Advisory Board
Daniel Acosta
Managing Director & Senior Partner, BCG
Danny is a Managing Director and Senior Partner with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a premiere management consulting firm with over 30,000 employees across over 50 countries globally. A native Californian with nearly 20 years in consulting, Danny is the Head of BCG’s West System, including two offices in the Bay Area and four total across the state. In this role, he gets to guide BCG’s important social impact efforts as well as its core consulting business across technology, consumer, healthcare, government, and other sectors.
Danny’s personal passion for public service and community impact date back to his pre-BCG days, when he served as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. At BCG, he has led key internal and external efforts focused on diversity and inclusion, along with key community partnerships with civic organizations, philanthropic foundations, governments, and institutions representing private sector companies. All with the goal of positively impacting the local communities, economies, and workforces within which BCG and its clients operate.
Danny serves on the boards of LAist/Southern California Public Radio, the Latino Donor Collaborative, and was a long-time board member of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. He earned his Juris Doctorate and Master’s in Business Administration, both with honors, from Georgetown University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science, with honors, at Yale.
Fred Blackwell
CEO, The San Francisco Foundation
Fred Blackwell is the CEO of the San Francisco Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the country. Since joining the foundation in 2014, Blackwell has led it in a renewed commitment to social justice through an equity agenda focused on racial and economic inclusion.
Blackwell, an Oakland native, is a nationally recognized community leader with a longstanding career in the Bay Area. Prior to joining the foundation, he served as interim city administrator for the city of Oakland, where he previously served as the assistant city administrator. He was also the executive director of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Development in San Francisco.
Blackwell serves on the board of the Independent Sector, the Bridgespan Group, the dean’s advisory council for UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design, and the community advisory council of the San Francisco Federal Reserve.
He is a visiting professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at UC Berkeley. He holds a master’s degree in city planning from UC Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Morehouse College.
Brandi Chastain
Co-founder of Bay FC
Former American soccer player
Born and raised in San Jose, Brandi Chastain is a retired soccer player, celebrated internationally for her achievements. Brandi helped bring women’s soccer to the masses during the 1999 Women’s World Cup finals when she scored a legendary penalty-kick goal and then struck her now infamous pose. She’s won two FIFA Women’s World Cups, two Olympic Golds, one Olympic Silver and the WUSA Championship. Brandi played at Santa Clara University, winning the Honda Sports Award as the nation’s top female soccer player.
Over the past 30 years, she has held various coaching positions across the Bay Area at both the youth and collegiate levels and holds a U.S. Soccer A License. In 2004, she became a commentator and analyst for NBC during the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. Brandi founded Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative, a nonprofit helping underserved girls learn leadership skills through sports. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband.
Scott Dadich
CEO & Founder at Godfrey Dadich Partners
Scott Dadich is an American graphic designer, editor, and media executive. He gained prominence for his work in the magazine industry and his innovative approach to design and storytelling. Dadich's career has spanned various roles, showcasing his versatility and influence.
Dadich spent 9 years at WIRED as the Creative Director and Editor in Chief. He also served as the Vice President of Editorial Platforms & Design at Conde Naste.
Following these experiences, Dadich, along with Patrick Godfrey, founded the media company Godfrey Dadich Partners in 2017. The company focuses on content creation, strategy, & design.
In addition to his work in media and design, Dadich has also been involved in various creative projects. Notably, he served as the Executive Producer for the Netflix series "Abstract: The Art of Design," which explores the lives and work of influential designers across different disciplines.
Dadich holds a BFA in Design Communications from Texas Tech University.
Mike Dunleavy
General Manager, Golden State Warriors
Former NBA player (Warriors, Pacers, Bucks, Bulls, Cavaliers, Hawks)
Mike Dunleavy is a basketball professional who has spent over 20 years in the NBA as both a player and executive. He graduated from Duke University, where he won a national championship in 2001.
Following his career as a player, Dunleavy joined the Warriors' front office in 2018 as a pro scout. From there, he served as the Vice President of Basketball Operations, Assistant General Manager, and most recently, as General Manager. His promotion in June came after two-time executive of the year Bob Meyers stepped down.
Dunleavy won his first NBA championship in 2022 after the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Festus Ezeli
Sports Analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area
Former NBA player (Warriors, Trail Blazers)
Festus Ezeli is a former professional basketball player who was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft.
During his time with the Warriors, Ezeli played a crucial role as a rim protector and provided valuable minutes at the Center position. He was an integral part of the Warriors team that won an NBA Championship during the 2014-2015 season. His shot-blocking prowess and physical presence in the paint contributed to the team's success.
Beyond basketball, Ezeli has been involved in philanthropic endeavors, using his platform to give back to his community and promote positive change. This is especially true for young fans in his home country of Nigeria.
After his NBA career, Ezeli also ventured into various business and entrepreneurial pursuits, with the most recent being a Sports Analyst role with NBC Sports.
Hydra Mendoza
VP, Chief of Strategic Relationships in the Office of the Chair and CEO at Salesforce
Former President of the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education
Hydra Mendoza is a distinguished education and public service leader. She currently serves as the VP, Chief of Strategic Relationships in the Office of the Chair and CEO at Salesforce.
Previously, she served as Sr. Advisor on Education to former Mayor Gavin Newsom, Deputy Chief of Staff on Education and Equity to the late Mayor Edwin Lee, and Deputy Chancellor of Community Empowerment, Partnerships, and Communications for NYC Public Schools with Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chancellor Richard Carranza. She was the first and only Filipina ever elected to office in San Francisco and served on the SFUSD Board of Education for 12 years. It was in that role and with Mayor Lee and Marc Benioff that Hydra helped co-architect the original educational investments made by Salesforce.org.
Hydra is a native San Franciscan and is committed to improving her local community, serving the most vulnerable, and being impactful with resource consumption. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Glide Foundation, the Bay Area Council, the California Academy of Sciences, and as an Advisor to the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good at USF.
Zaza Pachulia
Liaison for Business & Basketball, Golden State Warriors
Former NBA player (Magic, Bucks, Hawks, Mavericks, Warriors, Pistons)
Zaza Pachulia is a retired professional basketball player, spending 5 years in Istanbul and 16 in the NBA.
One of the highlights of Pachulia's career came during his tenure with the Golden State Warriors, where he played a crucial role in the team's success during their championship runs in 2017 and 2018. Known for his toughness and ability to contribute on both ends of the floor, Pachulia earned the respect of teammates and fans alike.
Off the court, Zaza Pachulia has been involved in various business & philanthropic efforts, particularly in his native Georgia. He has supported initiatives aimed at improving education and healthcare in the region, showcasing his commitment to making a positive impact beyond basketball.
Zaza has also established himself as a successful entrepreneur and investor, with experience in hospitality, fitness, fashion, and real estate.
Currently, he advises the Warriors on a variety of topics.
Hunter Pence
Analyst, SF Giants
Former MLB player (Giants, Astros, Phillies, Rangers)
Hunter Pence is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder who won two World Series championships with the San Francisco Giants. Over a 14- season career, he also played for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, and Texas Rangers.
Pence's journey began at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he showcased his potential and was eventually drafted by the Astros in 2004. Throughout his career, Pence was celebrated for his relentless work ethic, becoming a four-time All-Star and beloved figure among fans.
Following his retirement, Pence transitioned into broadcasting, offering insights as an analyst for NBC Sports and MLB Network. He also engages with the community through youth baseball camps, nurturing rising talent in the sport. Residing in San Francisco, Pence remains an influential figure in baseball, inspiring future generations with his love for the game.
Robert (Bob) Powers
General Manager, Bay Area Rapid Transit
Powers, a licensed Professional Engineer, has more than 20 years of experience in the public transportation industry overseeing major infrastructure projects and transportation programs. He holds a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters degree in Structural Engineering, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Powers has spent over 11 years at BART in a variety of positions, including Assistant General Manager of Planning, Development & Construction and Deputy General Manager. He was unanimously appointed General Manager by the Board of Directors in 2019.
Prior to joining BART, Bob worked at the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT). While there, he served as the Deputy Director. He also has experience with the Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT), where he worked for 3 years as the Division Chief.
Powers is currently on the Board of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Executive Board of the Bay Area Council and serves as Chair of the Clipper Executive Board (CEB).
Cynthia Teniente-Matson
President, San Jose State University
Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson serves as the 31st president of San José State University. An internationally-recognized Latina leader, President Teniente-Matson is a champion of student success initiatives; diversity, equity and inclusion; civic engagement; and experiential learning.
Her career that spans more than 30 years in higher education, including serving as Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer at California State University, Fresno from 2004 to 2015. From there, President Teniente-Matson led Texas A&M University-San Antonio from 2015 to 2023 as the second president in the university’s history.
She also serves as past chair of the Board of Directors for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), a university presidents and chancellors membership association; is a board member of the American Council on Education and the Girl Scouts USA National Board; and is a member of the HSI-Educational Testing Service (ETS) Steering Committee and LiftFund.
President Teniente-Matson earned her Bachelor of Arts in Management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, her Master of Business Administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from California State University, Fresno.
Chris Wondolowski
Soccer Operations, San Jose Earthquakes
Former MLS player (Earthquakes, Dynamo)
Chris Wondolowski, born in Danville, California, is a retired American professional soccer player renowned for his outstanding goal-scoring prowess.
He started his collegiate soccer career at Chico State University before joining Major League Soccer (MLS) with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2005. Wondolowski briefly played for the Houston Dynamo, where he was part of the team that won two MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007. He returned to the Earthquakes in 2009, marking the beginning of his rise as a top goal scorer in the league.
In 2010, he won the MLS Golden Boot, and in 2012, he was honored with the MLS Most Valuable Player Award. Wondolowski was also a key player for the United States men's national team, making a notable appearance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
He retired in 2020 as the all-time leading goal scorer in MLS history, cementing his status as a legend in American soccer. Post-retirement, Wondolowski has been involved in various soccer-related activities, including coaching and community engagement.
Steve Young
Chairman & Co-Founder at HGGC
Former NFL player (49ers & Buccaneers)
Steve Young is a renowned American football quarterback who dedicated over fifteen years to professional football, predominantly with the San Francisco 49ers. He earned numerous accolades, including being named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXIX, securing the titles of Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated and Sporting News from 1992 to 1994, and receiving the NFL's Most Valuable Player award for 1992 and 1994. In 2005, Steve was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Upon retirement, he held the record for the highest quarterback rating in NFL history and remains the only quarterback to clinch four consecutive NFL passing titles.
Following his football career, Steve transitioned into the world of private equity, establishing himself as a notable leader. He co-founded HGGC, a private equity firm managing over $6.8B in capital commitments. Additionally, Steve holds the position of Chairman of the Board for five HGGC portfolio companies: IDERA, Integrity, DealerFX, AutoAlert, and Innovative.
Furthermore, Steve founded and currently chairs the Forever Young Foundation, an organization deeply involved in supporting children's charities globally. He also takes on the roles of broadcast host and former International Spokesperson for the Children's Miracle Network, an initiative that has successfully raised over a billion dollars to aid children's hospitals worldwide.