Emily Verellen Strom is a senior media executive with fifteen years of diverse experience developing stories, curating content, building partnerships and creating social action strategy.  In addition to running a strategy consulting agency, Emily was co-founder of The Helm, a community and venture fund reimagining how people invest in female entrepreneurs.  From 2008-2017, Emily was Senior Director of Programs at The Fledgling Fund, supporting an award-winning slate of films, and directing the Fledgling Engagement Lab, an incubator for documentary filmmakers.  She is respected voice within the documentary community and a frequent speaker and writer about the ability of story to fuel social change. Prior to her tenure at The Fledgling Fund, Emily co-founded Binti Pamoja, a women’s rights and reproductive health center for teenage girls in the Kibera slum of Nairobi.  In 2006, she  published LightBox, a book featuring the photographs, stories and autobiographies of the young women from the Center.  All of the funds raised through the sale of the book support a scholarship fund for the girls in the Center.  The book sparked new conversations around the world about the real lives of young women living in poverty.  Binti Pamoja continues to thrive today.