Diversity in Business (DiBs) aims to be the bridge between all of Foster’s affinity groups, enabling students to bring their authentic selves to the classroom and workspace, helping students create professional and personal connections through the MBA experience.
DiBs creates programming that includes quarterly happy hours and mixers, professional events like site-visits and hackathons, and cross-functional events with other affinity and professional clubs on campus. Some of our more popular events include an AI Hackathon at Amazon, a networking lunch with Accenture, and a community building event with Mocel Mezcal.
Nalani Cayme
Co-President
Full-time Class of 2027
Nalani is a Native Hawaiian, Consortium Fellow, and first-generation college graduate with roots in nonprofit leadership, real estate, and strategy. She is passionate about creating space for underrepresented voices and building meaningful connections across Foster's full MBA community. In her free time, she enjoys weight training, international travel, Costco runs, listening to podcasts, and cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Nat Fernandes
VP of Community Engagement & Alumni Relations
Full-time Class of 2027
Nat is Portuguese, Indian and British and grew up in Dubai, UAE. Through these international influences on his upbringing, he has a strong passion for diversity and upholding a strong sense of belonging within communities. Before joining Foster, he worked at Siemens as a Systems Engineer, where he co-led the diversity Employee Resource Group of 100+ members across the UK & Ireland, working on initiatives such as leadership development training for under-represented minorities, cultural awareness events and guest speaker panel discussions.
Dipankar Mohanty
VP of Awareness & Allyship
Full-time Class of 2027
Dipankar Mohanty is an MBA candidate at the Foster School of Business and is incredibly excited to serve as the VP of Awareness & Allyship for DiBs this year. Before coming to Foster, he spent his career in tech consulting and large-scale project management. He is an avid piano player, a massive soccer enthusiast, and an active member of the Foster Run Club. Dipankar is thrilled to bring his passion for inclusion to the board, be sure to say hi!
Mehak Mittal
Co-President
Full-time Class of 2027
Mehak brings 5+ years of experience spanning software engineering and product management across JPMorgan Chase and a retail-tech startup. She has built cloud infrastructure platforms serving a majority of JP Morgan's global workforce and launched AI/ML-powered self-checkout products. As Co-President of DiBS, Mehak is committed to fostering a community that celebrates diverse perspectives and empowers underrepresented voices in business and tech. Outside of work, Mehak loves dancing, playing badminton, and hiking.
Joie Yang
VP of Foster Club Alignment & Collaboration
Full-time Class of 2027
Joie Yang is a Forté Fellow at UW Foster. Prior to moving to Seattle, she worked in Shanghai as a corporate and commercial lawyer across the semiconductor industry, advising on cross-border M&A, customer partnerships, and business operations. She is excited to support DiBs by strengthening collaboration across Foster clubs and creating more inclusive spaces for connection. In her free time, Joie enjoys K-pop, musicals, travelling and discovering good food.
Quinci Mann
VP of Awareness & Allyship
Full-time Class of 2027
I’m a full-time MBA candidate at the University of Washington’s Michael G. Foster School of Business with a professional background spanning talent strategy, university recruiting, workforce planning, and marketing and communications. My career has focused on building and optimizing talent pipelines, developing early-career programs, and partnering with organizational leaders on strategies that support inclusive growth.
With experience across technology, nonprofit, and media and entertainment, I have worked at the intersection of DEI and organizational strategy. My work has included developing diversity and university talent programs, using workforce and labor-market data to inform recruiting strategy, and embedding DEI considerations into organizational processes and workforce planning.
I earned my B.A. in Political Science and Africana Studies from Lehigh University and am currently pursuing my MBA at Foster, where I serve as a DEI student leader within the MBA community.
Joanell Leggett
VP of Community Engagement & Alumni Relations
Full-time Class of 2027
Joanell Leggett is a Consortium and Forté Fellow at UW Foster. Before moving to Seattle, she lived and worked in Minneapolis and brings over five years of experience in human resources across multiple industries. She’s excited to continue her passion for advocating for equitable opportunities, strengthening community through inclusive events, and creating spaces where individuals feel supported. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exploring new places, attending concerts and live theatre, and spending time with her family and two cats.
Sharae Ratliff
VP of Foster Club Alignment & Collaboration
Full-time Class of 2027
Sharae’s work is rooted in a deep passion for equity and access, shaped by her extensive experience building community, advocating for inclusive spaces, and supporting Black and underrepresented students throughout her academic and professional journey. She is dedicated to driving impact by partnering with organizations, engaging stakeholders, and creating programming that empowers students and prepares them to lead in diverse, global business environments. Outside of her leadership roles, she enjoys playing soccer and lacrosse and spending time with her dog and cat, who she absolutely adores.
Feven Gurmu
VP of Evening Alignment & Engagement
Evening Class of 2027
Feven is an employee benefits consultant with a background in client strategy and healthcare access. Her work centers on helping organizations use data to better understand employee needs, strengthen benefit programs, and make resources more accessible for underserved communities. She is excited to contribute to the MBA Diversity Board by supporting initiatives that foster inclusion and connection across Foster. Outside of school and work, Feven enjoys exploring coffee shops, traveling, health and wellness activities and spending time with her family.