We’re deeply grateful to every thought leader who applied to the credVoices program. The depth, passion, and originality of your work continue to inspire our mission. With that, we’re thrilled to introduce our 2026 credVoices speaker and recognize our three finalists, whose voices continue to make a meaningful impact across their industries and our culture at large.
Meet our 2026 credVoices speaker
Founder & CEO
Ahriana Edwards is the Founder & CEO of Vaila Shoes, a corporate-inspired footwear company for women with extended shoe sizes (9-14). In 2022, Ahriana launched Vaila Shoes after being driven by her passion for women empowerment and extended-size equality in the footwear industry. Her determination to have the Vaila brand stand for inclusivity and honoring working women landed her in features such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, Nasdaq, Teen Vogue, and BET (to name a few). Her shoes have been seen in major runway and TV outlets, and worn by WNBA players like Nneka Ogwumike.
In just under 2 years of business, she launched her company into Macy's and quickly became recognized in 2023 on the “Forbes 30 Under 30: Atlanta List”, "Most Brilliant Ideas List", and crowned as "Atlanta's Scrappiest Startup". At her core, Ahriana’s on a mission to empower the steps of every working woman and help them look and feel good while doing it.
We can’t wait to help her further amplify her message!
Meet our 2026 credVoices finalists
Founder & CEO
Elizabeth Brunner is an author, Founder & CEO with a mission to challenge outdated norms and make room for individuality through both fashion and words. Her company, StereoType Kids, is a gender-inclusive clothing brand inspired by her girl/boy twins. Her designs blend traditionally masculine and feminine styles into a modern approach to dressing that encourage kids to be their full selves.
In 2025, Elizabeth released her debut book, Me Is All I Want To Be, which tells the story of Stereo, a skateboard-riding snake who dreams of buying the perfect T-shirt, even without arms. It’s a heartfelt adventure in self-acceptance and determination that echoes the mission of her brand: You don’t have to fit in to belong. She’s committed to building a future where kids and adults alike feel seen, celebrated, and free to express who they truly are.
Founder
Jerrica Long is the Founder of Greenlight Yourself, a platform to help mid-career creatives build audiences and monetize their ideas. She has built her career at the intersection of creators, brands, and culture, and has led multimillion-dollar creator campaigns for global companies like Netflix, Lionsgate, and DreamWorks. Today, she doesn't just create campaigns, but builds ecosystems that spark conversation, loyalty, and long-term impact. She helps brands understand fandom and creators, and positions themselves for long-term success.
Director of Operations
Caitlin Ner is the Director of Operations at PsyMed Ventures and a first-generation Filipina American leading a new category of investing focused on mental and brain health startups. She brings together a deep commitment to funding the next generation of companies transforming how mental and brain health are understood and treated, with a strong academic foundation in Economics and Computer Science from Harvard and ongoing graduate studies in Applied Neuroscience at King’s College London. Her technical and operating experience—enhanced by her experience as a Filipina American woman navigating the male-dominated worlds of venture capital and startups—gives her a distinct perspective on the ways mental and brain illnesses can be improved.
Interested in working with cred or being a part of a future iteration of credVoices? Get in touch!
