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The San Francisco Chapter of the NASPP and the San Francisco Chapter of the Western Pension & Benefits Council,are hosting a joint session:
- Building Trust and Understanding: Educating Private Company Employees on Equity and Beyond
- Nobody puts 'Equity Compensation' in the Corner. Maximizing your Provider Partnerships: Bringing your Benefits Front and Center
Session 1: Building Trust and Understanding: Educating Private Company Employees on Equity and Beyond
Session Description: In this session, we will explore the critical role of effective communication and education in helping private company employees understand the value of their equity compensation. Due to the absence of a public market, equity compensation valuation can be complex in private companies. Education can help bridge these differences, increase participation, and generate excitement among employees, serving as a powerful retention tool. The session will cover best practices for communicating the benefits of equity compensation, opportunities, and strategies for comprehensive employee education programs around major events such as grants, liquidity events, and benefits open enrollment. We will also emphasize the importance of collaboration with service providers to enhance the educational experience, build trust among employees, and ensure they are well-informed about their total compensation packages and the resources that can help them excel in their roles and improve their personal financial wellness.
Session 2: Nobody puts 'Equity Compensation' in the Corner. Maximizing your Provider Partnerships: Bringing your Benefits Front and Center
Session Description: Equity compensation is a powerful, often overlooked tool in driving employee financial wellness and attracting top talent—especially in competitive sectors like tech. This session will explore how equity fits into a holistic benefits strategy, share real-life stories of its transformational impact, and show how issuers can unlock more value by fully leveraging provider partnerships. Walk away with practical insights to elevate your total rewards approach and make equity a standout part of your benefits offering.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES:
Session 1:
Anna Sotnikova, CEP, CFA
Head of Equity | xAI
Anna leads the Equity function at xAI, bringing over 15 years of expertise in equity compensation. She specializes in equity administration, plan design, equity accounting, system implementation, participant education, liquidity events, M&A, and IPO transitions for private venture-backed companies. Anna excels in managing complex equity transactions and developing comprehensive equity programs from the ground up.
With a background in equity consulting, asset servicing and service provider roles, she now drives the design and implementation of a standalone, end-to-end equity function within a single company. Anna is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Certified Equity Professional (CEP).
Geetika Prasad, CEP
Director, Stock Admin & Accounting | Tanium
Geetika currently oversees the global equity program as the Director of Stock Admin & Accounting at Tanium, a leading cybersecurity company. She began her career as an auditor in public accounting and holds CPA and CEP designations. Her experience spans managing global private and public company equity administration, equity taxation and accounting, system implementations, IPOs, acquisitions, liquidity programs, leading employee education initiatives and people management. Beyond her professional achievements, Geetika is an influential voice in the industry and serves on the Client Advisory Board for the CEPI and the Shareworks Private Market as well as a board member of the NASPP - San Francisco Chapter.
Joe Knebel
Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager | Morgan Stanley
[bio]
Session 2:
Ben Ramos, CEP
Director, Strategic Relationships | Charles Schwab &Co.
Ben Ramos brings a unique mix of technical savvy and people-first leadership to the world of equity compensation. Since joining Schwab in 2008, he’s become a driving force behind strategic partnerships that help employees truly unlock the power of their equity. As Director of Strategic Relationships, Ben champions financial fitness programs that don’t just check the box - they make a difference.
Before stepping into his current role, Ben built his career from the ground up at Schwab, serving as a Stock Plan Administrator, Client Service Manager, and Director of Relationship Management. He’s led teams, managed marquee clients, and helped shape what best-in-class service looks like in the equity space. You might’ve caught him speaking at GEO or NASPP - he’s no stranger to the industry circuit.
Ben started his career in business development and client support roles at John Deere, Apollo Group, and Mind Streams, before shifting into the equity world. He holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Cornell (yes, rockets), an MBA in Global Management from the University of Phoenix and earned his CEP designation from Santa Clara University. He also holds FINRA Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses.
At his core, Ben is all about building connections - with clients, with partners, and with purpose.
Tony Diaz, CEP
Sr Director of Equity & Global Payroll | Pinterest
Tony has been in the equity & global payroll industry for 25+ years. Tony has worked at companies such as Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Pandora, Box, Snap and now going on 7 years at Pinterest. An accountant by trade and CEP, Tony has been able to bridge stock admin, payroll, and accounting to create a world in-class processes making all his internal and external auditors love him.
With a record four IPOs under his belt, Tony has played a vital role in leading his team and business partners through the IPO, lockup, and public company process. Outside work Tony is a loving father, gym enthusiast, MMA enthusiast and gamer!
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