OUR TEAM

FOUNDER & CEO

Rika Iino (she/her) embodies two decades of purpose-driven work at the intersection of social impact, innovation, and the arts. As a cultural entrepreneur and creative producer, her dedication to artists as change agents has shaped global projects. Deeply engaged in independent artist advocacy and leadership development, Rika serves as a coach, mentor, and speaker at institutions like Stanford, Yale, and UC Berkeley. Co-creator of the systemic allyship program HEALING FORWARD in collaboration with Marc Bamuthi Joseph, and co-chair of Building Ethical and Equitable Partnership, a national initiative on equitable contracting, Rika made history in as the first woman of color to receive the Patrick Hayes Award for transformative leadership from the International Society for the Performing Arts in 2021. In 2023, she earned the Mentoring Award from Western Arts Alliance and the CALI Catalyst Award from the Center for Cultural Innovation, acknowledging her extraordinary efforts in realizing greater inclusion and equity in the cultural sector. Currently she is the lead designer for SOZO Fellowship, a groundbreaking entrepreneurship and sustainability coaching program for artists and creative practitioners.

VICE PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR OF SALES

Ichun’s work as a creative producer & manager spans more than a decade, leading and overseeing numerous live and digital projects with artists and organizations in various sectors globally. A producer with the business acumen for creative environments, Ichun secures resources and talent to take ambitious projects from conception to fruition. She specializes in discovering and cultivating innovative contemporary works that fuse art, social impact, and technology, often as a translator between artistic expression and technological implementation. Skilled in relationship building between humans, art, technology, and experiences, Ichun’s understanding of cultural nuance makes her effective in producing performances, exhibitions, and installations globally. Recent work includes facilitating large-scale international collaborations between artistic entities across several countries, and serving as the executive producer for The Dream Machine Experience, the first-ever mixed reality experience at Lincoln Center. She is highly regarded in the industry for her exceptional leadership, as well as her uncanny prowess in finding delicious cocktails wherever in the world work takes her.

SENIOR MANAGER & PRODUCER

Born into a multicultural family, Chisa simultaneously celebrates her passion for tradition and innovation. Her desire to discover, collaborate, and deepen her connection with people, place and planet has taken her to 6 continents whether embarking on community service projects, undertaking family pilgrimages, or gracing historic stages and theaters as a professional dancer for over a decade. Driven by intuitive nurturing and a zealous need to contribute joy to the world, she avidly advocates for interdisciplinary art and collaborative practices as means to dissolve perceived barriers to open emotional and physical pathways to truth, justice and love. Fervently on a mission to align her personal power with her professional values, Chisa brings her caring presence, grounded discipline and deep listening to everything she undertakes and creates; she most recently celebrated her stage directorial debut with Lincoln Center’s 2021 Restart Stages Series and continues her role as Creative Producer on SONIC TRAILS. Mindful to balance her psyche with fire and nectar, she nourishes herself with yoga, sending hand-written letters, burpees and never turns down a glass of bubbles.

MANAGER & PRODUCER

Dana brings her theatrical experience and knack for collaboration to support the development of creative projects across SOZO’s portfolio ranging from dance to new media. Her work as a theater director has been seen throughout New York City as well as internationally, extending east to Romania and south to Argentina. She spent years working under avant-garde titan Lee Breuer, and was invited to continue direction on his last production after his passing.  She guides projects from concept to execution, from directing Daniel Bernard Roumain’s The Telling at FirstWorks to creative producing EARTH.SPEAKS by Osage artist brooke smiley and The Dream Machine Experience, a mixed reality project by Nona Hendryx. Dana teaches Theater Directing at Pace University.

MANAGER & PRODUCER

Annie is happily the longest-running member of SOZO, working alongside Rika since 2003. She has a contagious passion for live production and loves supporting game-changing artists who elevate our everyday experiences through their works. Her dedication, flexibility, and proclivity for mastering new skills have made her a Jill-of-all-trades, Annie can type 70 WPM, write tour riders, negotiate booking contracts, reroute audio signal, edit your website, and parallel park a 15-passenger van. As manager and producer Annie’s current role with SOZO ranges from day to day management of artists to producing international tours including The Just and the Blind with Marc Bamuthi Joseph and Daniel Bernard Roumain. Annie now lives in San Jose, CA with the love of her life and their two young children.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE

Kaitlyn’s artistic expression began when she was 5 and eagerly climbing onto the piano bench. Now a multifaceted artist with a boundless curiosity for life’s nuances, Kaitlyn harnesses her black girl magic in pursuit of comprehensive and compassionate communion. Kaitlyn is empowered to join SOZO, bringing to the team her organizational prowess, collaborative nature, and drive for equity. For enjoyment, Kaitlyn can be found creating delicious dishes in the kitchen. She practices mindfulness, always stopping to smell the roses.

DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT, BENVENUTI ARTS

DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT, BENVENUTI ARTS

FINANCE, SUTRO LI

BOARD MEMBER - SECRETARY

BOARD MEMBER - TREASURER

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS