Trans entrepreneurs aren’t just building businesses—they’re redefining industries, sparking innovation, and forging pathways for a more inclusive world. In the face of adversity, these leaders have risen, not just to survive but to thrive. They are disruptors, visionaries, and changemakers, proving that resilience and authenticity are the ultimate keys to success.

Join us on Trans Day of Visibility for a powerhouse panel featuring some of the most dynamic trans founders, CEOs, and industry leaders who are breaking barriers, creating groundbreaking solutions, and proving that business is better when everyone has a seat at the table. From cutting-edge technology and healthcare innovation to storytelling and community empowerment, these trailblazers are reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape—and they’re just getting started.

Panelists

(Pictured from left to right)

Brandon Kyle Goodman (They/Them), Actor, Writer, & Advocate

Brandon Kyle Goodman (they/them) is a writer, actor, host, and sexual/mental wellness advocate. They’re best known for their work on Netflix’s smash hit and Emmy nominated animated comedy series Big Mouth and its spin-off Human Resources; Amazon’s Modern Love, Hulu’s Plus One, and Netflix’s Feel the Beat.

Every Monday, Brandon asks their 181,000 Instagram followers to tell them something good or messy. People who tune into the Instagram Stories series, called “Messy Mondays” send in submissions around dating, love, and sex. Inspired by the series, Goodman launched his podcast, Tell Me Something Messy with the iHeart network. On the show, celebrity guests and experts divulge their own messy stories all with the of helping people lead more liberated lives. Brandon continues his hosting duties, joining E! News for RE!CAP where Brandon and co-hosts serve up hot takes on Hollywood’s biggest nights! In Fall 2025, Goodman will hit the stage for an off-Broadway run of his new show Heaux Church at Ars Nova.

Goodman shares an inspiring and uplifting message of self-love and acceptance with their first book, “You Gotta Be You” released in 2022. Written in the same refreshingly honest voice as their viral Instagram posts, they explore the intersection of race, sexuality and gender, and the lessons that would guide them to their most authentic self. As a nonbinary queer person of color, Brandon knows the pain of hiding one’s true self, the work of learning to love that true self, and the freedom of finally being your true self. While most inspiring narratives from queer authors take the form of memoirs, Brandon is one of few LGBTQ+ writers writing in the self-help space to offer the readers life lessons.

Goodman has been featured in The New York Times, Esquire, Well+Good, OUT, Bustle, Buzzfeed, and many more. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Brandon lives in Los Angeles with their husband, Matthew, and their dog, Korey.

Charlotte Hamilton (She/Her), CEO and Co-Founder TAF Carbon

Charlotte Hamilton is the CEO and co-founder of TAF Carbon a manufacturer of carbon building materials. Born and raised in Alaska this lifelong entrepreneur has cofounder and led five hard technology startup companies. The companies she has led previously include Novomer making CO2 based polymers, Adenios improving drug delivery and Conamix working on EV battery chemistry.

She is a co-inventor of multiple pieces of intellectual property and has been featured in the WSJ, The Independent, CleanTechnica, USA Today and other publications. She was a member of the inaugural edition of the Gaingels 100, a book honoring leading LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and she serves on the national board of StartOut an organization working so that all entrepreneurs can thrive on a level playing field.

Jo Schneier (He/Him), CEO of Circle

Joseph is a serial entrepreneur who, with his co-founder, founded and exited two companies in the educational technology space. Joseph worked with behavioral research scientists productizing their research with technology-based solutions for patient behavioral change, focusing on HIV drug adherence, health literacy, and addiction.

In 2013, he co-founded Cognotion – a company solving the talent shortage of healthcare workers. In 2020, with James Firman, the former CEO of the National Council on Aging, Joseph founded Bellage, a company empowering older adults in healthy choices.

Joseph has spoken at TedMed, Lake Nona, JP Morgan Healthcare. He is a mentor at New York University, Wharton, Cornell, Techstars, and is a Columbia University Fellow. He sits on the board of many well-respected LGBTQ support organizations including The Sam and Devorah Foundation for Transgender youth, Superbia Credit Union, and the board of Stonewall Community Development Corporation. He is a member of the LGBTQ+ Biden Council and LGBTQ+ District Attorney Queens Council.

Ivan Hsiao (They/He/She), Founder & CEO of Trans Health HQ

Ivan Hsiao, MPH is a leading voice at the intersection of transgender health, public health research, and healthcare innovation. Hsiao is the founder of Trans Health HQ, an one-stop shop for the trans and gender expansive community members and clinicians to access curated information on gender-affirming care and trans health & wellness. Thousands of users across five continents currently utilize the Trans Community Resource Hub to find community, affirming providers, funding for healthcare, and more; hundreds of clinicians are on the waitlist for the Clinician Resource Hub, to be launched Spring 2025. At the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Hsiao teaches an advanced seminar on transgender health, and conducts research exploring the mental health of transgender youth and the role of sex and gender in clinical algorithms.

Their work bridges academia, entrepreneurship, and advocacy to drive systemic change in healthcare access and equity. Hsiao has been profiled by the School of Public Health and the Harvard i-lab, spoken about trans health equity at venues such as the Harvard Convocation 2024, National Institutes of Health, and 28th World Professional Association for Transgender Health Symposium, and is building Trans Health HQ with generous support from the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Business School, Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts, StartOut, and more. Hsiao holds a BA from Columbia University and an MPH from Harvard University.