Ghosh Innovation Lab

We envision...

…state legislatures that truly reflect the rich diversity of our communities, where women of all backgrounds are empowered to run, serve, and lead with confidence. Therefore, through innovative research and development…

We build…

…knowledge, tools, and actionable systems that disrupt outdated political structures, paving the way for a more inclusive democracy.
a group of women of different ages and ethnicities sitting and standing looking at the camera smiling.

Our Approach

Our goal is to inform, empower and support women running for and serving in state legislatures across the country. We are a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization empowering women candidates and elected legislators through technology and process solutions that will significantly reduce the barriers women face and help them.

To do this, we’ve developed what we call the RISE approach (Research driven, Innovative ideation for Systemic disruption and Empowerment).

Our Initiatives

We believe that state legislatures are particularly crucial because they are the building blocks of political power. By focusing on improving these institutions, we can create a ripple effect that impacts politics at all levels. Through our innovative research and development, we build knowledge, tools, and actionable systems that disrupt outdated political structures, paving the way for a more inclusive democracy. We currently have two initiatives underway to do just that.

GRID® Safety

Did you know that 43% of legislators in office face threats and harassment? And women officials were at least three times more likely to experience abuse targeting their gender? What if we could use technology to address and even reduce these incidents?

GPS® Index

For legislators, the state legislature is your workplace. So why are our political structures held to different standards than other modern workplaces? What if we could rank state legislatures on their professionalization to see where they stand?

Our Team

Aparna Ghosh

Executive Director and Founder

Catherine Jackson

Chief Program Officer

Casey Whitcomb

Treasurer

Gayatri Raman

Advisor

Archana Shah

Advisor

Abigail Shew

Advisor

Sara Betnel

Advisor

Hayley Talbert

Advisor

Are you a woman running for, serving in, or who has formerly served in a state legislature?

As we work to develop and deploy our safety technology GRID® across the country, we can build better solutions when we understand the reality of your experiences.

We’d love to hear from you, please get in touch with us!

Aparna Ghosh

Executive Director and Founder

Aparna lives and breathes research. She is a social impact innovator, veteran journalist, storyteller and a hopeless optimist about the developing girl power dynamics of democracy in the US. She is a daughter of India and lives in her blended interracial happily ever after with her husband and a preteen son.

Catherine Jackson

Chief Program Officer
Seasoned public policy professional who strives to transform visionary ideas into practical, community-strengthening programs. Uses all her superpowers from the MPA from the University of Washington to reimagine social support systems and drive sustainable change.

Casey Whitcomb

Treasurer
Casey has a wealth of knowledge about financial management and accounting for nonprofits, especially in Washington state, from working for the Starbucks Foundation and the Delta Upsilon Housing Corporation. He has over 10 years experience in accounting and finance for various small and large corporations including Amazon and Starbucks.

Gayatri Raman

Advisor – Product and Technology
Gayatri is a leader with over 12 years of experience in technology and product development across startups and established organizations. She is a passionate advocate for women’s and LGBTQ issues. She is also a founder of a startup that developed a safety app for women, combining technical skills with commitment to social impact.

Archana Shah

Advisor – Research and User Experience
Veteran engineer turned data scientist turned researcher – where she found her calling. She has led many different projects, portfolios and products to success and is a prominent voice in the UX research community for triangulation.

Abigail Shew

Advisor – Political Adoption
Abbie has always been deeply invested in politics. She has a PhD from the University of Washington in political rhetoric and communication and is a tireless advocate for women to ensure their rights are protected at the institutional, state, and federal level. She is a visiting professor of rhetoric at University of Puget Sound, Tacoma.

Sara Betnel

Advisor – Strategic Communications
Sara is a passionate communications strategist, community connector, and legislative advocate. She has deep experience in grassroots campaigns and empowering women running and serving at all levels, and brings direct experience as a locally elected school board director in Shoreline. She loves living with her intergenerational family and is the sole proprietor of Reveal Communications.

Hayley Talbert

Advisor – Legal and Fundraising
Hayley is an electrical engineer turned intellectual property (IP) lawyer specializing in electrical, software and mechanical technologies. With a background in electrical engineering, Hayley can confidently assist any company, both domestically and internationally, with their IP and patent strategy.