Meet Our Board of Directors

Jennifer Chawla – Founder & Executive Director

Jennifer Chawla is the founder of TAI Leadership, a civic reform initiative rooted in Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity. After 13 years of federal service—including leadership roles at the FBI—Jenn made the bold decision to walk away from institutional silence and step fully into purpose-driven leadership. A seasoned program manager, community advocate, and former Investigative Specialist, Jenn brings both lived experience and systemic insight to her mission of rebuilding public trust from the ground up.

Jenn is a proud mother, first-generation immigrant, and unapologetic truth-teller who believes that ethical leadership isn’t optional—it’s imperative. Her work bridges civic engagement, organizational reform, and values-based governance, all grounded in the belief that systems should serve people, not power.

Through TAI Leadership, Jenn is building more than a platform—she’s building a movement to rehumanize leadership, one truth at a time.

Jag Nagendra – Chair

Jag Nagendra is a seasoned leader with over 35 years of experience spanning the private, public, community, and nonprofit sectors. As Chair of TAI Leadership, Jag brings a principled and strategic approach to governance—grounded in his lifelong commitment to ethical leadership, operational excellence, and civic accountability.

Throughout his distinguished career, Jag has managed large teams and overseen critical infrastructure for the State of California. He has served on both city and county boards and held leadership positions in numerous nonprofit and cultural organizations, including as President of the PMI Sacramento Valley Chapter, President of the Kannada Sangha of Sacramento, President of the India Association of Davis, and Board Member of Friends of Folsom Powerhouse.

A passionate advocate for transparency, accountability, and community-centered decision-making, Jag plays a key role in shaping the vision and execution of TAI’s mission. He is also dedicated to leadership development, mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs through SCORE and the Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy to help cultivate the next generation of ethical, effective leaders.

Candace Sims – Director of Program Strategy

Candace Sims is a proud graduate of Tuskegee University, an institution rooted in legacy and leadership—whose alumni include icons like Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, the Tuskegee Airmen, and Rosa Parks. Inspired by this lineage of service and systemic change, Candace continues that tradition through her work in community empowerment, civic engagement, and ethical leadership.

Armed with a Master’s degree in Project Management and a professional background in science, Candace spent years advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the biopharmaceutical industry. Her leadership has consistently focused on helping individuals become architects of their own solutions—not just critics of dysfunction.

Now a resident of Natomas, Candace brings both a love for her community and a clear-eyed understanding of the challenges it faces. As Program Director at TAI Leadership, she is committed to designing and delivering thoughtful, actionable programs that equip everyday people to advocate for ethical governance and lead change from within their own neighborhoods and institutions.

Candace is guided by one core belief: systemic change isn’t just possible—it’s necessary. And through TAI, she’s helping build the tools to make it real.

Susan Johnson – General Board Member

Susan Johnson is a lifelong public servant and community advocate with decades of experience in local governance, civic engagement, and nonprofit leadership. She served on the Newark City Council from 1985 to 2007, holding the role of Vice Mayor six times over her tenure—in 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. Her leadership extended beyond city government through active participation in numerous regional and county-level boards, including the Alameda County Library Commission, Congestion Management Agency, and Transportation Authority.

Deeply committed to education and community development, Susan also served as President of the PTA, contributed to the Newark Library League, and held leadership roles within the California Association of Library Trustees. She remains engaged in economic and civic affairs through her involvement with the Newark Chamber of Commerce and the Senior Citizen Advisory Committee.

A former small business owner, Susan brings a practical, community-centered lens to leadership. As Vice Chair of TAI Leadership, she helps guide the organization’s strategic direction and ensures its mission of transparency, accountability, and integrity is rooted in lived public experience and strong governance.

Karin Gest – Ambassador

Karin Gest brings over a decade of federal service and a lifetime of lived experience to her role as an Ambassador for TAI Leadership. A former FBI employee with ten years of government service, Karin has also navigated the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship as a small business owner. Now retired and residing in Jacksonville, Florida, she remains actively engaged in part-time work and civic discourse, guided by her unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability in all workplaces.

Karin has long served as a mentor, guide, and trusted sounding board—most notably to TAI’s founder, Jenn Chawla. Her insight, grounded wisdom, and no-nonsense approach make her an invaluable voice in shaping a leadership culture rooted in integrity, truth, and service.