Diana Mao

President & Co-Founder

Diana Mao

Diana Mao is a global leader on a mission to eradicate human trafficking in her lifetime. As President and Co-Founder of Nomi Network, Diana raises awareness about human trafficking and creates economic opportunities for survivors and women at risk of breaking generational cycles of slavery. In recognition of her visionary skill sets and champion of change mindset, Diana is a Presidential Leadership Scholar, New York Academy of Medicine Fellow and has received the 2021 New York University Alumni Changemaker Award, 2021 Texas Women’s Foundation Young Leader Award and 2019 Pioneer Award from Asian Americans for Equality. 

Diana’s conviction stems from a research trip to Cambodia where she personally witnessed young children trafficked and sold. Convinced of the urgency and necessity for action, she desired to restore women and families to have self-agency and be catalysts in their communities. In response to this life experience, Diana left a rewarding career in management consulting with Maximus, Inc. to focus her tenured creative insight to see the potential in using business and economic development models to address human trafficking; in addition, how to minimize costs and maximize the use of resources while working for social change.

In her work for justice and freedom, Diana’s insights have been shared as she served on the White House Private Public Partnership Against Human Trafficking and her recommendations have infused policymakers in Senate and Congress to strengthen workforce development for survivors and women at risk of human trafficking. She has published articles in Bush Center Catalyst Journal, The International Family Offices Journal, Huffington Post, Reuters, and the United States Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center. She has been featured in Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Women’s Wear Daily, Entertainment Tonight, D Magazine and Washington Magazine. Diana has presented at the Horasis Global Summit, United Nations, Bush Presidential Center, Clinton Presidential Center, Global Women’s Network Summit, White House Council on Women and Girls, and other prominent conferences.

Diana earned her Bachelor’s in Business Economics and Chinese from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has a Master’s in Public Administration, with a specialization in International Management from NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Currently, Diana resides in Dallas, TX.

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