Our Team

Surinder Singh, CEO

Surinder is a dedicated entrepreneur who built his career on creating solutions that empower others and foster sustainable growth. With an MBA in Finance from Columbia and a foundation in computer science, he has successfully launched five startups and has over 20 years of experience teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in finance, economics, business, accounting, and entrepreneurship—working to inspire the next generation of leaders.

Featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times, Surinder’s work reflects his commitment to impactful leadership. As Chairman of the Board at Brooklyn Community Housing & Services, he oversees a $12M nonprofit dedicated to providing housing and support for formerly homeless individuals and families.

Driven by a passion for making a difference, Surinder builds ventures and partnerships that uplift communities, empower through education, and help others realize their potential.

Jodi Kaus, Director of Program Implementation

The first half of Jodi’s career was working as an attorney and financial advisor in the trust industry as a CTFA Certified Trust & Financial Advisor. The second half was spent creating a nationally recognized peer-to-peer financial education program called Powercat Financial for Kansas State University, which offers a top-ranked CFP board-approved financial planning degree.

She is laser-focused on building soft skills and relationship management expertise in peer mentors to benefit them, their future employers and the students they serve. Jodi was instrumental in Kansas State’s expansion of their peer program as a signature academy-wide initiative.

She has consulted with universities across the nation on training and building successful peer financial mentoring programs.

Dr. Z.W. Taylor, Director of Data and Analytics

Dr. Z.W. Taylor is the Manager of Data for Student Engagement at Georgia State University. Dr. Taylor has worked in education for 18 years, including seven in K-12 settings as a teacher and pre-college counselor. In higher education, he has worked for nine years as a lecturer, communications consultant, assistant director of admissions, admissions analyst, and assistant professor. He has published over 180 peer-reviewed articles, many in top-tier education journals including The Review of Higher Education, Higher Education Quarterly, Teachers College Record, and the Journal of College Student Development. His work has been cited over 1,500 times.

Dr. Taylor is the recent recipient of the 2025 College of Education and Human Sciences Distinguished Researcher Award from the University of Southern Mississippi, as well as the 2025 Robert P. Huff Golden Quill Award for distinguished contribution to literature on student financial aid from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).

Sara Ray, Senior Consultant

Sara is a financial wellness educator with over a decade of experience teaching personal finance and designing student-centered financial education programs in higher education. Her work focuses on strengthening peer education models, developing staff and student leaders, and building cross-campus partnerships that advance student success. She has led financial wellness initiatives at institutions including Baylor University and Indiana University, supporting students through financial coaching while overseeing program growth, staff supervision, and strategic outreach. Her approach blends evidence-based practices with a deep understanding of how peer-led education expands access, impact, and economic mobility.

Beyond her practitioner work, Sara contributes to the financial wellness professional field through research, national presentations, and leadership within the Higher Education Financial Wellness Alliance (HEFWA). She is currently pursuing the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) credential through the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education.

Executive Advisory Board

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