Samantha Chown Johnston

Alliance Française d’Austin (AFA) is part of the acclaimed international Alliance Française network that was founded in Paris in 1883. There are more than 800 Alliance Française chapters around the world that serve 500,000+ members and students. Every Alliance Française chapter is part of the international Alliance Française network, a network that is recognized around the world as the leader and gold-standard in providing superb French language instruction and enriching French-themed cultural events and programs. We are proud that 2023 represents our 53rd year serving the Austin Community. We are a self-financed non-profit organization. The mission of Alliance Française d’Austin is to encourage the study and appreciation of French language and Francophone cultures, and to promote and share the language and cultures of the French-speaking world in our community. We have three primary objectives: Communication, Culture, & Connection. Communication: Alliance Française d’Austin offers a comprehensive catalog of French language classes that serves the interest of the AFA community. Culture: Alliance Française d’Austin offers opportunities for engagement related to Francophone cultures to AFA students, AFA members, and the community at large. Connection: Alliance Française d’Austin establishes connections of mutual support with other French and Francophone cultural organizations and programs that share in the vision, mission, and values of AFA.

Epic Angels is democratizing angel investing. We make angel investing accessible. We give women the confidence to invest, by learning about the investment process, and understanding how other women invest. Epic Angels is a network of female executives and operators who have built and expanded companies in all parts of the world. We are the largest female-only angel network in Asia Pacific and Latinoamerica. Research shows, investors tend to back those they perceive as similar to them. Instead of trying to convince male investors to invest in women, we need to focus on increasing the percentage of female investors. We need to close the financial gender gap. Our focus is early-stage startups in APAC and LATAM across all verticals. We invest in pre-seed, seed and series A rounds. Our ticket sizes range from 50K to 250K USD. We are strong advocates for female leadership, and invest in startups with at least one woman on the executive team. Most importantly, we invest in people. Founders who refuse to die and choose agility over ego.

Alliance Française d’Austin (AFA) is part of the acclaimed international Alliance Française network that was founded in Paris in 1883. There are more than 800 Alliance Française chapters around the world that serve 500,000+ members and students. Every Alliance Française chapter is part of the international Alliance Française network, a network that is recognized around the world as the leader and gold-standard in providing superb French language instruction and enriching French-themed cultural events and programs. We are proud that 2023 represents our 53rd year serving the Austin Community. We are a self-financed non-profit organization. The mission of Alliance Française d’Austin is to encourage the study and appreciation of French language and Francophone cultures, and to promote and share the language and cultures of the French-speaking world in our community. We have three primary objectives: Communication, Culture, & Connection. Communication: Alliance Française d’Austin offers a comprehensive catalog of French language classes that serves the interest of the AFA community. Culture: Alliance Française d’Austin offers opportunities for engagement related to Francophone cultures to AFA students, AFA members, and the community at large. Connection: Alliance Française d’Austin establishes connections of mutual support with other French and Francophone cultural organizations and programs that share in the vision, mission, and values of AFA.

Epic Angels is democratizing angel investing. We make angel investing accessible. We give women the confidence to invest, by learning about the investment process, and understanding how other women invest. Epic Angels is a network of female executives and operators who have built and expanded companies in all parts of the world. We are the largest female-only angel network in Asia Pacific and Latinoamerica. Research shows, investors tend to back those they perceive as similar to them. Instead of trying to convince male investors to invest in women, we need to focus on increasing the percentage of female investors. We need to close the financial gender gap. Our focus is early-stage startups in APAC and LATAM across all verticals. We invest in pre-seed, seed and series A rounds. Our ticket sizes range from 50K to 250K USD. We are strong advocates for female leadership, and invest in startups with at least one woman on the executive team. Most importantly, we invest in people. Founders who refuse to die and choose agility over ego.

IABC is recognized as the professional association of choice for communicators who aspire to excel in their chosen fields, and is committed towards establishing and supporting the highest professional standards of quality and innovation in organizational communication. IABC/Toronto, the largest chapter in the world, is the leading resource for effective communication practice for its more than 650 members and over 50 student members. The chapter also has 5 prestigious Accredited Business Communicators (ABC’s). IABC/Toronto serves members throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) from Durham Region to Peel and has been operating for more than 80 years. The chapter holds networking and professional development events regularly for members.