About
I've spent over a decade inside builder communities watching what actually makes them…
Articles by Neilda
-
You Can't Brainstorm Your Way to Real Values
You Can't Brainstorm Your Way to Real Values
When Hai and I sat down to define the values for AGI Ventures Canada, we did what most people do. We opened a doc and…
3 Comments -
I’m Not a Community Leader. I'm an Ecosystem Architect.
I’m Not a Community Leader. I'm an Ecosystem Architect.
In 2018, I got into Oculus Launch Pad. Facebook (Meta)'s program for VR content creators from diverse backgrounds.
13 Comments -
Your Builder Community Has SO MANY Roles. You’re Probably Only Activating Two.
Your Builder Community Has SO MANY Roles. You’re Probably Only Activating Two.
Most community building optimizes for attendance. Book the space, order the food, send the invite, count who shows up.
15 Comments -
MindGlow is 1 of 5 Startups Selected to Present at RILA's Active Shooter Innovation Showcase
MindGlow is 1 of 5 Startups Selected to Present at RILA's Active Shooter Innovation Showcase
“Organized Retail Crime (ORC) is a growing problem for leading retailers. Shrink is increasing, as are instances of…
11 Comments -
With a focus on Active Shooter Response, Workplace Violence, and Security, NRF PROTECT 2019 did not disappoint
With a focus on Active Shooter Response, Workplace Violence, and Security, NRF PROTECT 2019 did not disappoint
A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending my very first NRF (National Retail Federation)PROTECT conference…
2 Comments -
6 Epiphanies While Designing an Apple Watch App (Without Having One)
6 Epiphanies While Designing an Apple Watch App (Without Having One)
Imagine putting together a thousand-something piece puzzle without knowing what the final image looked like, exactly…
3 Comments
Experience
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Education
-
University of California, Los Angeles
-
Activities and Societies: Undergraduate Students Association Council, Kappa Delta Sorority, Undergraduate Business Society, Order of Omega Honor Society
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Licenses & Certifications
Volunteer Experience
-
Co-Organizer | Building a Collaborative AI Community in Ottawa
AI Tinkerers
- Present 2 years 3 months
Science and Technology
• Co-Hacking Sessions Leadership: Initiated and led weekly Co-Hacking sessions for AI startups, builders, and enthusiasts in Ottawa, with consistent participation from 20+ attendees at Invest Ottawa.
➤ Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdZAppdVhG8
• Event Organization & Growth: Organized and hosted monthly AI meetups, drawing 150 attendees, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the local AI and LLM community. -
-
-
Mentor
Technovation
- Present 3 years 4 months
Science and Technology
• Problem Identification & Solution Development: Guided girls ages 10-18 in identifying community problems and developing mobile app solutions to address these challenges.
• Leadership & Communication Skills: Mentored participants in effectively communicating their ideas and translating them into viable, launch-ready business solutions.
• Tech Education & Entrepreneurship: Helped students build technical skills, entrepreneurial thinking, and confidence, empowering them to become…• Problem Identification & Solution Development: Guided girls ages 10-18 in identifying community problems and developing mobile app solutions to address these challenges.
• Leadership & Communication Skills: Mentored participants in effectively communicating their ideas and translating them into viable, launch-ready business solutions.
• Tech Education & Entrepreneurship: Helped students build technical skills, entrepreneurial thinking, and confidence, empowering them to become future leaders, creators, and problem-solvers in the tech space. -
Masterclass Committee | Bridging Venture Fellows with Industry Experts
Alumni Ventures
- 11 months
Education
• Venture Fellowship Program Representation: Served as a representative of the Venture Fellowship Program (VFP), connecting fellows with masterclass speakers from the venture capital industry.
• Industry Speaker Engagement: Played a key role in organizing and facilitating masterclasses, bringing in industry experts to share valuable insights and knowledge with the fellowship cohort.
• Community Building & Networking: Fostered relationships between fellows and leading…• Venture Fellowship Program Representation: Served as a representative of the Venture Fellowship Program (VFP), connecting fellows with masterclass speakers from the venture capital industry.
• Industry Speaker Engagement: Played a key role in organizing and facilitating masterclasses, bringing in industry experts to share valuable insights and knowledge with the fellowship cohort.
• Community Building & Networking: Fostered relationships between fellows and leading professionals in the VC ecosystem, enhancing the educational experience and expanding networks. -
Evaluator | Supporting Underrepresented Founders in Tech Startups
Visible Hands
- 2 months
Economic Empowerment
• Startup Evaluation & Selection: Participated in the evaluation process for Visible Hands’ 14-week fellowship program, assessing startups led by underrepresented founders for potential investment and company-building services.
• VC Funding Gap Reduction: Contributed to the firm’s mission of narrowing the venture capital funding gap by identifying and supporting high-potential startups led by underrepresented talent.
• Empowering Diverse Founders: Played a role in fostering…• Startup Evaluation & Selection: Participated in the evaluation process for Visible Hands’ 14-week fellowship program, assessing startups led by underrepresented founders for potential investment and company-building services.
• VC Funding Gap Reduction: Contributed to the firm’s mission of narrowing the venture capital funding gap by identifying and supporting high-potential startups led by underrepresented talent.
• Empowering Diverse Founders: Played a role in fostering economic empowerment by helping underrepresented entrepreneurs gain access to resources, mentorship, and investments of up to $200K to build and scale their tech startups. -
Student Ambassador | Time Management & Academic Success Mentor
University of Southern California
- 1 year 6 months
Education
• Panel Speaker & Mentor: Presented strategies for time management and academic success during panel discussions for prospective students, helping them navigate the transition into university life.
• Student Support & Guidance: Shared personal insights and practical advice on balancing academics and extracurriculars, contributing to the success and preparedness of incoming students.
• Community Engagement: Acted as a representative of USC, fostering a welcoming and supportive…• Panel Speaker & Mentor: Presented strategies for time management and academic success during panel discussions for prospective students, helping them navigate the transition into university life.
• Student Support & Guidance: Shared personal insights and practical advice on balancing academics and extracurriculars, contributing to the success and preparedness of incoming students.
• Community Engagement: Acted as a representative of USC, fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for future students through active participation in university outreach. -
Startup Mentor | Guiding Innovative Projects to Viable Enterprises
University of Southern California
- 3 months
Science and Technology
• Capstone Project Mentorship: Served as a mentor for the Garage Experience, a USC Academy capstone program where students develop innovative projects into operational prototypes and viable businesses.
• Entrepreneurial Guidance: Provided mentorship on project development, business strategy, and product viability, helping students transform their ideas into actionable business ventures.
• Collaboration with Faculty & Industry Experts: Worked alongside faculty and industry…• Capstone Project Mentorship: Served as a mentor for the Garage Experience, a USC Academy capstone program where students develop innovative projects into operational prototypes and viable businesses.
• Entrepreneurial Guidance: Provided mentorship on project development, business strategy, and product viability, helping students transform their ideas into actionable business ventures.
• Collaboration with Faculty & Industry Experts: Worked alongside faculty and industry professionals to offer practical insights and support, guiding students through the early stages of entrepreneurship. -
Webmaster | Enhancing Digital Presence for Disaster & Humanitarian Relief
ASIS International
- 2 years
Disaster and Humanitarian Relief
• Website Management & Optimization: Managed and maintained the ASIS International website, ensuring smooth functionality and an optimized user experience to support the organization’s disaster and humanitarian relief efforts.
• Content Updates & Technical Support: Regularly updated content, provided technical support, and improved website navigation, making it easier for stakeholders and volunteers to access critical information.
• Digital Strategy & Engagement: Contributed to…• Website Management & Optimization: Managed and maintained the ASIS International website, ensuring smooth functionality and an optimized user experience to support the organization’s disaster and humanitarian relief efforts.
• Content Updates & Technical Support: Regularly updated content, provided technical support, and improved website navigation, making it easier for stakeholders and volunteers to access critical information.
• Digital Strategy & Engagement: Contributed to the organization’s digital strategy by improving online engagement and ensuring the website effectively communicated ASIS International’s mission and initiatives. -
Co-Founder & Organizer | Building a Leading AR & Computer Vision Community
San Francisco Augmented Reality and Computer Vision
- 1 year 5 months
Science and Technology
• Community Building & Industry Leadership: Co-founded and organized a leading AR and computer vision meetup in San Francisco, New York City, and Los Angeles, bringing together innovators, developers, designers, and investors.
• Event Organization & Speaker Engagement: Showcased groundbreaking companies and technologies, with past speakers and sponsors including IBM Watson Developer Labs, Scope AR, Unity Technologies, Meta Vision, Google, Houzz, Super Ventures, and Microsoft.
•…• Community Building & Industry Leadership: Co-founded and organized a leading AR and computer vision meetup in San Francisco, New York City, and Los Angeles, bringing together innovators, developers, designers, and investors.
• Event Organization & Speaker Engagement: Showcased groundbreaking companies and technologies, with past speakers and sponsors including IBM Watson Developer Labs, Scope AR, Unity Technologies, Meta Vision, Google, Houzz, Super Ventures, and Microsoft.
• Networking & Industry Collaboration: Created a collaborative environment for industry leaders, startups, and investors to connect and discuss advancements in AR and computer vision, fostering valuable industry partnerships. -
Mentor | Supporting Filipino American Youth in Tech
FASTER
- 2 years
Education
• Mentorship & Career Development: Mentored Filipino American youth, helping them build careers in the technology industry by providing guidance, support, and access to professional networks in Silicon Valley.
• Community Building & Empowerment: Contributed to FASTER’s mission of cultivating a strong movement of Filipino Americans in the tech community, spanning roles from engineers and designers to managers, scientists, and entrepreneurs.
• Professional Network Expansion:…• Mentorship & Career Development: Mentored Filipino American youth, helping them build careers in the technology industry by providing guidance, support, and access to professional networks in Silicon Valley.
• Community Building & Empowerment: Contributed to FASTER’s mission of cultivating a strong movement of Filipino Americans in the tech community, spanning roles from engineers and designers to managers, scientists, and entrepreneurs.
• Professional Network Expansion: Strengthened ties within the Bay Area Filipino American community, fostering connections that empowered the next generation of tech leaders.
Explore more about the mission: http://fastersv.org/ -
Volunteer | Supporting Educational Initiatives and Public Discourse
The Commonwealth Club of California
- 2 years 9 months
Education
• Event Support & Community Engagement: Assisted in organizing and facilitating educational events and public discussions on a wide range of topics, contributing to the club’s mission of promoting informed public discourse.
• Educational Outreach: Supported the club’s efforts to expand its reach and impact, helping bring educational and thought-provoking content to a broader audience. -
Mentor | Guiding Future Alumni through Career Development
UCLA Alumni Association
- 1 year
Education
• Mentorship & Career Guidance: Participated in the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program, providing one-on-one mentorship to students, offering guidance on career development, academic success, and navigating post-graduation opportunities.
• Alumni-Student Connection: Helped foster strong relationships between alumni and current students, contributing to the growth of a supportive and engaged UCLA community.
• Professional Development Support: Offered insights and advice on career paths…• Mentorship & Career Guidance: Participated in the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program, providing one-on-one mentorship to students, offering guidance on career development, academic success, and navigating post-graduation opportunities.
• Alumni-Student Connection: Helped foster strong relationships between alumni and current students, contributing to the growth of a supportive and engaged UCLA community.
• Professional Development Support: Offered insights and advice on career paths, job search strategies, and networking, empowering mentees to confidently pursue their professional goals.
Honors & Awards
-
Forty Under 40 Recipient
Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Chamber of Commerce
Forty Under 40 recognizes accomplished leaders who are under the age of 40 and also give back to their community.
-
Graduate Mentor Award (Summer 2021 & Fall 2021)
University of Southern California
USC Iovine and Young Academy awards graduate students an assignment to support an Academy graduate course. Each award is comprised of two parts: 1) a one-term paid assignment as a Course Assistant, consisting of a total of 100 required hours of instructor support in an IYA virtual or physical classroom; 2) tuition remission of up to 6 units in the semester of the assignment.
-
Most Innovative Product Idea
University of Southern California - Troy Labs
Won the Audience Award for Most Innovative Product Idea at USC Demo Day 2020
-
Nasdaq Milestone Maker 2019
Nasdaq
Launched in 2016, Milestone Makers is a program that selects a small cohort of entrepreneurs to receive individualized business mentoring, coaching, training, and resources. The goal is to help entrepreneurs set, hit, and celebrate milestones critical to company growth.
-
Boost VC Accelerator Program - Tribe 12
Boost VC
Funding awarded to MindGlow for being one of 22 companies selected for Boost VC Accelerator Program, Tribe 12.
-
Oculus Launch Pad 2018
Oculus
Selected to be one of 100 creators to participate in Oculus Launch Pad program designed to support promising VR content creators from diverse backgrounds with hands-on training and support, to iterate unique ideas, and bring them to market.
-
XR Studio Fellow
Mozilla
Selected as one of 30 to participate in a futuristic studio space providing mentorship, collaboration, and equipment to develop work in machine learning and mixed reality in San Francisco.
-
Certificate of Recognition
California State Senate
Special recognition of outstanding and dedicated service through exceptional participation in community activities.
-
Certificate of Recognition
United States Congress
Special recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to the community.
Languages
-
English
Native or bilingual proficiency
-
Tagalog
Professional working proficiency
Organizations
-
UCLA Young Alumni
-
- Present -
Score 3 Ventures
Venture Scout
-The Score 3 Venture Fellowship is an immersive experience offering Women, People of Color and LGBTQ members access to participate in the work of a venture firm. Participants in this program, Score 3 Venture Fellows, will have direct access to Venture network partners that will invest in and mentor the fellows.
-
ASIS International
Webmaster
-Founded in 1955, ASIS International is a global community of security practitioners, each of whom has a role in the protection of assets - people, property, and/or information.
-
Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM)
-
-The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is a professional human resources membership association headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. SHRM promotes the role of HR as a profession and provides education, certification, and networking to its members, while lobbying Congress on issues pertinent to labor management.
-
NationSwell Council
Council Member
-NationSwell Council is a diverse community of accomplished professionals who are passionate about service. Members of the NationSwell Council know that America faces challenges. They also believe that those problems are solvable. Council members are committed to advancing innovations that: bridge the opportunity divide, make government work, advance national service and preserve our environment.
-
Kappa Delta Sorority
-
- -
Pinole Youth Commission
Co-Chair
- -
Pinole Youth Foundation
Board Member
- -
Commonwealth Club of California
-
Educational organization based in Northern California. https://www.commonwealthclub.org
Recommendations received
-
LinkedIn User
6 people have recommended Neilda
Join now to viewOther similar profiles
Explore more posts
-
John Guanjing Zhang
🌐 Understanding the Shift: Web3 vs. Web2 in Wearable AI Health Monitoring🚀 As we navigate the evolving landscape of digital health platforms, it’s essential to grasp the key differences between Web2 and Web3, especially when it comes to wearable AI health monitoring devices like smart glasses, smart rings,smartwatches and fitness trackers. 🔑 Key Distinctions: 1. Data Ownership: - Web2:Your health data is stored on centralized servers, controlled by companies like Fitbit and Apple. This means limited ownership and privacy, as your data may be shared with third parties. - Web3: Thanks to blockchain technology, users gain true ownership of their health data. It’s stored on decentralized networks, allowing for secure, selective sharing and even monetization without intermediaries. 2. Decentralization: - Web2:Centralized systems are prone to failures and security breaches. - Web3: Data and operations are distributed, enhancing resilience. AI algorithms can run on decentralized networks, ensuring uninterrupted service even if individual nodes fail. 3. Interoperability: - Web2:Data silos restrict the transfer of health data between devices and apps. - Web3:Promotes open standards, enabling seamless data exchange across platforms, which is crucial for personalized health insights. 4. Monetization: - Web2: Typically relies on subscriptions and ads. - Web3: Introduces tokenomics, rewarding users for sharing data or participating in governance, aligning incentives with healthier behaviors. While both approaches utilize AI for health insights, Web3 empowers users, emphasizing privacy and community-driven innovation. However, the transition is complex, and startups must navigate challenges like regulatory compliance and user adoption. 💡 For Startups: Avoid common pitfalls when transitioning from Web2 to Web3. Focus on genuine use cases, regulatory expertise, and creating a user-friendly experience to ensure a successful shift in the wearable health tech space. Let’s embrace the future of health monitoring together! 🌟 #HealthTech #Web3 #WearableAI #DigitalHealth #Innovation
-
Preeti Cholleti
Meta to Invest Millions in Support of Pro-AI Super PAC https://lnkd.in/gRVyiDDF Meta Launches Super PAC to Shape AI Regulation in California Meta Platforms is taking a significant step in influencing the future of AI regulation in California by establishing a new super PAC, named Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California. This comes amidst collaboration from major players in Silicon Valley, who recently pledged $100 million for pro-AI initiatives. Key Highlights: Investment: Meta plans to invest tens of millions into this PAC. Leadership: Brian Rice, VP of Public Policy, emphasizes that strict regulations could hinder innovation and jeopardize California's tech leadership. Lobbying Influence: Previous lobbying efforts included opposing state senator Scott Wiener’s SB-53 and derailing the Kids Online Safety Act. Political Impact: This PAC aims to sway upcoming statewide elections, including the critical governor’s race in 2026. This initiative is a pivotal moment for the AI industry. What are your thoughts on this strategic move? Share your insights and engage with fellow AI enthusiasts! Source link https://lnkd.in/gRVyiDDF
-
Lucky Lance Gobindram
Fresh off AWE Asia 2026 in Singapore - here’s the official recording of our session. Melissa, Ashwin and I broke down what scaling XR + AI in the enterprise actually looks like: embodied “Believable Humans” + immersive workflows that are already driving measurable gains in training, sales enablement, and field ops. One example we shared: A national construction company cut new-hire ramp from 3–4 weeks to 1 week - and eliminated ~$225K/year in burned leads by letting reps practice safely in XR before stepping into live customer conversations. No fluff. Just what scales: • Start with a painful, quantifiable business problem • Design for real behavior change - not a VR checkbox • Track outcomes that matter: ramp time, consistency, revenue velocity, error reduction If you’re moving beyond pilots and thinking about real deployment (including a mixed reality demo we walked through), this will give you a grounded lens. Full session here (demo included): https://lnkd.in/eKST98_b What’s the biggest blocker to immersive + AI training inside your org right now? Kinemeric, Andrew Kelley, VRARA - Singapore #XR #SpatialComputing #EnterpriseAI #ImmersiveLearning #AWEAsia #SalesEnablement #AITraining
-
Roberto Hortal
Gemini 3 moves AI from chatbot to digital coworker. In under three years we’ve gone from poetic prompts to agents that code, design interfaces, and work with, not around, human judgment. Explore the original piece to see how these tools redefine product work. https://buff.ly/sur83U1 #AI #ProductManagement
-
Avi Bar-Zeev
Last year, the XR Guild® took on the question of AI ethics. We debated it, voted on it, and updated our Ethical Principles (link in comments) to reflect the membership’s consensus. We also got the number of principles down from 12 to 7, to make it easier to parse. The year before, we took on issues with children and other at-risk individuals with new ethical principles. This year, we’d like to consider the ethics of military uses of XR for a potential new principle, among other potential topics. As Palmer Luckey correctly noted at AWE, a lot of the technology we use originally came from military funding and use cases. And he’s also right that the military has its own form of ethical guidelines, including rules on autonomous weapons. Not everyone agrees with them, but you can’t deny they exist. OTOH, there are many in the industry that draw bright red lines, such as “only defensive uses” (saving lives, training, reconnaissance) vs. active or even autonomous weapon systems. Others draw the lines differently, or not at all. It can be highly personal, and deeply emotional. A lot of the concerns happen in the details, where even good intentions can go wrong by blindly following science fiction or personal whims without sufficient ethical guidelines. For example, Palmer also famously conceived (and maybe built) a headset that can kill the wearer based on a software command. It’s hard to imagine in what situations that would be ethical. All Guild members are welcome to come share their views during our next all-member meeting, most likely coming in the fall. We’ll be occasionally soliciting input throughout the year in ways that promote respectful debate, which starts with listening. Every voice counts, especially the quiet ones. If you’d like to actively work on this issue, reach out to us and we’ll form a new volunteer track to coordinate the work. This is a key membership benefit, with our goal that every member is respected and reflected to the maximum degree possible.
1 Comment
Explore top content on LinkedIn
Find curated posts and insights for relevant topics all in one place.
View top content