Meet the team

CHAIR

Sher Singh NFBPWC - California

Sher currently serves in multiple leadership roles across international, national, state, and local levels of the Business and Professional Women (BPW) organization. She is the CFBPW, JDEI Chair for NFBPWC, and Arts & Culture Chair BPWI and as President of Middletown BPW, NY, active member for 11 years.

Sher has a vast professional portfolio over 27 years, serving 17 civic organizations. For example, the Cultural Equity president in OC NY, trustee for a DV nonprofit 18 years, 6 as president, 10 years trustee for Garnet Health Systems. In public service, Sher has acquired several certifications including dance therapy to brain trauma and Alzheimer’s communities

Beyond BPW, Sher is deeply involved in community service with Women’s Empowerment, training and mentoring unhoused women in job readiness, as Co-Chair for the Community Accountability and Systems Performance Committees SSF. As well as the Advisory Board HEC.

Sher’s work includes DEI and art and dance programs.  Sher’s professional career has included work at the UN, in education, public relations, and human services. She has developed and facilitated diversity workshops for decades for non-profits, for-profits, educational institutions, and counties.

Born in Guyana, SA, she experienced a mélange of cultures and has also lived in several countries. Sher has three grown children, working in professional capacities.  She has a passion for cultures, languages, and dance. Her most desired wish is to explore alongside others, what makes us unique and what connects us, using art and culture to uplift all women everywhere!

BPW International / India member Jalpa H Vithalani is a multifaceted visionary — business leader, artist, gallerist, farmer, philanthropist, and Reconnective Healing practitioner — who embodies the harmony of creativity and consciousness. Founder of Global Agritech (1998), she pioneered rose cultivation and introduced greenhouse technology in India, representing Dutch breeders Schreurs and creating meaningful employment for rural women. She leads Global Aviation Services Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s top three GSSA organizations representing 15 international airlines, and JTB Jupiter Express Services Pvt. Ltd., a leading logistics and freight forwarding company. She was recently felicitated with Women Business Professional of the Year 2025 at India Cargo Awards 2025. Jalpa also serves as State Director – Humans for Humanity (Maharashtra), driving the WASH project that promotes menstrual hygiene, women’s sanitation, and sustainable livelihood opportunities across India. As Founder and Creative Director of Cosmic Heart Gallery, an acclaimed art space in South Mumbai, she has transformed the gallery into a sanctuary where art, music, and spirit converge. Over thirteen years and more than 300 exhibitions, Jalpa has curated powerful dialogues between cultures — from exhibiting Indian masters and international artists to forging collaborations with National Gallery of Modern Art Delhi and Kolkata, the Indian Museum, the Consulate of Argentina, and the J.J. School of Art.Her curatorial vision transcends borders, blending artistic expression with purpose. Landmark public projects such as Eye of the Tiger with 200 village artists and Inner Realms seamlessly weave art with purpose — empowering communities, supporting conservation, and celebrating the universal language of creativity. Cosmic Heart Gallery’s participation in Art Bahrain Across Borders under royal patronage further established it as a global platform for cross-cultural exchange. Her life’s work transcends disciplines and borders — uniting the worlds of art, consciousness, and compassionate leadership into one luminous expression of purpose.A Reconnective Healing Foundational Practitioner which is backed by science and being on The Global Leadership forum, Jalpa has facilitated over 5,000 healings worldwide, guiding individuals and animals toward balance and transformation.

BPW Istanbul / Turkey member Esra Kiraz is an industrial designer. She is specialized in packaging and working as a designer over 25 years on that market. She is also teaching product design in the University and she is a founder lecturer in Packaging Design programme in Fatih Sultan Mehmet University in Turkey. Besides, she produces pop displays trade show booths and promotional products in her own company since 2015.

She is also working on software projects about managing the manufacturing process of paper packaging.

Added to all of these she also has a brand which is a food supplement for pets.

Her passion is to design creatively in every second of her life to create a better world.

NFBPWC-Michigan Affiliate member Susan Oser currently works as an online ESL teacher and materials development writer for Carrot Global Solutions which is based in Seoul, South Korea.  She has been working with the company for a little over 10 years.

Susan also writes for Patheos.com.  Her Bio and link can be found here: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/theangelwriterspiritualreal/author/soser/

She is a very active member in BPW where she is the current Health Committee Chair and LGBTQ+ liaison at the national level.  In addition, she is the current editor of the Monday Minute which is a BPW/Michigan Legacy Federation bi-monthly newsletter as well as other capacities.

On the International level, Susan has been involved with the Arts and Culture Committee since the last term.  She believes that artistic expression brings the world together more than politics ever could.

When Susan does not have a lot of things going on, she likes to be creative with coloring, crafting, and anything with music.

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Her personal motto: Work hard, have fun, and embrace your authentic self.

BPW Thailand member Chularat “Toyting” Israngkool Na Ayutthaya is a multi-task person, international realtor, consultant, and cultural entrepreneur dedicated to empowering women and connecting cultures. She serves as BPW International UN Representative in Geneva and UNESCAP Bangkok, and from 2021–2024 was BPW International First Vice President to the UN, coordinating BPW’s advocacy within the United Nations system.
She holds a BA in Political Science and is a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS). In parallel, she advises three West African ambassadors, supporting business cooperation between Thailand and West Africa in trade, investment, and cultural exchange. She also manages Serenity Lakeside Resort in Phuket, curates cultural initiatives, and promotes Thai wellness products and traditional heritage. Her dedication extends to the art of healing for health, including Himalayan singing bowls, Thai traditional massage, and holistic practices that connect culture with wellbeing.
Toyting is a recipient of the Red Cross Thailand Medal of Appreciation for leadership and humanitarian service. With experience in over 60 countries across five continents, she mentors women worldwide, encouraging them to grow through creativity, arts, and international dialogue. A multilingual speaker, she uses her diverse skills to inspire unity across cultures.

Her motto is “One World, One Family.”
 

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BPW Nigeria member

Olaronke Olajide is a driven Chartered Administrator passionate about empowering women and children. She's the founder of JeriHouse of Designs, a Nigerian jewelry manufacturing company that promotes African heritage through eco-friendly jewelry made from recycled materials. As a skilled jeweler, she's also the founder of the Jewelry Business Women Club, which supports women in the industry, growing it to nearly 1,000 members.

Professionally, Olaronke serves as Assistant Chief Identity Officer at the National Identity Management Commission and voluntary Project Manager of Restoration of the Dignity of Womanhood (ROTDOW), focusing on women's and children's welfare. She's a Country Representative of Young Business and Professional Women, Nigeria, and Assistant General Secretary of the Federation of Business and Professional Women, Nigeria.

Olaronke holds a Master's degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan and an Enterprise Skills and Development MBA from Eudoracity Business School. She's a trained jeweler from Burblespoke Jewellery Training School and a member of several professional associations, including the Chartered Institute of Administration and the Institute of Public Management.

BPW Italy

Maria Valentina Palmisano (Valentina Palmi), born in Bologna (Italy) in 1994, is an artist, researcher, artistic director - gallery owner and teacher.

She graduated with honors in Painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna and her thesis, titled L'Aldilà è un Angolo stretto. Oltre la morte nell'arte contemporanea (The Afterlife is a Narrow Corner: Beyond Death in Contemporary Art) was published by Pendragon Editore.

Since then, she has undertaken extensive artistic research on themes such as transcendence, verticality, and spirituality, all expressed through a distinctive personal style characterized by a swirling red mark.

Since 2022, she has been the artistic director of Studio la Linea Verticale, a contemporary art gallery in Bologna, Italy, which she co-founded with Giovanni Avolio. The gallery focuses on emerging and established artists who explore ontological, metaphysical, and spiritual (i.e., “vertical”) themes and regularly participates in major local art fairs such as Arte Fiera Bologna.

She is currently pursuing a PhD in Art, History, Society at the Department of Arts in the University of Bologna.

She lives and works in Bologna.

BPW Brazil

Marja Stedman (Marta Bedin),

Marja (Lady Star) Stedman best describes herself as an extrovert and a people’s person. She is the CEO and Founder of Star Rise Consultancy, where her main mission is to help business places and individuals become the best versions of themselves. She creates tailored trainings to ensure that they are equipped to deliver excellent service to both internals and external clients.

Marja is currently the second vice president of BPW Dominica, and plays and active role in the community. She sings, performs in plays and movies and hosts local shows and events. She is a natural entertainer and understand the value of being a role model, for young girls and other women to look up to.

Marja is currently pursuing her BA in Marketing, and wants to continue to advocate for young women and children. She is elated to be a member of the A&C standing committee as she believes that Art and Culture is a wonderful way to help the youth to recognize their passions and become outstanding members of the society.

Her motto is “The world is full of good people, if you can’t find one BE one.”
 

Vice President of BPW Biarritz and Deputy Coordinator of BPW Latin America 

Paula Viñals is a professional photographer who combines her training in Industrial Design with a deep passion for capturing stories. Her keen eye for structure and composition is reflected in her institutional photography work, where she creates meaningful and purposeful images. Paula finds her greatest photography inspiration in the magic of sunsets. The way light transforms the environment motivates her to constantly seek beauty in the everyday. As Vice President of BPW Biarritz and Deputy Coordinator of BPW Latin America, she has found in this organization a space to enhance her career and her commitment to other women. Thanks to her teamwork, she actively participated in the development of the digital magazine Código Mujer 7600. Through BPW, she has discovered and refined her passion for institutional photography, applying it to support the work of the network.

She has had her Nordic furniture business for over five years. Paula encourages women to develop their creativity and personal talent. She constantly seeks new ways to learn and grow in her profession, analyzing the work of her colleagues and valuing connection with other professionals.

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BPW Malta
Lorraine Lewis  currently works in project management on large scale developments in Malta designed
by world renowned architects and consultants. A project she is proud to have worked on is Parliament
building in Valletta Malta, designed by Renzo Piano. Currently she is working on Comino Hotel project
designed by Belvedere Architecture. Another innovative sustainable project that will be a landmark in
Malta. Nothing is more empowering for her than seeing innovative design transforming cities and
people’s quality of lives. This passion is also visible in her Freelance work as a graphic design for a variety
of clients in the private sector, NGO’s and government institutions.
Lorraine studied History or Art and graduated in Liberal Arts. She is an active member of BPW Malta for
the past ten years. In 2019 she Curated BPW ‘Feminae’ exhibition with the participation of thirty-six
Female Artists based in Malta. On a personal artistic level, she took part in few collective exhibitions and
had some private commissions. A clothes collection designed and exhibited at ‘Notte Biance’, called ‘in-
Naxra’ was a unique collective project and Her ‘Sea Photos’ a currently gaining popularity. She wishes to
continue her studies in Fine Arts and Design Innovation to promote sustainability worldwide.
On the International level, in addition to her work, Lorraine is from this year part of the International
Arts and Culture Committee for PBW International. Prior to this opportunity, she was the PR officer for
MOAM, Malta organic Agriculture Movement for a three-year term. MOAM worked in collaboration
with IFOAM Europe. Her aim is to continue striving in the promotion of visual arts to see positive
changes globally in all sectors required.

BPW Nepal
Hemantika Rajya Laxmi Palikhe  is a multifaceted Nepali designer, entrepreneur, and cultural advocate
working across architecture, interiors, fashion, furniture and accessories. She is the founder of
PASA Design Studio, an architectural and interior practice that also undertakes construction; and
the creator of “Lhayu”, a Luxury Nepali home goods brand showcasing Thangka, Paubha,
pashmina, Tibetan carpets and handwoven textiles. Building on this, she is developing “Heritage
to Home”, an umbrella brand designed to house community-based initiatives like Lhayu,
bringing the best of Nepali craftsmanship into contemporary global markets.
A member of BPW Nepal since 2017, Hemantika serves as the Young UN Representative of
Nepal and, from 2024, is a member of the Arts & Culture Standing Committee of BPW
International for a three-year term. In 2023, she was honored among the Top 7 Summit Women
of the Year. She is currently researching the textiles produced in Nepal to work on paper
regarding the same, deepening her commitment to cultural preservation and innovation.
Beyond her professional practice, Hemantika expresses her creativity through spoken word
poetry and fashion styling, believing that art and design can transform spaces, lives, and
communities.
Her motto: “Enhance everything you touch, even in small ways.”