Rika Iino is the Founder & CEO of SOZO, a contemporary arts agency and incubator at the intersection of social impact, innovation, and culture. As an entrepreneur and creative producer, Rika’s dedication to artists as change agents has shaped global projects. She is deeply engaged in independent artist advocacy and leadership development, serving as a coach, mentor, and speaker at institutions like Stanford, Yale, and UC Berkeley. Rika co-created the systemic allyship program HEALING FORWARD™ with Marc Bamuthi Joseph and co-chairs Building Ethical and Equitable Partnerships, a national initiative on equitable artist contracting. In 2021, she became the first woman of color to receive the Patrick Hayes Award for transformative leadership from the International Society for the Performing Arts. Her accolades also include the 2023 Mentoring Award from Western Arts Alliance and the CALI Catalyst Award from the Center for Cultural Innovation, recognizing her extraordinary efforts in fostering inclusion and equity in the cultural sector. In 2024 she earned a certification in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School. She currently leads the SOZO Fellowship, a groundbreaking program on artist entrepreneurship and sustainability. Learn more at sozomedia.com.

Likes to talk to artists about: Sustainability. Entrepreneurship. Visioning. Positioning. Branding. Strategies.