Rachel Sumekh

I’m an activist, storyteller, and obsessed with creating impact. 

Before launching my consultancy, I served as CEO and Founder of Swipe Out Hunger. The organization is the leading nonprofit in addressing college student hunger. A few friends and I started it at UCLA in 2010 and since then, it has grown to over 450 universities, serving 5 million nourishing meals. We run campus food pantries and dining meal swipe donation programs.

I believe in feeding people in line for food and shortening the line–– that means changing policy. In 2017 I wrote the Hunger-Free Campus Act, which has passed in 8 states and sent over $100M to fund anti-hunger programs on campus.

I am the way that I am because of my parents. As Iranian Jewish immigrants, they raised me to be resilient, questioning and warm. I work every day to build a community where first-generation women of color can live liberated lives.

Swipe Out Hunger has been recognized by The Obama White House and landed me on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.