The people accountable for the mission.

Suliman is a strategic development leader and certified project management professional with more than 14 years of experience across government, nonprofit, private, and international sectors. At GISD he leads the organization's work in education and skills development, community engagement, and economic opportunity. Throughout his career he has managed more than $200 million in multi-sector projects and authored more than 500 successful proposals for nonprofits, universities and research institutions, government agencies, consulting firms, and federal contractors.

From 2017 to 2020, Suliman served as Economic Advisor and Chair of the Economic Empowerment Group within the Government of Afghanistan, leading coordination among 29 government and international institutions and contributing to national strategies, policies, reforms, and programs. He designed a sustainable rural economic development model whose pilot created more than 10,000 jobs and that ultimately contributed to more than 10,000 jobs for rural women, while strengthening food security for more than 65,000 people.

In the United States, he sits on the Board of Directors of the U.S.-Afghan Chamber of Commerce, where he chairs the Planning Committee, and has volunteered with nonprofits across Missouri, Illinois, and the DMV region on strategic planning, project standardization, and organizational development. He is also Founder and CEO of TechBridge Management Solutions LLC, a Fairfax County consulting firm. Suliman holds PMP, CSM, ICP-ORG, ICP-ACC, ICP-ATF, and NCSS credentials and is fluent in English, Dari, and Pashto.

Kendel is a leadership, life, and career coach who empowers professionals and purpose driven leaders to achieve clarity, professional growth, and meaningful impact. As founder of Women's Empowerment Coaching and Consulting, LLC, she has provided coaching to professionals at organizations including Salesforce, Amazon, and Accenture, as well as nonprofit leaders and entrepreneurs, with more than 1,000 coaching hours. Kendel previously served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Brain Injury Services, where she led board development, advocacy, and executive collaboration. She holds a Master's degree in Organizational Management, is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation, and is a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator.

Lisa is a nonprofit leader with a career rooted in strengthening communities through partnership development, volunteer mobilization, and strategic fundraising. She currently serves as Director of Partnerships and Development at Leadership Fairfax, where she engages alumni, secures sponsorship and grant funding, and supports leadership development initiatives. In her previous role with Women Giving Back, Lisa built a strong volunteer network and secured financial support for women and children in crisis. She also serves as the Ashburn District representative on Loudoun County's Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Committee, helping shape the county's vision for inclusive, accessible, and sustainable public spaces.

Nillah is an experienced leadership and management professional with a strong background in the arts, education, marketing, community engagement, and the private sector. She is the founder of Deloura Bentia, a private company based in Fairfax County, Virginia. Since September 2025, she has served on the GISD Board of Directors, bringing an entrepreneurial perspective to its mission of expanding education, skills development, and economic opportunity across Virginia.