Meet Our Board
Our Board of Directors provides strategic guidance and oversight to support Vegan Hospitality’s mission of transforming the hospitality industry through plant-based solutions. With diverse expertise in business, sustainability, and hospitality, our board members help shape our vision, drive impactful initiatives, and ensure long-term success. Meet the passionate leaders behind our work.
Mamta Valderrama
board chair
With over 20 years of leadership experience, Mamta Jain Valderrama has a proven track record in managing global operations and implementing impactful strategies. She is the former Global Senior Vice President of Operations at Mercy For Animals and operations leader at healthcare organizations including DaVita Dialysis and Wellpoint. Mamta is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Vital Start Health, a femtech and family behavioral health technology startup. In her role, Mamta oversees both business and clinical operations, driving strategic growth and innovation to support pregnant women and their partners navigating mental health and wellness challenges. Mamta is also an avid traveler who embraces her passion for vegan advocacy wherever she goes. From Mexico and India to the Maldives, Egypt, Japan, and beyond, she connects with head chefs at restaurants, hotels, and tour companies to request vegan meals. Most are excited to meet the challenge, and Mamta likes to think she leaves those establishments better prepared to delight their next vegan clients. A dedicated advocate for animal welfare and social justice, Mamta draws inspiration from the Jain principle of ahimsa, or non-violence. She is an Amazon bestselling author of A Girl In Traffick, a novel that sheds light on human kidney trafficking. Mamta resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband and daughter.
Naomi Sachs
board treasurer
Naomi Sachs spent the last 25 years leading operations, strategy, and finance for both small and large companies. She is currently the CFO at Oobli, a sweet protein technology platform company focused on replacing sugar in food and beverages. Previously, Naomi was the President and COO at Sittercity. Prior to joining Sittercity, she ran a strategy and operations group at Tribune Co and worked for several years in investment banking. In addition to Vegan Hospitality, Naomi serves on the board of New Roots Institute, a nonprofit empowering the next generation with knowledge and training to end factory farming. Naomi graduated from Yale University and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School.
Hayley Cooper
board secretary
Hayley Cooper is a Certified Vegan Hospitality Consultant and Industry Leader with 25 years of professional experience in hospitality management. She is based in Greater Kruger in South Africa where she co-manages a luxury 5 star safari lodge. She is also the founder & CEO of Wild Dreams, a successful & well-established hospitality business offering recruitment, training & consulting services all over Africa. As the first certified vegan hospitality consultant in Africa, she has pioneered the Vegan Hospitality movement across the continent and helped Africa become one of the first destinations with Vegan Hospitality Certified lodges and guest houses.
Hayley is frequently featured in the media both in print and on podcasts sharing her expertise about hospitality, tourism and veganism. She has authored and created several courses and e-books on topics relevant to both hospitality and veganism. Her enthusiasm for veganism and sustainability stems from a love for rehabilitating wild animals, which is how she made the connection to this way of life. She prides herself on providing a professional and personalized service in everything that she does and loves sharing her passion with others.