Our Team
The Vegan Leaders network is managed by a group of volunteers who “get” the corporate vegan niche – after all, we all have corporate day jobs.
You can view and apply to open volunteer opportunities here on our Idealist page.
Board of Directors
Darina Janovova (formerly Bockman)
Founder & President
Darina Janovova (formerly Bockman) founded Vegan Leaders in Corporate Management in 2014 with a vision to empower vegan employees in Fortune 500 companies.
She has worked in corporate finance for over 20 years, earning accolades for outstanding leadership of major projects and transformations. She currently works as a Vice President, Global Finance Special Projects at CBRE. A natural organizer and “doer”, she is fiercely passionate about self-improvement and effectiveness.
Born in Slovakia, she speaks multiple languages and devotes her free time to pro bono animal and environmental advocacy. She lives in Dallas, Texas.
Executive Director
Gabriella is a Chartered Marketer and sustainability strategist, bringing together expertise in ethical communications and purpose-driven leadership to support organisations like Vegan Leaders. With 15 years of experience in marketing, she understands how to align values with commercial success in a way that drives meaningful impact.
A committed ethical vegan, Gabriella studied Business Sustainability Management at the University of Cambridge to formalise her expertise and demonstrate that veganism and sustainability are not only environmentally and socially impactful, but also economically viable.
Through her consultancy, Global Lemon, she supports businesses of all sizes in in marketing and sustainability.
Vice President
Michael Coleman was one of the first to join VLCM back in 2015, as a collaborator on the Vegan Playbook project.
His 20-year background is rooted in education programming, content design, and publishing. Michael brings together industry experts to create transformative education programs. One hallmark initiative is a three-course series on sustainability in commercial real estate, which is helping drive a carbon-centric industry toward a net-zero ethic.
In his spare time, Michael enjoys practicing and teaching martial arts, spending time with his wife, daughter, and two rescue dogs, and advocating for a vegan lifestyle.
Board Member — Development Committee
A vegan for more than 30 years, Grady has founded and served on the boards of multiple non-profit and profit making corporations. With degrees in education and psychology, his career focus has consistently been on initiatives that promote both human and planetary health. He is passionate about encouraging low-on-the-food chain, organically grown, fair trade or equal exchange certified eating as a way that each of us can make a positive difference environmentally, socially and economically. Grady currently resides in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Board Member — Development Committee
Amar Singh serves on the Board of Vegan Leaders since 2023.
Board Member — Development Committee
Based in San Diego, California, Rosemary spends as much time outdoors as possible and loves to try new vegan restaurants. Her career has focused on helping non-profits gain capacity and funding to make a difference, and she has worked extensively on campaigns for ocean health and sustainability.
Board Member
Chiara is a scientist, entrepreneur, and 2x co-founder with 15 years in life sciences across academia, biotech, and pharma. Six years ago she went vegan for the animals and hasn't looked back. Since then, she's been on a mission to inspire people around her to make the shift - because a more compassionate world starts with the choices we make every day.
Volunteers
Membership Management
Sandra oversees and handles the Vegan Leaders membership process. Originally from the US, Sandra ran a management consulting practice in Sydney, Australia and now lives in Doha, Middle East. Her areas of expertise are operations management and corporate strategy with a focus on feasibility studies and returns analyses.
Sandra is passionate about embracing the vegan principles in all areas of her life, and particularly about bridging the gap between being vegan and working in the traditional corporate environment. In her spare time, Sandra enjoys practicing yoga, cooking, gardening and advocating for animal rights.
Technology Associate
Audrey is an Information Technology professional based in the Albany, New York area. Her experience has focused on managing and supporting IT systems in the legal profession, website design and development, and supporting nonprofits and vegan businesses through IT and website-related projects. A passionate animal rights supporter, she is a life-long vegetarian and has been vegan since 2007. Her hobbies include writing, dancing, water sports, photography, and playing ukulele.
Regional Engagement Manager - London, U.K.
Transformation and engagement specialist focused on impactful people and change initiatives in the non-profit sector. As an advocate for animal welfare, Sarah-Jane embraces vegan values and a lifestyle that supports both the well-being of animals and a healthier planet.
Regional Engagement Manager - Malaysia and Singapore
Anna loves great food and turned this passion into her own business, Culinova Consulting, where she helps hotels, restaurants, and cafes create exciting new menus that are both sustainable and plant-based. She also shares her knowledge through talks and workshops, showing businesses how delicious food can be good for both people and the planet.
Member & Regional Engagement Manager
- Chicago and Midwest
Francesca is an HR professional with 9 years of experience supporting sales development programs and technology implementations in the foodservice distribution and online retail industries. She has been vegan since 2015 and her interests include animal/nature photography, music, and fashion.
Johanna Lorraine Hernandez Pinzon
Content Manager
Johanna is a dynamic multimedia professional with expertise in digital marketing and a strong background in bilingual storytelling. Vegan for more than 8 years, she’s an advocates veganism through education.
Content Manager
Vegan since 2016, Chris is taking his first steps into animal advocacy with VLCM. Chris has spent most of his professional career helping students prepare for their Cambridge exams. Originally from the US, he has taught students from China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Myanmar, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, and Poland. Now, he has settled down with his wife and three cats in Kraków where he can explore Europe and spend his free time trying to make the world just a little bit better.
Regional Engagement Manager - India
Muthu Ramalingam is a passionate vegan and a strong advocate of plant-based living. He is the author of ‘Vegan or We’re Gone’, a book that illustrates why we all need to embrace of vegan way of living. Muthu is an alumnus of NIT, Trichy and IIM Mumbai and he serves as CEO at DexPatent.com and HelloLeads.io.
Regional Engagement Manager - South America
Maria, 13 years vegan, has driven social impact across the Americas for over 15 years. Fluent in English and Spanish, with basic Portuguese and French, Maria loves to foster impactful collaborations. She uses her expertise in fundraising, strategic planning, and digital advocacy to empower organizations to achieve transformative change and advance ethical, sustainable initiatives. Her passion for animal and environmental protection drives her commitment to create a more compassionate and sustainable world.
Regional Engagement Manager - China
Fátima is an experienced Chinese and Portuguese translator and interpreter, connecting people from different language backgrounds.
She is quadrilingual and was raised in a multicultural environment, making her highly adaptable to diverse cultures.
She has been vegan for 6 years and believes that as the most "powerful" species, humans should lead with compassion rather than domination, showing empathy toward other sentient beings and recognising that only by embracing a vegan lifestyle can people from all walks of life live with dignity and help create a thriving, sustainable planet.
Sustainability Initiatives Volunteer
A food systems strategist, Justin brings experience across corporate engagement, nonprofit partnerships, and policy organizing. He is currently developing external engagement strategy for a national food systems convening while also serving his local community as both a Youth Climate Commissioner for Los Angeles County and a District Office Intern for their California Assemblymember.
Previously, Justin led partnership strategy at Animal Advocacy Careers, where he developed theory‑of‑change frameworks, expanded institutional partnerships, and managed a candidate database similar to Vegan Leaders to strengthen retention and support strategic talent redistribution within the animal advocacy movement.
Volunteer
Paolo is a Commercial Director and a committed vegan since 2016, passionate about advancing animal welfare within corporate environments. With a structured and pragmatic mindset, he is interested in bridging business and ethical values to drive meaningful change. Outside of work, he is an active skydiver, bringing discipline, focus, and a strong decision-making approach under pressure.
Program Leader
Ed, based in Amsterdam, is a program leader and educator with experience across mission-driven organisations, including international nonprofit program management and education leadership. His work has focused on program design and delivery, stakeholder engagement, and supporting the growth of initiatives across diverse contexts. He is particularly interested in helping advocates develop strategic, evidence-based approaches to advocacy, with a focus on effective communication and organisational change. Since becoming vegan in 2016, he has been motivated by the role that education can play in advancing animal advocacy and plant-based change.
Volunteer With Us!
This is a unique opportunity to strengthen our efforts and make a positive impact on a community of over 8,000 vegans worldwide! Through your volunteer work, you can build valuable skills while contributing to a cause you believe in. You will have direct access to senior professionals in our leadership team, providing opportunities for mentoring, career advice, skill coaching, and more.
Commitment:
Time: 2-5 hours per week
Duration: Min. 6 months
Some live meetings and work sessions, but mostly flexible work on your own schedule
You can view and apply to open volunteer opportunities here on our Idealist page.
We are currently looking for volunteers in the following areas:
Please note that all positions are unpaid, volunteer-based roles
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Position Overview:
We are seeking a California-licensed attorney to provide pro bono legal services to VLCM. This is an exceptional opportunity for legal professionals who are passionate about veganism and corporate social responsibility.
Key Responsibilities:
Review and advise on legal documents including contracts, agreements, and organizational policies.
Offer counsel on a variety of legal issues that may impact corporate decisions.
Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Assist in navigating legal aspects of corporate operations.
Qualifications:
Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California.
Experience in corporate law, nonprofit sector legal issues, or related fields.
Excellent analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
Commitment to VLCM's mission and values.
What We Offer:
The opportunity to make a significant impact in a growing nonprofit organization.
A collaborative and supportive community of like-minded professionals.
Recognition for your contribution to VLCM and the vegan movement.
How to Apply:
Submit your volunteer application here: https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp3827128.jsp -
Position Overview:
We are seeking a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to volunteer their skills in financial management for VLCM. This role is a unique opportunity for finance professionals passionate about veganism and ethical corporate practices.
Key Responsibilities:
Maintain and reconcile bookkeeping records in line with standard accounting practices.
Prepare comprehensive financial reports for both internal stakeholders and external filings.
Ensure compliance with nonprofit financial regulations as guided by our Board.
Provide advice on fiscal strategies and aid in fundraising efforts.
Assist in budget preparations and monitor organizational spending.
Qualifications:
Must possess a valid CPA certification; experience in nonprofit finance is preferred.
Skilled in the use of accounting software and proficient in Microsoft Excel.
A staunch supporter of VLCM’s mission and dedicated to advancing vegan principles in corporate settings.
Demonstrates meticulous attention to detail and strong analytical abilities.
What We Offer:
A chance to significantly influence a growing nonprofit's direction and success.
A cooperative environment with a network of professionals who share your values.
Acknowledgment of your efforts and contributions to both VLCM and the wider vegan movement.
How to Apply:
Submit your volunteer application here: https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp3827134.jsp -
Position Overview:
VLCM's Development Committee is seeking new members to support our efforts in supporting VLCM’s mission and executing the strategic plan, ensuring the achievement of fundraising and donor relationship objectives. Members are responsible for:
Leading engagement with funders across individual, corporate, and grant domains, advocating for VLCM’s mission and activities, especially those promoting vegan initiatives within workplaces.
Committing to monthly meetings and dedicating 3-4 hours to Committee activities each month.
The Committee’s purview encompasses:
Identification and prioritization of fundraising avenues in support of VLCM's objectives.
Establishment of fundraising goals, coupled with the monitoring and implementation of pragmatic financing strategies.
Establishment of expectations for the board in achieving the targets set by the Development Committee.
Fostering a collaborative and positive dynamic among board members and volunteers.
How to apply:
Submit your volunteer application here: https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp3821920.jsp
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Position Overview:
We are looking for a volunteer to help build and publish new content through our website, social media, newsletters and other communications. This experience can help you build valuable skills (marketing, writing, data analysis and visualization, presentation, design and web publishing). You would not be expected to write original pieces such as blog posts. Instead, you would complete steps to gather data and build content based on guidance provided (while using some personal creativity and judgment). Also, you would complete various projects such as updates to specific web pages. You could have some say in choosing projects which interest you the most based on skills you want to build.
You would work closely with our senior management team (all volunteers with accomplished corporate careers) with an opportunity to learn about strategy and other aspects of running a global non-profit.
The expected time commitment is 2-5 hours per week for the duration of 6 months. This will include some live meetings and work sessions but it’s mostly flexible work on your own schedule.
Qualifications and commitment:An ideal candidate will have a completed (or in-progress) college degree, with strong interest and some experience with web/social media content. A business degree and/or work experience is preferred.
Proficient business English skills and at least some experience with office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and equivalent) are a must. Experience with web content building platforms such as Squarespace, Airtable, PowerBI and similar is a big plus but it is not required if the candidate is willing to learn and comfortable working with online tools. The candidates should understand dynamics in a typical corporate environment and have some knowledge of the vegan/plant-based movement, to be able to select and prepare content fitting our audience.
Your own laptop/computer with reliable high-speed internet connection is required.
This is a remote position that could be held from anywhere in the world - however location in the Americas or EMEA time zones would be best for meeting times and interaction with our team. Flexible time commitment of at least 2 hours and no more than 5 hours per week is expected. You need to be reachable by email when needed, and will be expected to meet agreed deadlines and to join agreed calls.This is an unpaid position. During this volunteer experience, you should be able to acquire highly marketable skills. You will also have direct access to very senior professionals who are part of our leadership team, to request mentoring, career advice, skill coaching and similar. At the end of your successful volunteer assignment, you will be eligible for a Board position if interested. We can also provide a letter of recommendation or reference for future jobs.
How to apply:
Submit your volunteer application here: https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp3694820.jsp
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Position Overview:
In the Regional Engagement Manager role, you would look after a specific region (e.g. Latin America, Central & Eastern Europe, US New York City etc). which could have from several dozens to several hundred Vegan Leaders members. You would:
Maintain regular contact with the members (by email or other tools), offer support and actively connect them with similar members in the same region/company,
Engage them with vegan news and events happening in their region (the information would be provided to you by our central team but you’d also run your own process to discover vegan happenings to alert your member community to),
Direct local members to Vegan Leaders offerings and tools
Organize or encourage in-person events
In this role, you should follow the general framework and agreed objectives but have freedom in the manner of communicating with members or choosing the engagement strategy. The Regional
Engagement Managers would regularly meet to compare notes and share effective strategies.
The minimum time commitment is 2 hours per week for the duration of 6 months, to include meetings with the central leadership team.Qualifications
And ideal candidate will be a natural, self-driven people connector who thrives on organizing and bringing people together. Proficient English skills are a must. A business degree and/or work experience is preferred. Experience with project management, change management or event planning would be a big plus.
The candidate should understand dynamics in a typical corporate environment and have some knowledge of the vegan/plant-based movement, to be able to select and prepare content fitting our audience.
Your own laptop/computer with reliable high-speed internet connection is required.
You would ideally be based in the region you’ll manage to understand the languages and local nuances. However, this role could be held remotely (for example if you are in the US but have a strong interest in supporting members on another continent).
How to apply:
Submit your volunteer application here: https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp3821873.jsp
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Position Overview:
We are looking for a volunteer Graphic Designer to join our team. As a passionate vegan advocate, you will support our marketing team, led by Gabi - an experienced sustainability marketer and Kasia - a marketer and strategist for sustainable and healthy food choices. With your graphic design skills, you’ll elevate our visual identity and create engaging, functional designs and infographics that will empower vegans with business examples and people's stories. Your primary tasks will include supporting our marketing efforts through creating visuals for social media, newsletter, events, and our website. Over time, your role may expand to producing brand identity, typography, social media kits and guidelines.
Requirements:
Knowledge and ability to work with Adobe Creative Cloud / Canva
Experience in Branding & Graphic design
Demonstrate a portfolio of content
A strong commitment to veganism, and our mission
Schedule and Time Commitment:
Whatever time you can contribute, but a minimum of 1 hour per week
Remote job
This is a volunteer opportunity
We understand this is an unpaid position; therefore, we will be grateful for your commitment. In exchange, you get work experience and projects for your portfolio, while upskilling in purpose-driven communication and plant-based insights.
How to apply:
Submit your volunteer application here: https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp3821237.jsp