Our Team
Enso is an atypical company. We come from creative worlds, marketing, business strategy, film production, politics, policy and advocacy.
We’ve made choices guided by quality of work and scale of impact. That means we built enso as a ‘guild’ not a factory. By that we mean: small, senior, high-trust, low-noise. There’s magic in being about a dozen people, surrounded by an incredible network that inspires, stretches, and guides us — and brings skills that enable us to realize any vision.
Scaled professional services firms have a clear agenda: their own growth. That leads to bloated process and mechanized answers that lead companies toward the norm. Our guild model allows us to be deliberate about what we work on and to go deep, with a quality of focus, creativity and passion.
Everything we work on gets the best of us, and that enables us to achieve much greater impact.
What brings us together
Everybody at Enso joined because we want to use our energy for positive impact in the world. We are an optimistic group, and we do the work to stay that way. We are not confined by old job functions; we aspire to each be rounded future designers. Creative and strategic; logic and soul; think and do. In other companies, partners spend more time selling than doing the work; we’ve designed Enso so partners do the work, because that’s what we love.
We live far apart, but we collaborate fluidly and efficiently. We meet together 3-4 times a year for a week in nature. These weeks are part work and part play. They get to a level of depth, reflection and perspective that is hard when moving through conference rooms.
Amy Cheng-Tran, Managing Partner
Brand leader working at the intersection of business success, creativity and positive social impact.
I am a first-generation Taiwanese American, born in sunny SoCal, raised by an incredibly strong single mom, who gave me the gifts of generosity and a sense of grit. My mom grew up in an era where as the oldest daughter of her household, she was the designated caretaker at home, and as a result didn’t have the opportunity to go to college or pursue her passions. Through sheer determination, she and her siblings rebuilt their lives from the ground up in California, by starting small businesses— from restaurants to shoe manufacturing, and as a result, I was privileged to have access to opportunities they never dreamed of.
Given the freedom to pursue my passions, I studied art history and business as a double Bruin at UCLA, and spent the first decade of my career in brand management roles at WONGDOODY and TBWA\Chiat\Day, working on brands like Clif/Luna Bar, Sara Lee, Energizer and Pepsi. It was leading the Pepsi Refresh Project, the first time a major brand diverted funding from traditional Super Bowl advertising to launch a social impact platform that ‘refreshed’ communities all across America, that allowed me to bridge my brand experience with social innovation. I found myself at a fork in the road, yearning to evolve from traditional top-down marketing to a more meaningful shared value space at the intersection of business success and social impact.
From Pepsi Refresh, I met Sebastian and Kirk at Good/Corps, and subsequently found my tribe at enso. I’m grateful to collaborate with enlightened, bold leaders who are paving the way for better and more inclusive futures, for more people. I love that we get to work both for iconic brands and also build social enterprise brands in the food, climate and educational equity spaces.
At my core, I’m an optimist and believe we are here, living on the cusp of a new dawn, and the possibilities are endless. I honor my mother and all the incredible immigrant parents out there by doing my part to lift up underserved communities and create more access to opportunity through our future design practice.
Outside of work, I enjoy hiking in my neighborhood in the Santa Monica mountains, building community with the women of Chief, volunteering for Defy Ventures, and proudly serve as a board member of Drake Cooper and my two boys’ local elementary school.
Sebastian Buck, Partner
Trained as a strategist, by nature an optimist; that’s channeled through photography, writing and future design.
I grew up in a small village in Southern England, and life was about exploring in nature. My dad ran a small business, so I developed the sense that business is how interesting, creative, fun things happened. I studied economics, law, corporate finance, and my first job was in a Boston-based strategy consultancy, helping companies start and scale new ventures. I was based in Boston, London, Tokyo, and then LA, where I fell in love with California’s climate and optimism. Here, I found the world of social innovation, which I saw (and continue to see) as the most exciting space in business: solving globally important challenges as a path to success, rather than a distraction. I joined GOOD Magazine, then co-founded a spin-off agency, GOOD/Corps (2009), where we helped Pepsi develop the Pepsi Refresh Project; we grew from there to other great partners, like Starbucks, Google and the Gates Foundation.
Kirk Souder and I started enso in 2012, to continue the work of helping companies align business success and social impact. Google became our first client and a tremendously supportive partner, asking us to work on a host of fascinating things; that work led to more amazing, ambitious, mission-oriented partners looking to do optimistic, positive things in the world.
I’m interested in a few continuing themes. The most pervasive is fostering optimism as the precursor to progress, in my own life and in the world. Another is how companies can build shared missions rather than solo missions, particularly through the power of story and shared narratives. Another is building belonging, within companies, communities and countries — and with nature — which I see as a root-source solution for most of what ails us.
Outside of enso, I’m involved in a few things: I somewhat-often write for Fast Company, I’m a Gates Foundation Goalkeeper, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and a board member of Sun Valley Writers’ Conference.
Brian Hardwick, Partner
A lifelong strategist armed with a toolbox filled on the campaign trail, in the climate change movement and alongside big brands— always thinking about the future and trying to live in the present.
My career as a strategist has been a circuitous journey on a single mission, constantly searching for a way to make bigger impact. It started while studying American history: it became clear to me that our trajectory as a people was massively impacted by who we elected. I worked my way up from putting up signs on the side of the highway in the rain, to working at the senior level of presidential elections and US senate elections all over the country. It shaped me.
Developing strategies around the deepest values that motivate people, mobilizing people around core beliefs, and communicating in a white hot light of the media on a daily basis, helped me fill my toolbox with skills I carry with me everyday.
From the campaign trail to the boardroom, I’ve guided brands out of front page crises, developed and launched products on the Super Bowl, built national movements on climate change and helped brands big and small make a big impact.
Along this journey, I found my home at Enso. As a partner, I am proud to have helped shape and build from the beginning alongside some amazing humans. I love tackling complex problems with others, imagining what’s possible and creating things that inspire people and arm them to remake the world around them. I want to do work my kids will be proud of and leaves a positive dent in the world.
Hanna Siegel, Partner
Strategist, storyteller and coalition builder. Former nonprofit leader and journalist. Trained in the logic of the left brain, now unlocking the right.
I believe that change comes from unlikely partnerships and great storytelling. I believe that deep, human connections unlock everything else. I believe that we have so much more agency over our future than we often understand.
I started my career in journalism and cultivated a love of storytelling that has shaped my career. But I found that the storytelling alone wasn’t where I wanted to land and I started thinking about where I could channel it. I got a Master’s in Public Policy mostly because — if I’m honest — I wasn’t sure what to do next. But that decision turned out to be one of my best, and the people, the education and the global perspective of the Kennedy School set me up to think bigger about myself and the future.
Later, while working in Mike Bloomberg’s Mayor’s Office, my project on immigration reform turned into a nonprofit that I nurtured and led for a decade. The challenge of bringing different kinds of people together around a complicated and divisive issue was as difficult as it was interesting. When Trump was elected on an anti-immigration platform in 2016, the entire movement realized how badly we’d failed. After years trying to enact reform through DC, I began to think that culture is the most potent platform for change. And I started to look for ways to do it. When I found enso, I found a group of people totally different from me, but with the same common goal: to help design a better future for the world, and mobilize others to join in.
Today, I live in Washington DC, where I can walk 10 minutes to a hiking trail or a great restaurant (like Rochester, DC is underrated). I’m lucky to have a great community, starting with my husband and two kids, and, in addition to doing future design, I like to write (newsletters), read (novels) and run.
Tiago Pereira, Partner
Creative director — believes a playful spirit is the only path to powerful ideas.
An idea. A real one.
When I look at it, I feel alive.
It’s somewhat unexpected but somewhat familiar.
It’s a little weird, but somehow perfect.
It is strong, but it needs help.
It’s small and big at the same time.
It will change people, change culture, change the world.
An idea, a real one, is a perfect representation of hope.
It’s a confirmation of our irreplaceable humanity.
It’s urgent.
It’s unstoppable.
It makes us laugh, and suffer — lose sleep (of excitement).
It takes hard work, but it’s proportionally rewarding.
An idea, a real one, is everything.
Anything else is a waste of time.
I joined enso in 2017 to work on world-changing ideas with some of the most interesting people in the world — lucky me.
Let’s play!
Sam Schwear, Brand Impact Director
Traditionally-trained advertiser that never liked ads, with a passion for documentaries and cross-discipline collaboration.
Business has the power to create cultural change faster and more efficiently than any other force—and that’s where my passion lies. Having grown up surrounded by the world of advertising, I’ve always believed that brands can be more than just sellers; they can be leaders in cultural movements, voices for the underserved, and champions for a better world. This perspective has guided me throughout my career, enabling me to help companies that share this same ambition.
I’ve spent my career connecting creative spark with strategic clarity, helping brands grow into forces for good. My approach is solution agnostic, drawing from a range of disciplines – including marketing, product strategy, and user experience—to find the right path for each challenge. In one of my earliest professional experiences at Maverick, a social start-up for Gen Z girls, I helped shape both brand and product, from developing live event campaigns with partners like Nike and HP to consulting on platform features designed to better engage and support their community. For me, business goes beyond products or services—it’s about creating work that resonates beyond a moment, contributing to something larger than the bottom line.
My experience spans from client services to creative strategy, but my passion lies in bringing these disciplines together to open doors and break down barriers—for both customers and employees alike. This intersection of skills came to life in my work with LA28, where I collaborated with local creatives and Paralympic athletes to bring the brand’s modular “A” emblem to life. The flexible identity system we developed not only celebrated LA’s cultural richness but also invited everyone to see themselves in the Games.
In my current role as Brand Impact Director at enso, I lead initiatives that help organizations align their strategies with their values, creating environments where businesses and communities thrive together. This includes building a nationwide coalition for Indeed’s Ready to Work program, developing an initiative with Nickelodeon to help kids unlock their collective agency, and leading a global telecom’s mission to close the global digital divide through human storytelling. Every project I take on is an opportunity to build things that don’t just sell, but serve—real people, real needs, real change.
Beyond my professional endeavors, I am deeply committed to causes that resonate with my values:
- Women’s Health: Advocating for increased funding in female-specific research to address the unique health needs that have long been underrepresented.
- Democratizing Opportunity: Tackling systemic barriers in education and employment to ensure equal access for all, particularly for those facing significant obstacles.
- Climate Change: Promoting industry-led solutions to combat climate change, emphasizing the role of businesses in driving sustainable practices from the top down.
ʞ̶e̶v̶ᴉ̶n̶l̶i̶ɐ̶n̶ƃ̶c̶ʎ̶ (Kevin Liangcy), futuredesigner, design director, existentialist, human
Culturally impactful creator that seamlessly blends cutting-edge technology with compelling storytelling. Striving for work that transcends traditional design boundaries, forging immersive narratives that resonate across global audiences and shape the future of visual expression.
In a world teetering on the edge of change, the call to unleash our creative potential has never been more critical. What began as a spark of curiosity has now become my life’s mission, driving me to explore uncharted territories and push the boundaries of what’s possible. How can we, as creators, shape the future? What innovations lie just beyond the horizon, waiting for us to discover them?
I am dedicated to channeling my passion into crafting transformative projects and initiatives that drive societal progress. By collaborating with diverse minds, I design solutions that not only start small but are primed to scale and make a global impact. What if the next big idea could change the world? How do we turn visions into reality?
I believe in the power of action over words. Turning ideas into tangible experiments allows us to learn and iterate quickly, transforming visionary concepts into reality. Motivated individuals can navigate any challenge and propel a project from inception to realization. What challenges will we conquer next? How will our actions today shape tomorrow?
At the heart of my work lies relentless passion and expertise, serving clients and driving transformative projects forward. Enso is where I dedicate myself fully, committed to the success of our clients and the projects we undertake.
My journey has seen the creation of significant, groundbreaking work for iconic brands and initiatives. I have had the privilege of working with clients such as Google, Indeed, Uber, Atlantis, YouTube, Lyft, TEDxVeniceBeach, Mitsubishi Trane, Avid, Alive Ventures, GoFor, NGP, Paper, Meta, Amazon, and many more. These collaborations stand as testaments to the fusion of creativity and innovation, pushing boundaries and setting new standards.
The journey has been exhilarating, and the future holds boundless possibilities.
I’m excited for what’s next, eager to continue this epic adventure of creativity and innovation, shaping a better world one project at a time. Every challenge is an opportunity, every idea a spark ready to ignite change. The future is ours to design, and the canvas is limitless.
Let’s embark on this journey together, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and creating a legacy of innovation and excellence. What legacy will we leave behind? How will our creativity redefine the world? How do we live up to why we exist?
Maya Cohan, Sr. Director Operations & Project Management
At Enso, my focus is business operations, project management, and keeping Enso’s team connected and inspired.
I see working with others as an opportunity to create something together that we couldn’t achieve alone. Under the right circumstances, creative collaboration can yield transformational work, and we are transformed in the process. I’m interested in fostering the conditions that create synergy, enabling people to do their very best work.
I grew up in a genuinely Californian family of artists and psychotherapists. This shaped a creative and humanistic outlook on things. I’m an advocate for kindness and believe in leadership grounded in compassion, authenticity, and trust.
I honed my skills and learned a lot working at digital agencies, consultancies, and creative brands, leading teams to solve complex problems and bring innovative ideas to life. I’ve been a creative producer, executive producer, and director of production, and business operations. I’ve worked with wonderful companies, including Walt Disney Imagineering, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Mattel, NASA, TED-ed, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Microsoft.
I’m here at Enso because I believe in the power of design and that we have a shared responsibility to create a better world. With optimism and imagination, we can design solutions to our biggest challenges and realize a better future.
Mauro Silva, Creative Director
Creative director solving root problems with hybrid skills and passion for making **** happen.
I am a Brazilian creative director living in Portland, Oregon. I’m a father of two girls, an open water swimmer and I can’t play soccer.
I was born in southern Brazil, surrounded by Criolo horses, and art books. My father was an agricultural cooperative leader, and my mother was an art history teacher. That’s my beginnings.
I’ve been working with creative problem-solving for a while. I started as an art director, but curiosity keeps pushing me to explore more. I had a boutique digital agency back in Brazil that became one of the most innovative independent agencies in South America. Nike and Ben & Jerry’s were among the clients who were always seeking new off-the-shelf solutions.
I have some Lions in my pocket and a Webby Award, and I was part of the Cannes Lions jury, and for some reason, talking about it makes me cringe. I see communication as a catalyst for change, and I am guided by a genuine enthusiasm for nurturing fragile newborn ideas and making them great.
