We are thrilled to announce that Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles has welcomed Aparna Pande as its new President and CEO! 

As a former executive at Fortune 500 companies and with experience launching two successful startups, Aparna has a remarkable track record of transformative leadership and a lifelong dedication to brightening the lives of children and families. At Disney and Mattel she managed multi-million-dollar P&Ls and high-performing teams, driving revenue and innovation.  As an entrepreneur, she founded the subscription-based, educational business Kidstir from the ground up, successfully fundraising, building a team, partnering with national brands and creating new products. The company was acquired in 2021. 

Beyond her professional endeavors, Aparna spends time mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs for TechStars and has taught undergraduates at USC’s Marshall School of Business, where she is currently an Expert-in-Residence. She serves on the advisory board of TeenTix LA, a local youth arts organization. She volunteers at LACMA and with the grief support nonprofit OurHouse, and has previously been active with Make-A-Wish Connecticut and Greater Los Angeles. Aparna is happily married and is involved at her twin teenagers’ schools. She spends her free time hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains and open water swimming in the Pacific Ocean.  

We are confident that Aparna’s leadership will drive continued growth within the LA community. Aparna will work to expand the reach of the organization, increasing philanthropic support, optimizing operations and ultimately granting more wishes and bringing joy to more families throughout Los Angeles County.  

“As a proud volunteer at Make-A-Wish, I have witnessed firsthand the joy that a single wish can bring to a child, and how that experience can transform and uplift an entire family – even an entire community. Giving hope to our community is essential in our beloved city. Children are continuing to be diagnosed with critical illnesses daily and we must come together to make even more wishes come true” shared Aparna.