Nicole Thomas, CEP, is a seasoned Lead Stock Plan Administrator at Shopify, bringing over a decade of specialized experience in equity administration. 

At Shopify, Nicole expertly manages the daily operations of the company’s global equity plan, overseeing equity grants for more than 10,000 employees and spearheading comprehensive employee education initiatives. She is also instrumental in ensuring regulatory compliance with global policies, particularly in managing equity compliance for Shopify’s mobile workforce. Recently, Nicole played a pivotal role in the complete revamp of Shopify’s compensation program.

Before her tenure at Shopify, Nicole served as Assistant Vice President of Business Development at Morgan Stanley in New York City. In this role, she collaborated with a diverse array of organizations on their equity compensation strategies, with a particular focus on C-Suite executive services, Section 16/Rule 144 transactions, and the implementation of 10b5-1 plans.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Roanoke College in Virginia and earned her Certified Equity Professional (CEP) designation in 2018.

Vanda started her career at Deloitte Hungary, in Global Employer Services, focusing on mobile employee taxation, before moving to London in 2016 joining Deloitte’s Incentives & Rewards team where her journey in the share plans world begun.

She advised many multinational companies on designing, implementing, and operating global incentive plans which is attractive to employees, practical to manage and good value for the company’s shareholders.

In January 2022, Vanda joined Nokia where she currently works as a Senior Equity Program Manager. She is responsible for running Nokia’s global long-term incentive plan and all employee share purchase plan across more than 90 jurisdictions as well as leading the Equity Team.

Vanda has acquired an extensive legal and tax technical knowledge in relation to equity income and cross-border employee taxation while also working together with multiple stakeholders, including, HR, payroll, finance, legal and reward specialist.

She successfully completed Tapestry’s Certificate in Employee Share Plans course accredited by the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (CGIUKI) and presented at multiple industry events on equity compensation related topics.

In her spare time she loves traveling and live music events or playing tennis.

My journey in equity started in 2017. With 10 years under my belt in Financial Services and Private Equity/Venture Capital banking, I decided it was time for something different…and just like that, I unknowingly ventured into the equity industry and found something unique and completely different. 

While working on the vendor side at Shareworks by Morgan Stanley (f.k.a. Solium), I had the opportunity to learn about their equity platform in great detail as I managed a book of business with different complexities. I didn’t realize it then but this experience was merely a stepping stone for the next big thing…Lucid Motors!

I have called Lucid Motors home for the last 3.5 years and just can’t see myself anywhere else! I had the pleasure of being part of our SPAC merger July of 2021 so seeing us go from private to public and grow the way we have is just something very special. Our plan has evolved from a simple Options/RSU type plan to Options, RSUs, PSUs, French-Qualified Plan, and ESPP. The knowledge I have gained and continue to gain every day as we continue to expand is just thrilling. I never imagined equity would take me this far but I couldn’t be happier and shout out to the best boss ever Matt Connor for all of his continued guidance and support along the way. 

Alisha Hom, CEP, brings nearly a decade of specialized experience in global share plan management. Her career is marked by a proven track record of excellence in dynamic and collaborative work environments. Alisha's strength lies in her ability to foster cross-functional engagement, which has been instrumental in driving successful outcomes and building comprehensive equity programs.

Currently, Alisha has been a vital part of Lyft for over six years. During her tenure, she played a crucial role in the company's transition to a public company. Since then, she has continued to refine and advance Lyft's equity compensation program, shaping it into a robust and well-regarded system. 

Beyond her contributions at Lyft, Alisha is actively involved with the GEO NorCal Chapter Committee, and engages in various industry events and initiatives. Her commitment extends to recruiting talent and advancing the field of equity compensation, reflecting her passion for the profession. Alisha's academic background includes a degree from the University of Oregon (sco Ducks!!), and she achieved the Certified Equity Professional (CEP) designation in 2020.

I am a seasoned accountant with over a decade of experience, currently serving as the Global Equity Lead at The Coca-Cola Company, based in Drogheda, Ireland. In this role, I have been pivotal in overseeing the successful rollout of the Global Employee Stock Purchase Plan (GESPP) across 38 countries. My expertise lies in managing complex, large-scale projects and driving transformational initiatives that enhance employee engagement and organisational equity. 

With a strong focus on continuous learning and professional development, I have designed and implemented new platforms, collaborated with HR, legal, and finance teams globally, and ensured smooth employee enrolment and support for the GESPP. 

My earlier roles at Coca-Cola included leading payroll service projects across EMEA and managing Defined Benefit Plans, showcasing my ability to navigate various facets of financial operations.

Before joining Coca-Cola, I held key positions at International Fund Services, a State Street company, where I gained valuable experience as a Senior Associate and Fund Accountant. Academically, I hold an ACCA qualification and a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Business/Management from Dublin Institute of Technology.

Outside of work, I maintain a keen interest in football and, until recently, played at a competitive level. I enjoy spending quality time outdoors with my partner, daughter, and dog.