TEAM
Dedicated, passionate, and industrious, our experts are united in their commitment to promoting justice, equity, and inclusion through their work.
Associates
Dedicated to positive social change, Lisa Watson began her career in the nonprofit sector over twenty years ago. As Executive Director and later CEO of The Downtown Women’s Center from 2000 through 2014, she provided leadership through DWC’s transformation from a small agency that served 300 homeless women annually into a nationally recognized homeless services organization and anchor agency within Los Angeles County. With a focus on eliminating barriers to ending homelessness, Lisa Watson worked to dramatically expand the capacity of DWC to serve residents of Skid Row. From 2015 to 2018 Lisa served as the Inaugural Director of The Laspa Center for Leadership at Scripps College. Under her leadership, the center strived to create a diverse community of knowledgeable women leaders who are prepared to take on global challenges and advance the role of women in contemporary leadership positions.
Lisa’s years of experience working with business planning, fund development, financial and social impact analysis, and strategy complement her MBA and inform her expertise. She is proficient in helping nonprofits succeed in meeting their financial and social goals, and adept at strategic partnerships. She is also experienced in entrepreneurial endeavors, having developed three social enterprises from the ground up.
Honors: Lisa Watson has been honored as a Local Hero by KCET, was named one of Los Angeles Magazine’s Top 50 Women Changemakers and has been recognized by The Annenberg Foundation as a Visionary Leader.
Passions: Applying vision to overcoming challenges
Molly Moen brings over 20 years of nonprofit management and development experience to her role at Watson Consulting Group. In senior leadership positions at both Chrysalis and Downtown Women’s Center, Molly was responsible for fundraising, communications, and advocacy efforts; guided strategic work on mission, vision, values, intended impact, and theory of change; provided oversight for fiscal management; led Board development work; and more, ensuring both the funds and strategic capacity for dramatic organizational growth. Molly has also worked with Phoenix Houses of California and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. She is passionate about helping organizations build the capacity they need to achieve their mission and helping communities work towards resilience and equity. Molly holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Wells College and a Master’s in International Business from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School.
Honors: Wells College Young Alumna/us Award Winner (2016), Wausau School District Hall of Fame Inductee (2015), Pepperdine University George Awards Community Service Award Winner (2014)
Passions: Social justice, capacity building, and her family
Irene Marsh-Elmer’s strong belief in social equity has driven her education and career. Passionate about the role of policy in improving economic equity, health outcomes, and quality of life, Irene completed degrees in Public Policy and Public Health from Claremont Graduate University. Irene’s experience implementing programs as well as working with public and private sector partners behind the scenes has given her a range of knowledge that informs her work. Irene has administered federal, state, and local grants and holds expertise in programs focused on housing, homelessness, and human services. She strongly believes in the power of research and evaluation to improve the impact of nonprofits and governmental organizations who serve marginalized and underserved populations.
Passions: Environmental sustainability, ethical treatment for all living things
Niarah Stansberry brings a deep understanding of the challenges impacting foster youth to her role as Senior Project Manager for Watson Consulting Group. In her previous role at National Center for Youth Law, Niarah provided backbone support for the Reproductive Health Equity Project, a collective impact project that works to improve the systems that serve foster youth. Niarah also served as the Community Engagement Coordinator at Jenesse Center, a domestic violence intervention and prevention agency, where she oversaw strategic communications with key stakeholders. Niarah graduated with her B.A. in Psychology from California State University, East Bay in 2017, and with her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2019. She strongly believes that everyone, no matter their age, race, employment status or any other determinant, deserves safe and affordable housing.
Passions: listening to music, spending time outdoors, and watching makeup tutorials.
Amna Rustom is an Alumna of The Ohio State University where she received her BA in Strategic Communications and the University of Southern California where she received her Master of Public Administration. Amna's professional background is centered in community-based work in both the nonprofit & public sector.
Since moving to Los Angeles, Amna has worked at the California Secretary of State's office and at Our Community LA, a nonprofit that developed a free resource database for LA County. In addition to her nonprofit work, she is an event coordinator with the MJLS, a community-based platform that highlights Middle Eastern and North African creatives in Los Angeles and abroad.
At the core of her professional & personal work, Amna's values of community-building, equity-based work & inclusion remain at the forefront of how she engages with others.
Passions: Traveling, Trying New Coffee Shops, Live Music Events
As a newcomer to the profession of social work, Kevin knows he has a lot to learn but he also has a lot to give. After graduating from UCLA with his BA in psychology from UCLA, Kevin decided to pursue the social change innovation track in the USC MSW program. Kevin believes that social justice and social change is at the heart of the social work profession. Kevin played a central role during the foundation phase of a nonprofit organization in China that is dedicated to providing quality education for children in secluded parts of the country. As a Chinese American, he is dedicated to promoting racial equity. In his free time, Kevin has been actively participating in various projects that prioritizes the underserved population of the community.
Passions: Traveling, nature, outreach, community coalition.
Jessica Ramirez (she/her)
Youth Liaison
Jessica Ramirez has devoted the last 15 years of her career to compassionate patient care in hospital settings. Her ability to connect with patients as unique individuals, enriched by her experiences as a foster youth, fuels her commitment to promoting equity and serving her community. This passion has inspired her to embark on the next phase of her educational and professional journey into micro-level social work.
Passions: the joy of family, nature's beauty, and fashion's artistry.
Other Support
Lisa has supported all of Watson Consulting Group’s efforts since the firm’s start. She has supported principal Lisa Watson over the course of her 25-year career in a variety of roles as a thought-partner, technical writer, and operational assistant. As WCG’s operations administrator, Lisa is available to assist matters large and small of every kind, and can otherwise be found (very) busy in her painting studio.
Passions: Social Equity, all things art