Shohil Chowdhury

Founder

Shohil “Sho/Sam” Chowdhury began his career in Equity Derivatives at J.P. Morgan Chase after graduating from Hofstra University. After leaving his corporate job, he launched a successful restaurant start-up business in New York’s Financial District, which was later acquired by a private hospitality group. Soon after, he launched his own Health and Beauty startup, Ara Brasil. Sho currently holds a position at Santander Bank as a Senior Relationship Banker. Armed with expertise in finance, the hospitality industry, investment banking, startups, and sales, he now brings efficiency, networking, and negotiation skills to his philanthropy career at E-Sports Foundation.

Sho immigrated to the United States with his parents and siblings at the age of 12. His humble beginnings and his Bangladeshi-American identities instilled a passion for service and charitable work, as those are very important aspects of his cultural and spiritual upbringing. An avid traveler, Sho’s philanthropic inspirations also came from experiences he gained during his trips around the world. He believes that every child deserves to have a fair chance to succeed, regardless of the conditions of their origin.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Karen Bhatia

Karen Bhatia is Senior Vice President at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, leading Creative and Applied Tech strategies to promote economic development and entrepreneurship throughout the city. This includes developing tech initiatives such as NYC's blockchain strategy, launching the first publicly-funded VR/AR Lab in the country, spearheading the City's Center for Responsible AI & data, and expanding broadband access to the neighborhoods hardest hit by COVID-19.

Karen is also an attorney, entrepreneur and startup advisor. She was the principal of her own law firm advising tech startups on corporate issues, financing and overall business strategy. As an entrepreneur, Karen founded ActionCam, an educational platform explaining public policy issues and providing resources for people to take action. Karen also founded Stanford Startups NY, a business network of over 800 Stanford entrepreneurs and investors in the region and she is an advisor to several tech organizations. Passionate about education and ensuring that all children have access to opportunities, Karen is Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Mott Hall, a public middle school in the South Bronx, New York. Born in Brazil, Karen was a volunteer with Associação Beneficente São Martinho, working with street children in Rio de Janeiro, and also on the Benefit Committee of the Orphaned Starfish Foundation, which provides vocational training centers in orphanages throughout Latin America.

Karen has a Bachelor's degree from Stanford University, a Master's degree in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and a Juris Doctorate from George Washington University Law School.

Maria Rozario

Maria Rozario is an Executive Director at JP Morgan Chase and is a 20 year Technology professional.  She spent 17 of those years as a Vice President at Morgan Stanley and 3 years as a Systems Administrator at AT&T Bell Labs.  Maria currently leads the JPMC New York City Volunteering Leadership group for Arts and Culture and is active in community service.  She is also an avid traveler and enjoys photography.

ADVISORS

Dr. Sergio Freire

Physician with Brazilian Football Confederation 

Dr. Sergio Freire is a physician with the Brazilian Football Confederation.  He graduated from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in 1999.  He is an orthopedist and traumatologist, and a member of multiple national and international orthopedic societies.  For 17 years, he was the official team doctor for the esteemed Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, one of Brazil’s most prolific football teams.  He has also provided medical assistance in international sporting events, including the World Cup and the Olympics.

Working as a medical consultant has been Freire’s mission and passion in life, and he is fueled by a desire to fulfill his lifelong purpose, which is to help as many people as he can through his experiences as a doctor.

Eduardo Maya

Self-taught gastronomer in Brazil

Eduardo is a gastronomer and philanthropist based in Brazil.  In 2000 he opened a cooking school, Centro Culinário, where he taught classes using a self-developed training method.  He has created and produced several gastronomic events, and has hosted a culinary-themed radio show.

An avid philanthropist, Maya has taught free classes to residents of the Santa Lucia favela in an effort to inspire and provide essential culinary skills to underprivileged citizens of Brazil, creating a pathway to sustainable development in impoverished areas of the country. He has worked with City Hall to provide school lunches to students at public schools in Belo Horizonte, and he has led other charitable efforts to serve residents in places like nursing homes and hospitals, among others.