OUR TEAM

Nikki Silvestri is, first and foremost, a mother of two, wife, and sci-fi nerd. She’s also a pioneering voice in leadership development, organizational transformation, and social innovation. As the Founder and CEO of Soil and Shadow, she leads a strategy lab that designs regenerative leadership models for an increasingly destabilized world.

With a career spanning executive leadership, policy innovation, and systems change, Nikki has served as the Executive Director of multiple organizations, including People’s Grocery and Green for All, before founding Soil and Shadow. Nikki has shaped strategy as a trusted advisor to executives, government agencies, and global non-profits while also working on the ground with grassroots organizations and purpose-driven businesses. Her work integrates ecological wisdom with executive strategy, helping institutions build resilience, adaptability, and equity into their leadership structures.

An internationally recognized keynote speaker, Nikki has graced dozens of stages, delivering over 50 keynotes worldwide on the intersection of climate, economy, and social impact. Named one of The Root’s 100 Most Influential African Americans, Nikki is the recipient of numerous accolades, including ELLE Magazine’s Gold Award and OxFam America’s Act Local, Think Global Award. Her previous board seats include Food First, Greenpeace USA, and Common Future.

Joann Lee Wagner is a seasoned HR executive and coach with over 20 years of experience in creating transformative workplaces. As the VP of People Operations at Common Future, a national nonprofit focused on closing the racial wealth gap, Joann has led substantial organizational change, including workplace transformations to increase diversity, pioneer innovative policies such as a four-day workweek, providing 100% pay for 80% time, a $500 monthly caregiver stipend, and transparent and equitable hiring and compensation practices. Her work emphasizes investments in people to achieve results that last. Her work has earned recognition in major publications like the San Francisco Chronicle and Chronicles of Philanthropy. Joann holds degrees from UC San Diego and Harvard University and is a certified Executive and Team Coach.

Galen Silvestri is a facilitator, educator, and media producer. As the Co-Founder and former Executive Director of United Roots—Oakland’s first “green” youth center launched in partnership with Black Eyed Peas and Adobe—he pioneered innovative approaches to workforce development, media production, and entrepreneurship for emerging leaders. United Roots was a community hub for incubating innovative programming and organizations such as Hack the Hood, Gameheads, Determination Black Men’s Group, UR Media and more.

With decades of experience developing organizations, educational programs, and creative business projects, Galen has worked with organizations such as Men’s Story Project and the Y-Step Collective to advance racial equity and social justice. He co-founded Youth Impact Hub, a co-working and incubation space for young social entrepreneurs, as well as Turf Unity Music Program and Art in Action, initiatives that harness the power of art and music for community transformation.

As a consultant, Galen helps businesses, nonprofits, and creative teams design and implement values-driven initiatives and media projects. Whether through filmmaking, graphic design, or music production, he supports organizations and businesses in amplifying their message and strengthening their community impact. And as a facilitator, he offers training and educational programs for leadership development and team building.

As Soil & Shadow’s Chief Operations Officer, Galen designs and implements operational strategies that drive business growth and resilience. He oversees financial planning, budgeting, and resource management to ensure long-term sustainability. With a focus on efficiency and impact, he streamlines internal processes to enhance project execution. Galen cultivates an inclusive and collaborative team culture, prioritizing leadership development and company cohesion. He also optimizes partnerships, contracts, and infrastructure to align with mission-driven goals and values.