© 2018 Akhandataa, LLC.

IZABELA CHMIELEWSKA

Hello, I’m Izabela – a policy analyst, curious researcher, strategic thinker, lover of cultures, technical writing whizz, and Akhandataa’s co-founder.

I am an unrepentant believer in human compassion – making a positive impact in this troubled world is possible if all of us cooperate despite our differences. I want to contribute to moving towards progress instead of sitting with idle hands to overcome daunting obstacles like global poverty and bad governance. I was born in the Polish city of Warsaw, a city of resilience and transformation. My roots have given me a strong faith in human progress, and my immigrant experience has inspired me to think globally.

I centered my college and graduate studies around international policy issues and learned about everything from social revolutions to econometrics. I have worked for various organizations that strive to make this world a better place, focusing on issues from political instability in Cameroon and Kosovo to disaster recovery in Pakistan and Japan. I am a total nerd and finished college in three years with two degrees in political science and international affairs at Emmanuel College in Boston. I also did dorky things like Model UN and present papers about democratization in Eastern Europe and Latin America. After getting my college degree, I decided to go to the heaven for policy wonks – Washington, D.C. My main day job was operationalizing human development projects in South Asia at the World Bank, including better jobs and social safety net systems. I got to travel to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and work on crucial interventions like cash transfers for vulnerable people.

In 2013, my restless soul led me to the land of innovation – California and its City of Angels. I got a graduate degree in public policy (MPP) from UCLA. I focused on diverse aspects of social policy and completed a year-long project analyzing policy options for building a feasible social protection system in Afghanistan. I admittedly missed wearing pencil skirts so I also worked as a project manager for the school’s educational Global Public Affairs program. After grad school, I came full circle and returned to the World Bank as a consultant, working on youth and education projects. I also provided strategic advice for the Hilton Foundation on their international philanthropic work in support of the SDGs.

I also possess some superpowers. I can stay up all night, cook a mean Polish bigos, and sing in cabarets. I am the first of seven kids and was born a holy secret. Now I am toddler-tamer, and it feels like getting a Ph.D. at the University of Milena (a.k.a. my 2-year-old daughter). I live in sunny SoCal but secretly miss the crisp winter air. I cherish connecting with fellow cosmopolitan folks while sipping good coffee. I enjoy eating all forms of carbs and then burning them in spin class. I would love to take a trip in a hot air balloon, visit more corners of the world, and make your next project awesome.

PAULINA MIGALSKA

Hello, I’m Paulina – a life-long learner, pragmatic idealist, challenger of the status quo, social change designer, systems thinker, reluctant entrepreneur, and Akhandataa’s co-founder.

I’ve spent the last 15 years learning nearly everything there is to know about getting to that ever elusive real, genuine, tangible impact. Arguably, the more I’ve learned, the more I’ve discovered that the best of learning happens when I let myself try my absolute best, fail often and fast, adapt when and as needed, learn from the process and the result, and, well, try all over again.

Before taking the entrepreneurial leap of faith myself, I’ve built community networks and promoted peer exchange programs across the nonprofit, social enterprise, multilateral, governmental, and corporate sectors. I’ve worked, volunteered, and/or consulted with a variety of organizations including Ashoka, Ten Thousand Villages, Net Impact, Mentor Capital Network, CropIn Tech, Social Enterprise Alliance, the U.S. Global Development Lab at USAID, United Way Worldwide, and the World Bank. In doing so, I’ve developed an expertise in social enterprise growth and community building, impact assessment, sustainable development, communications for social good, strategic volunteering management, and corporate citizenship advisory.

Originally from a small town in Poland, I’ve developed an intense curiosity of people, places, and cultures early on in my childhood and have since lived in six countries on four continents including India, Australia, and Hungary. I’ve traveled extensively across Eastern Europe, including Belarus and Ukraine, and South Africa. When not working, volunteering, or tweeting on all things social and all things impact, I enjoy dancing to Balkan Beats, stretching on my yoga mat, and playing with Matylda – my arguably anti-social, capricious, and adorable calico cat.

IZABELA CHMIELEWSKA

Hello, I’m Izabela – a policy analyst, curious researcher, strategic thinker, lover of cultures, technical writing whizz, and Akhandataa’s co-founder.

I am an unrepentant believer in human compassion – making a positive impact in this troubled world is possible if all of us cooperate despite our differences. I want to contribute to moving towards progress instead of sitting with idle hands to overcome daunting obstacles like global poverty and bad governance. I was born in the Polish city of Warsaw, a city of resilience and transformation. My roots have given me a strong faith in human progress, and my immigrant experience has inspired me to think globally.

I centered my college and graduate studies around international policy issues and learned about everything from social revolutions to econometrics. I have worked for various organizations that strive to make this world a better place, focusing on issues from political instability in Cameroon and Kosovo to disaster recovery in Pakistan and Japan. I am a total nerd and finished college in three years with two degrees in political science and international affairs at Emmanuel College in Boston. I also did dorky things like Model UN and present papers about democratization in Eastern Europe and Latin America. After getting my college degree, I decided to go to the heaven for policy wonks – Washington, D.C. My main day job was operationalizing human development projects in South Asia at the World Bank, including better jobs and social safety net systems. I got to travel to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and work on crucial interventions like cash transfers for vulnerable people.

In 2013, my restless soul led me to the land of innovation – California and its City of Angels. I got a graduate degree in public policy (MPP) from UCLA. I focused on diverse aspects of social policy and completed a year-long project analyzing policy options for building a feasible social protection system in Afghanistan. I admittedly missed wearing pencil skirts so I also worked as a project manager for the school’s educational Global Public Affairs program. After grad school, I came full circle and returned to the World Bank as a consultant, working on youth and education projects. I also provided strategic advice for the Hilton Foundation on their international philanthropic work in support of the SDGs.

I also possess some superpowers. I can stay up all night, cook a mean Polish bigos, and sing in cabarets. I am the first of seven kids and was born a holy secret. Now I am toddler-tamer, and it feels like getting a Ph.D. at the University of Milena (a.k.a. my 2-year-old daughter). I live in sunny SoCal but secretly miss the crisp winter air. I cherish connecting with fellow cosmopolitan folks while sipping good coffee. I enjoy eating all forms of carbs and then burning them in spin class. I would love to take a trip in a hot air balloon, visit more corners of the world, and make your next project awesome.

PAULINA MIGALSKA

Hello, I’m Paulina – a life-long learner, pragmatic idealist, challenger of the status quo, social change designer, systems thinker, reluctant entrepreneur, and Akhandataa’s co-founder.

I’ve spent the last 15 years learning nearly everything there is to know about getting to that ever elusive real, genuine, tangible impact. Arguably, the more I’ve learned, the more I’ve discovered that the best of learning happens when I let myself try my absolute best, fail often and fast, adapt when and as needed, learn from the process and the result, and, well, try all over again.

Before taking the entrepreneurial leap of faith myself, I’ve built community networks and promoted peer exchange programs across the nonprofit, social enterprise, multilateral, governmental, and corporate sectors. I’ve worked, volunteered, and/or consulted with a variety of organizations including Ashoka, Ten Thousand Villages, Net Impact, Mentor Capital Network, CropIn Tech, Social Enterprise Alliance, the U.S. Global Development Lab at USAID, United Way Worldwide, and the World Bank. In doing so, I’ve developed an expertise in social enterprise growth and community building, impact assessment, sustainable development, communications for social good, strategic volunteering management, and corporate citizenship advisory.

Originally from a small town in Poland, I’ve developed an intense curiosity of people, places, and cultures early on in my childhood and have since lived in six countries on four continents including India, Australia, and Hungary. I’ve traveled extensively across Eastern Europe, including Belarus and Ukraine, and South Africa. When not working, volunteering, or tweeting on all things social and all things impact, I enjoy dancing to Balkan Beats, stretching on my yoga mat, and playing with Matylda – my arguably anti-social, capricious, and adorable calico cat.