leadership Team
alex aryaan
Executive Director / Founder
Mindful Founders Inc. was born from a pattern I've watched repeat for years - in my clients, in my entrepreneurial family, and in myself. Entrepreneurs struggle, then quietly blame themselves for struggling, and push to work even harder (despite externalities that increasingly work against us).
I started this nonprofit organization to break that cycle.
As Executive Director, I bring 10+ years across strategy, research, administration, and nonprofit work - including helping small nonprofits secure millions in funding, entrepreneurship training from Harvard Business School Online, and a Master's in Urban Planning & Policy with a concentration in Economic Development. I've seen firsthand how transformative access to support and application-based funding can be, and I've made it one of my missions to pay that forward.
At Mindful Founders, through peer support groups, coaching, micro-grants, education, advocacy, and more, we hope to help entrepreneurs, regardless of background, build holistic well-being, financial empowerment, and lasting success!
kate leisses
Board Member
Kate Leisses is a business strategist who helps organizations define, refine, and deliver practical improvements by treating people, process, and technology as one connected system - solutions that make smart use of technology without being dependent on it.
Across a 50-year career, she has led multi-million-dollar transformation programs and stood up Program Management Offices for Fortune 1000 firms spanning healthcare, manufacturing, retail, financial services, and hospitality. Recently, she led CIO advisory and technology consulting at EPAM Systems and specialized in manufacturing operations management for global firms.
As a member of the Mindful Founders Inc. board, Kate brings that pragmatic, results-focused lens to the mission - helping entrepreneurs build businesses that are not just sustainable, but well-run, efficient, and resilient.
david armstrong
Board Member
David Armstrong, Esq., is a healthcare attorney and compliance executive with more than thirty years of experience spanning providers, payors, law firms, and government programs. A trusted advisor on healthcare transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and value-based care, he has served as General Counsel for three healthcare startups - taking one to an exit, another to a public offering, and currently building his third. A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, David has repeatedly built legal and compliance functions from the ground up, including as a company's first legal hire scaling operations into a nationwide platform generating over $500 million in annual revenue.
As a member of the Mindful Founders Inc. board, David brings deep startup and growth experience to the mission - helping entrepreneurs navigate the legal, operational, and ethical sides of building a business that lasts.
Keith Hawkins
Board Member
Keith Hawkins is an internationally recognized leadership speaker, educator, and entrepreneur. For more than 20 years, he has inspired students, educators, business leaders, and organizations through leadership development, culture-building, and inclusion-focused programs, reaching over 400,000+ people annually.
He has spoken at the United Nations Global Summit on behalf of America’s youth and is passionate about helping individuals and organizations unlock their potential and create positive change. Keith also serves as a Board Member of Mindful Founders Inc., supporting its mission to advance the financial and emotional well-being of entrepreneurs.
Suhana challa
Board Member
Suhana Challa is an emerging leader studying Management Information Systems at UT Austin's McCombs School of Business. She brings hands-on experience across the startup and funding ecosystem - scouting deals for a $100M+ angel network, driving growth at a Y Combinator-backed startup, and supporting funding and strategy work for nonprofit consulting clients - alongside internships at PwC, Expedia, and the U.S. Department of State. She pairs an entrepreneur's instincts with a strong grounding in project management, funding, and impact.
On the Mindful Founders Inc. board, Suhana brings a fresh, founder-focused perspective and direct ties to the early-stage community the organization serves - helping ensure its programs meet entrepreneurs where they actually are.
Nehal Aryaan
Board Member
Nehal Aryaan serves as Quality Lead at Anduril Industries - one of aerospace and defense's most entrepreneurial ventures - where he drives zero-defect engineering for mission-critical systems. His entrepreneurial roots trace back to his undergraduate years in India as an active member of a student entrepreneurship group, and his career since has spanned innovative names like Blue Origin, where he designed Lunar Lander tooling, and Xometry, where he scaled global quality standards. An AS9100 Lead Auditor with deep expertise in CATIA V5, GD&T, and Model-Based Definition, he holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Nehal brings to the Mindful Founders Inc. board a rare mix of entrepreneurial energy, systems-level rigor, and leadership.
mark eagle
Advisory Board / Coach
Mark is a technology executive, entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader with a passion for helping people and companies grow. He currently advises startups, helps people advance their careers, and recently fulfilled a state grant to build pipelines from education to business for job creation.
Mark served as CTO for Helping Habit, providing nonprofits with a free platform for donations and volunteerism. A certified pickleball coach and lifelong learner, he brings energy, candor, and a results-driven mindset to advancing Mindful Founder’s mission.
stacey besse
Coach / Facilitator
Stacey Besse, BA, CLC, is a Certified Life Coach with a background in Psychology and Education and over 20 years of experience in the Global Logistics industry. Her diverse professional background, combined with her passion for personal growth and human transformation, allows her to help individuals gain clarity, overcome challenges, and create meaningful, lasting change. Stacey’s coaching approach blends psychology-based insight, practical strategy, and compassionate accountability to empower clients to step into their fullest potential.