Bandith
A proud native of Laos, Bandith started his work in the development world by volunteering at an NGO to help raise awareness about reproductive health issues. Over the last ten years, his work has evolved to encompass all aspects of development-from microfinance to organic farming to marketing to education. In fact, his degree in Architecture and Engineering has been indispensable in creating structural plans to manage GIANNA's operations throughout Laos.
Whether it's in the office or in the field, Bandith works with his heart on his sleeve, believing in others and patiently communicating operational details to our artisans. He has spent countless hours in villages, working on poverty alleviation, economic development, and individual empowerment.
When you ask Bandith what motivates him to do this work, he's likely to crack a joke, and then tell you,
"When I'm in the villages, my dream has come true. We teach each other, and they love me like their son.
I am a lucky man-I have more than 100 moms throughout Laos!"
Caro
Originally from the Highlands of Scotland, Caro's dreams and values have taken her across the world. She's worked in Tanzania as a nurse and teacher, founded an international volunteer organization based in the UK, and spent the past five years living in the Philippines working on women's empowerment and sustainable commerce.
When Caro's not in the field doing ten things at once, you can find her playing with her adorable adopted son, Cameron, hanging out with friends, or enjoying extreme sports, like diving, marathon running, or mountain biking.
Caro's endless sense of humor makes her a hit with the artisan women in the Philippines. In fact, she's still trying to convince all of us that she's actually a tall blonde...!!
Gianna
When Gianna’s not in the villages or working in the US, you can find her hanging out with her husband, running marathons, laughing, or dreaming about ways to change the world through conscious commerce.
A Texan native and proudly Filipino, Gianna’s inspiration for founding the company is tied closely to her mother’s journey in America from the streets of Manila. This circuitous voyage allowed Gianna to witness her mother’s endless grace and fortitude amid extreme circumstances… Together, they’ve learned a lot and emerged believing ever so strongly in the power of women to change the world.
Thankful to her family, local and global, Gianna is humbled by the opportunity to be part of this movement. Pictured at right is Gianna with her mother, her inspiration.
Michelle
Michelle oversees operations at GIANNA. A former executive in the cosmetics and fragrance industry, she uses her extensive knowledge in the wholesale and retail sectors to create a cohesive customer experience. From sales to service, beginning to end, US operations at GIANNA run smoothly thanks largely to Michelle’s magical touch.
A native of Pennsylvania, Michelle says that one of the exciting components of working in the fair trade space is the interconnectedness of it all. “I love that the work I do here in the US makes a difference in other people’s lives across the world.”
In her free time, you can find Michelle sewing, playing golf with her husband or dad, and walking on the beach looking for seashells as the tide rolls in. She’s even been known to walk marathons in Vermont!
Phonesouk
Phonesouk is one of our team leaders and an incredibly down-to-earth, practical, and creative woman. Originally from a village in the northern province of Phongsaly, her interest in fair trade began after high school when she moved to the capital of Vientiane and began working in a garment factory. Seeing her dexterity and skill, Phonesouk was offered a job at one of the top garment houses in Vientiane, where she met weavers and honed her understanding of silk weaving.
Over ten years later, Phonesouk, who is an entrepreneur in her own right, now oversees a team of GIANNA weavers living near Vientiane. When we asked her to reflect on fair trade and her work, she said, “I am excited to know the pieces coming from our looms are worn by Americans across the country. That is wonderful Lao work is being worn around the world.”
When she’s not working with the weavers, Phonesouk is probably either spending time with her four children or redecorating her home with her husband, KamSouk.
Tony
Anyone who knows Tony knows that he’s a fun-loving entrepreneur at heart. He takes great pride in building businesses, working in fair trade, and doing his part to improve the world.
Originally from Baltimore, Tony enjoyed a successful sales career with an international beverage corporation before joining the GIANNA team to oversee wholesale sales and distribution. A pivotal part of our sales team, Tony keeps us all laughing and makes sure we remain true to our values.
Tony is the middle of five children and loves surf fishing, golfing, and spending time with his wife. Fascinated with nature and how the universe is evolving, Tony loves that he can address his concerns about the environment by working for a company like GIANNA.
Vandana
An architect by education, Vandana has dedicated her life to development and creating sustainable opportunities for women artisans. Her professional background includes a Bachelor's degree from Delhi's School of Planning and Architecture, working for renowned design studios in Delhi and Pune, and consulting for various organizations throughout India.
After building a successful career, Vandana left her mainstream architect position to have more impact on the lives of women and children living in the slums of India. She co-founded a partner NGO and currently oversees all of GIANNA's India operations.
When you ask Vandana about her work, she laughs and tells you, "It's become an addiction. When I listen to the problems and issues of our artisans, I want to work harder and reach more women."
Vinay
Vinay is the photographic genius behind most of GIANNA's artisan images from India. A native of Gujarat state, Vinay joins us with an MBA in Marketing and a Bachelor's degree in Business. His photography has received honors from numerous entities, including the Epoch Times, the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA-Durham), and CNN-IBN.
When he's not in the slums or in the workshop taking photos, Vinay works another full-time job and volunteers at two local NGOs teaching street children and their mothers basic life skills.
With a flair for documentary fine art photography, coupled with humor and an easy-going personality, Vinay has captured images of our artisans living authentically. "I strongly believe that we, collectively, can change the world, one heart at a time. I'm starting with me."
