant.

Emily Taub, Events Chair

Avi serves as the Associate Director of Corporate Partnerships at the University of Illinois Chicago's (UIC) Innovation Office. With expertise in cross-sector partnerships, he forges connections between UIC and real-world innovation opportunities that create positive impact. Avi has an MBA from Loyola University Chicago's Baumhart Scholars program, specializing in sustainability and social impact. He is deeply passionate about cultivating partnerships that bridge academia, innovation, and the B Corp movement.

Avi Mayerhoff, B Academics Chair

Valerie has a dynamic background which reflects her creativity and commitment to purposeful business, holding experience in strategic consulting, brand identity, cultural programming and non-profit work. As a passionate enthusiast of the triple bottom line, Valerie hopes to encourage businesses of all shapes and sizes to value people, profit and planet equally. In her work as a strategist, she has had the privilege of collaborating with a broad spectrum of consumer, pharmaceutical, and B2B brands to champion consumer stories and set strategic direction. In her free time, you can find Valerie enjoying the great outdoors, exploring her neighborhood and likely in the company of her dogs. Valerie holds her Masters in Cultural Policy and Arts Management from University College Dublin where she was a Global Ambassador, and a double Bachelors in International Business and Theatre from St. Ambrose University.

Valerie Zawada, Membership Chair

Natika is the Founder & CEO of TOBY Agency, a certified B Corporation and a graduate of the LEVEL Program by B Lab. Natika's multifaceted background includes being a decorated war veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and having over two decades of experience in the U.S. Government, including being the Director of Global Programs for Secretary Clinton at the U.S. Department of State. In this role, she developed, implemented, and monitored programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity both domestically and internationally during the Obama Administration. She also served as the VP of Corporate Partnerships at Prison Fellowship and the Chief Development Officer at Polaris, a leading organization combating human trafficking. Now, as the Founder and CEO of TOBY (Tomorrow Owned By You), a bespoke social impact creative agency, she works tirelessly to empower marginalized communities through socially and environmentally responsible governance and creative strategy.

Natika Washington, JEDI Chair

Valerie is a Principal Technology Consultant who has deep experience in solving complex problems and delivering a variety of technical solutions by working with clients to understand their needs. She is passionate about developing people to their fullest potential by fostering a collaborative team culture. She is a lifelong Chicagoan who grew up in the Western suburbs, got her B.S in Computer Science at DePaul University, and now lives in Lincoln Park.

Valerie Hall, Growth Chair

Tovah is a purpose-driven professional dedicated to fostering connection, creativity, and impact. As a Traveler Services Specialist with MEJDI Tours (a B Corp), she supports transformative travel experiences that promote cross-cultural understanding and global connection.

With a background as a childhood music educator and songleader, Tovah uses the power of music to inspire and unite communities. A passionate advocate for B Corps, she champions sustainable business practices and can recommend a B Corp product or service for any occasion. Her work reflects a commitment to creating a better, more inclusive world.

When not striving to make a difference, you can find her in Highland Park but her husband, twin sons and Great Dane, Beau.

Tovah Razowsky, Marketing Chair