Ascend Houston - 2026 Inspiring Across Generations

Sheila Enriquez — Keynote

Partner Emeritus & Senior Advisor, Crowe

Sheila Enriquez is Partner Emeritus and Senior Advisor to Crowe. A CPA, attorney, board director and senior executive, she has more than 30 years of experience in professional services. At Crowe, she continues to work on litigation consulting and expert witness matters. Before joining Crowe, Sheila was CEO and managing partner of Briggs & Veselka. Sheila serves on the AICPA Board of Directors and the board of the University of St. Thomas, and is a Past Chair of the Texas Society of CPAs.

Forest Xu — Executive Panel I

Lead Tax Services Partner, Crowe

Forest Xu is a tax partner at Crowe. He specializes in tax planning, compliance and tax accounting, advising organizations on matters that span pass-through and corporate entities, tax provisions under ASC 740, and multistate income taxes. Forest brings more than 20 years of experience in tax planning and consulting. His work helps clients navigate complex tax requirements and make informed decisions about their businesses.

Rahul Bindlish — Executive Panel I (Moderator)

Technical Fellow, Dow

Rahul Bindlish was named Senior Technology Fellow for Process Automation at Dow in June 2024, where he leads a team of Technology Principals and provides company-wide leadership for process automation technologies and complex technical problem solving.

Rahul has received 15 Dow Technology Center awards for innovations that generated an estimated $422 million in 10-year net present value. His professional honors include the American Automatic Control Council (AACC) Control Practice Award (2026), American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Fellow (2023), and the AIChE Computing Practice Award (2017).

He currently serves as Chair of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Computing and Systems Technology (CAST) Division. Rahul earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an M.S. from Texas A&M University, and a B.Tech. from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.

Mariam Lakhani — Executive Panel I

VP, Internal Audit and Controls, TechnipFMC

Mariam is a seasoned financial leader with over 20 years of experience in the Oil & Gas industry, specializing in financial reporting, risk management, internal controls, and strategic planning. She has led global finance operations, including oversight of complex agreements and regulatory compliance in West Africa, providing strategic guidance to executives and boards. Her expertise spans internal audit, SOX compliance, ESG reporting, and corporate governance, ensuring organizations meet regulatory requirements while driving operational efficiency. She has successfully navigated international finance, high-stakes LNG agreements, and risk oversight in complex, cross-border operations. A proven leader, Mariam has built and mentored high-performing teams, combining technical expertise with a passion for leadership development and process optimization.

Outside of work, she is a dedicated mom to a middle and high schooler, balancing the demands of a global career with family life. She enjoys traveling, mindfulness, and integrating focus and purpose into both her personal and professional life.

Taimur Ghazi — Executive Panel I

Principal, RSM

Taimur Ghazi is an Owner at RSM US LLP and serves as the firm’s Houston Consulting Market Leader. In this role, he is focused on accelerating growth across one of RSM’s priority markets by strengthening strategic client relationships, expanding the firm’s presence in Houston and connecting capabilities across Consulting and the broader firm around clients’ most important business priorities. He also leads the development and rollout of RSM’s AI-enabled control testing platform, applying artificial intelligence to modernize how organizations evaluate controls and supporting evidence.

Taimur brings almost two decades of experience advising public and private companies on technology, risk, AI, governance, internal controls and transformation. He takes an account-first approach—working with senior executives to understand enterprise priorities, shape growth strategies and assemble multidisciplinary teams across service lines, industries and geographies. His experience spans across technology strategy and governance, cybersecurity, enterprise systems, audit and regulatory compliance, AI and emerging technologies.

Prior to assuming his broader market leadership responsibilities, Taimur led RSM’s national IT Internal Controls over Financial Reporting practice, overseeing a community of approximately 300 practitioners. He is a subject matter professional matters relevant for SOX and SEC/PCAOB standards.

Taimur has extensive experience serving public companies and complex organizations across energy, manufacturing, financial services, and technology sectors. He is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from the University of Houston.

Howard Chen — Ascend Talks

Producer, ESPN

Howard Chen is a Producer at ESPN, based remotely in Houston. His tasks center around covering the NBA for global audiences, and this past year marked his 9th time working at the NBA Finals.

Before this, Howard was a reporter on Houston Rockets and Houston Astros game broadcasts on Comcast SportsNet Houston and was also seen locally as a host on FOX Sports Southwest. He has also worked at FOX 26 Houston, KPRC 2 Houston, SportsRadio 610, and spent a decade as a Sports Anchor/Reporter in the Ohio cities of Zanesville and then Toledo.

Outside of work, Howard is the CPO nationally for AAJA's Sports Task Force, which is a group helping guide AAPI sports journalists, and is also currently the Co-President of AAJA's Texas chapter.

Before all this, Howard graduated high school locally at Sugar Land's Dulles High School before receiving his Broadcast Journalism degree at Syracuse University, with a digital marketing certification from Rice University.

Reva Azeez — Ascend Talks

Managing Partner, ROA Partners, Inc.

Reva Azeez's path to financial planning began working part-time at an Italian restaurant in Houston, Texas around 2004. She was 19 and studying pre-med at the University of Houston and had moved alone to the U.S. from China four years earlier. Azeez had made friends with one of the restaurant's regular patrons, who happened to be a financial advisor. Still new to the country, Azeez started asking him questions about 401(k)s, retirement planning and the best classes to take in school. The advisor applauded her curiosity and offered to let her shadow him for a day. She showed up at his office the next morning and left with a part-time job offer.

After graduating, she began building her practice as an independent financial advisor under MML Investors Services in December 2007, just as the financial crisis was hitting. Although people told her she was crazy, Azeez saw an opportunity in scared clients looking for answers. In 2010, she officially launched ROA Partners.

Azeez serves more than 1,200 households, with clients coming entirely through referrals. She works primarily with family and professional service businesses, including law firms, medical practices and CPA firms. Many are multigenerational families thinking about legacy and succession, including whether to transition a business internally, sell it or prepare the next generation to lead. At ROA Partners, she works alongside her husband, Omar. Azeez focuses primarily on clients, while he focuses more on recruiting and hiring.

Heba Salem — Ascend Talks

Mother | Author | Founder & CEO, Breakthrough ABA

Heba Salem is a Canadian-Egyptian entrepreneur, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, author, and founder & CEO of Breakthrough ABA in Houston, Texas.

Her personal journey raising her son Hussein inspired the creation of Breakthrough ABA, a behavioral therapy organization built to address the gaps she experienced firsthand while navigating autism and developmental disabilities across four countries.

Holding a PhD in Marketing, a Master's degree in Developmental Psychology from the University of Toronto, and an MBA with honours, Heba combines clinical expertise, business leadership, and lived experience to advocate for families while advancing access to quality care.

Over the past decade, she has dedicated her work to helping children with autism and developmental disabilities receive compassionate, evidence-based care while empowering families with the knowledge, support, and confidence they deserve.

Her book, From A Mother To A CEO, tells that story. Today, she speaks nationally on autism advocacy, entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience, and building mission-driven organizations that create lasting impact. Through every role she holds, her greatest hope remains the same: that no family feels they have to navigate this journey alone.

Jenny Bulgrin Venkat — Executive Panel II (Moderator)

Executive Coach, Peak Selling

Jenny Bulgrin Venkat is an executive leadership coach, sales trainer, and founder of Jenny BV Sales Training & Leadership Coaching. With more than 20 years of experience in corporate sales, strategic partnerships, and leadership development, Jenny brings a wealth of experience from her career at global organizations including Harley-Davidson, Marriott International and Airbnb.

As an ICF-certified coach, Jenny works with executives, senior leaders, and entrepreneurs to strengthen their leadership effectiveness, navigate complex challenges, and lead with greater confidence, clarity, and intention. She also designs and facilitates leadership and sales development programs that challenge conventional thinking, foster meaningful dialogue, and equip leaders to influence and inspire others.

Central to Jenny's approach is the belief that exceptional leadership begins with self-awareness. Through coaching and facilitation, she helps leaders better understand their values, recognize their impact, and create environments where individuals and teams can thrive. Her work emphasizes authentic leadership, intentional decision-making, and the power of diverse perspectives to drive meaningful, lasting change.

Eric Tyan — Executive Panel II

Managing Director, Andersen

Eric Tyan is a managing director in the Commercial practice, bringing over 18 years of experience in business tax advisory. His expertise focuses on international and U.S. corporate tax planning, specifically for industries such as energy, crypto technology, transportation, specialized manufacturing, engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC). He has worked extensively in cross-border taxation, mergers & acquisitions, and federal income tax planning and compliance.

Eric provides consulting services in several key areas, including:

Investment structure planning for both U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions with financing considerations
Cash repatriation strategies
Legal entity realignment and simplification
Value chain planning relating to intellectual property and specific business functions
Global holding company re-domiciliation
Income tax due diligence and post-acquisition planning
Income tax attribute utilization, such as foreign tax credits and net operating losses
Income tax accounting and compliance

Before joining Andersen, Eric held senior roles in Big 4 accounting firms, specializing in corporate international tax, particularly in Houston, Texas.

Sagar Kamdar — Executive Panel II

Partner, PwC

Sagar is a Partner with PwC's Digital Assurance & Transparency practice with 22+ years of experience in the professional services area, including Artificial Intelligence, finance transformation, system implementation, external audit, internal audit, and consulting. Sagar is at the forefront of driving innovation and digital transformation within PwC, playing a pivotal role in leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance auditing processes and improve efficiency. Sagar currently travels across the country for various Board and Audit Committee meetings to discuss AI governance and oversight where he provides value and insights to executive leadership. Sagar is also part of PwC’s national AI practice where he has developed Responsible AI risk frameworks and Board and Audit Committee Thought Leadership.

Sagar has spent significant time in both Houston and New York focusing on emerging tech, technology transformation and IT audits in multiple industries including financial services, healthcare, energy/oil/gas, entertainment, and governmental local/state/federal entities. He has a range of experience in both IT and business process reviews working as part of external audits, internal audits and executing audits/reviews across various sectors. Sagar is also a subject matter expert in assessing enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations for companies. He has overseen business process, IT general controls (ITGC) assessments, and ERP system assessments. Sagar has also led internal audit, external audit, and consulting engagements along with performing Sarbanes-Oxley 404 external and internal audit assessments, focusing on both financial (business process) and IT-related control activities.

Sagar holds a BBA in Information Systems, Finance, and Economics from Baylor University. He is a Certified Information Systems Auditor.

Charu Jain — Executive Panel II

Board Member, Pratham | CEO, Gasochem International

Charu Jain is the Founder and CEO of Gasochem International LLC, a Houston-based, woman-owned, minority-owned small business that supplies industrial gases, water treatment chemicals, and petroleum products to federal, municipal, and private-sector customers. Since founding Gasochem in 2012, she has grown it into an ISO 9001:2015 certified company that competes for and delivers government contracts across the country.

Under her leadership, Gasochem grew revenue 1,469 percent and ranked No. 393 on the 2023 Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies. Inc. magazine featured her story in "How This Founder Overcame Sexism in Her Own Family to Build a Chemicals Company," highlighting how she broke through barriers to succeed in the male-dominated chemicals industry.

Charu holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MBA from Rice University.

She is deeply committed to developing the next generation of leaders. She founded TOWES (Together for Women Empowerment and Success), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and serves on the boards of the Women's Energy Network (WEN), the South Asian Women Entrepreneurs Alliance (SAWEA USA), and Pratham. Her leadership is grounded in integrity, purpose, and the belief that opening doors for others is the truest measure of success.

Kuriko Wong — Professional Workshop

Founder, Confidently Clear Coaching

Kuriko Wong is a certified executive coach, yoga teacher, and workshop facilitator. She partners with organizations and leaders to help them gain clarity, mitigate stress, and redefine success on their own terms.

Before she founded Confidently Clear Coaching, she spent 20 years in large global organizations like Accenture and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). That experience gives her firsthand knowledge of what it takes to navigate the intense, high-stakes environments of consulting firms and complex matrixed organizations.

Linh Nguyen — Executive Panel III (Moderator)

Managing Director, Deloitte

Linh is an executive business and people leader with deep experience building trusted client relationships and delivering growth. As an account leader for several accounts in Deloitte’s Energy and Chemicals sector, he helps clients realize value through cloud, AI, and technology transformation. He also serves on Deloitte’s Energy and Chemicals Industry practice leadership team, supporting technology innovation and acceleration of clients’ value realization. Based in Houston, he’s a parent of four and proud that one of my children is a Deloitte Consulting Analyst. As the oldest of nine children who immigrated from Vietnam, he brings resilience, collaboration, and a strong growth mindset to every role. He enjoys cooking, traveling, and golfing.

Feve Hisug-Pangilinan — Executive Panel III

Corporate Controller, KLX Energy Services, Inc.

Feve Hisug-Pangilinan, CPA is the Corporate Controller at KLX Energy Services, where she leads corporate accounting, SEC reporting, technical accounting, and finance operations for the publicly traded energy services company. She brings more than 15 years of experience in public company accounting, audit, financial reporting, and finance transformation. Prior to joining KLX, Feve spent over 10 years with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), serving in leadership roles across the United States and the Philippines, including as an Audit Director and a member of PwC’s National Quality Organization. Her experience spans acquisitions, debt restructurings, complex accounting transactions, internal controls, and audit committee engagement.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Feve is passionate about leadership development, mentorship, and advancing diverse talent. She previously served as Vice President for Internal Affairs of the Ascend Houston Chapter from 2016 to 2018 and remains committed to supporting Ascend’s mission of developing, elevating, and empowering leaders in our community.

Roshmi Dalal — Executive Panel III

Director, Weaver

Roshmi Dalal is an executive coach, speaker, and Director of Weaver's Executive and Leadership Coaching Services (XLCS) practice. With more than 27 years of professional experience spanning accounting, consulting, and executive coaching, she helps leaders strengthen their influence, effectiveness, and resilience in today's complex business environment. She specializes in executive coaching, leadership development, emotional intelligence, team dynamics, communication, and mental fitness. Before joining Weaver, Roshmi worked with organizations and leaders through her own coaching practice, helping professionals overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. She is an accredited Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation and holds certifications in executive coaching, Positive Intelligence, and positive psychology. As a former CPA with extensive experience advising Fortune 100 organizations, she brings both business acumen and coaching expertise to leadership development.