About Us

Joanne re-launched Friendfactor in July 2012 on the heels of a successful pilot program she built to engage her fellow allies in creating a more LGBT-inclusive culture at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Before the LGBT movement swept her off her feet, Joanne spent her time tackling international socioeconomic inequality. She co-founded a boutique development consultancy with IFMR in India, designed a micro-entrepreneurship training program with the Peace Corps in Kenya, and interned with social entrepreneurship accelerators Endeavor and Agora Partnerships. Joanne started her career as a marketing strategist at Digitas, and holds a BA in Mathematics from Dartmouth College in addition to her Duke MBA.

Brian is a Principal at Elliot Strategy, where he helps foundations, nonprofits, and socially responsible companies design high-impact strategies and develop and launch new innovative new programs and products. He founded Friendfactor in 2009 and now serves as the Board Chair. Previously, Brian served as the Director of Entrepreneur Services at Endeavor Global, an international development venture philanthropy firm. His other prior experience spans multiple sectors, having worked at Bain & Company, The Bridgespan Group, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Brian holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BA in Public Policy from Stanford University. Brian is a winner of the SXSW 2012 Dewey Winburne Community Service Award, the 2010 Harvard Business School Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship, and Splashlife’s 30 Under 30: Civic Leaders Award.

Evan is the founder of Evan Horowitz Advising, which empowers entrepreneurs to grow their businesses faster and smarter. His clients benefit from his Harvard MBA and 10 years running businesses as big as $200+ Million. Before founding his advising practice, Evan worked with global giants including Samsung, Macy's, Walmart and Costco. Evan has held numerous leadership positions in the LGBT movement. Among these, he led a fundraising team on California's No on Prop 8 Campaign, ran phone banks to help pass marriage equality in New York State, and currently serves as Co-President of Harvard Business School's LGBT Alumni Association. He earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

An active ally to the LGBT community for more than 20 years, Elizabeth works in corporate sustainability at Pacific Gas & Electric Company, where she is responsible for various aspects of sustainability reporting, stakeholder engagement, benchmarking and strategy. She is also the first Chair of Ally Programming for PG&E's PrideNetwork employee resource group. Previously, Elizabeth worked for World Wildlife Fund and the Institute for Sustainable Development, focusing on the intersection of business and environmental issues, and at Combined Jewish Philanthropies in Boston, where she managed major donor engagement and campaign leadership strategy for a $40 million annual campaign. Elizabeth holds an MBA and a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University, as well as a BA from Smith College, where she was elected President of the Student Government Association and served as a Trustee of the College following her graduation.

Over the last decade, Laila has worked with elected officials, candidates, and organizations to develop skills in training, messaging, polling and outreach.  She is the Program Director of the Asian Pacific American Institute of Congressional Studies. Prior to that Laila worked with the Communication Workers of America’s campaigns, and spent two cycles with EMILY’s List in the Political Department. She also worked in Congress, in Candidate Recruitment at Progressive Majority, with the Democratic National Committee’s Office of Independent Expenditures, and interned with the Public Affairs department of MTV and the White House Office of Women’s Initiatives and Outreach.  Laila received her undergraduate degree in Social Anthropology and Art History from Sarah Lawrence College. She has studied at the California College of Arts and Crafts and the Aegean Center for Fine Arts and has a Masters in Arts in Art History, Connoisseurship and the History of the Art Market from Christie’s Education.  Laila is a devoted fan of the Mets, the Jets and pie.