Emily Arakawa
Emily graduated from the University of Southern California where she majored in Business. She is now working in the mobile gaming industry as Jam City’s youngest User Acquisition Specialist where she leads marketing initiatives for two games. Having a global upbringing, Emily has lived and worked in several countries including Singapore, Italy, Japan, and the USA. While studying at USC, she worked in a variety of industries spanning fashion, entertainment, finance, and e-commerce. Emily is passionate about the intersection of technology and entertainment and wants to empower young girls to succeed in traditionally male-dominant industries.
Lisa Aubry
Lisa Aubry earned degrees in art history and philosophy at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). During her time there, she authored an Honors thesis, reported for the Daily Bruin’s Art & Entertainment section, and presided for the Art History Undergraduate Student Association and Cheese Club. She aims to further develop skills in writing and leadership to promote education, art, and cultural heritage. Previously she interned at the Hammer Museum and L.A.-based galleries, and is currently writing for a healthcare startup to spread information about artificial intelligence in medicine. As she continues to pave her career path, Lisa seeks an international experience of advancing art and culture initiatives from an institutional or grassroots level. She joined the Young Women’s Task Force to connect with other inspiring women from diverse career backgrounds while giving back to the Los Angeles community via volunteer work.
Courtnay Francis
Courtnay is a Business and Life Strategist coming from a decorated career built from rich experiences at Fortune 100 companies, small businesses, and start-ups. With an MBA from Fordham University and a BS in Business Management from Purdue University, Courtnay strongly believes in the value of education for everyone especially those in underserved communities. Courtnay’s passion for education is evident as she is an instructor in Business Ethics for the Beauty Industry at FIDM in downtown Los Angeles. She loves giving back to the community with YWTF in a variety of ways including consulting for non-for-profits, providing career and life skills training for youth and volunteering her time for any noteworthy cause. When she is not busy running her company, teaching, and volunteering, Courtnay loves to spend her time reading fantasy books, connecting with nature and practicing yoga.
Ericka Zaring
Ericka Zaring Ericka graduated in 2017 from Whittier College, a small private school in Whittier, CA, where she studied Psychology with an emphasis in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She is currently studying for her Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Change Management. Ericka has always been interested in how you can improve the productivity of a business by leveraging its people. In her role as a Learning and Development Consultant at McDonald’s Corporation, she facilitates development sessions on leadership competencies for different levels of leadership within the McDonald’s system. By helping individuals become better leaders, she hopes to impact the effectiveness of the business. By being a member of the Young Women’s Task Force, she is excited to help young women develop the leader that is in them!
Membership Benefits: AAUW National member, Chapter member, tax-deductible dues, member profile on our website, fundraising and social events, leadership roles, ability to work on personal creative projects, new friends, skill-building, and social events you can bring a friend for free!
