Hema Look on What’s my why?

Hema Look, Vice President of People Business Partners (PBPs), joined Nutanix back in 2016. Hema works with a global team of trusted advisors who align the functional talent strategies to the business strategies.  The team of People Business Partners  works with senior leadership to provide data-driven insights and expertise on their organizational and talent matters.

We sat down with Hema recently to discuss her cause of choice, the Cops Care Cancer Foundation (CCCF), a nonprofit organization based in San Jose, CA:

Hema, tell us about CCCF and what they do?

CCCF is a volunteer run non profit foundation that raises money for children who are stricken with cancer.  The foundation was founded by Brian Simuro, who is now a retired San Jose Police Officer that experienced childhood cancer.

Year round fundraising efforts all lead up to the annual Fantasy Flight event.  CCCF transforms the San Jose Police airport hangar into a Winter Wonderland and creates a fun and safe space for families to enjoy a day without disease.  CCCF calls these honored guests our VIPs.

CCCF partners with the local law enforcement and fire safety agencies to create a caravan of emergency vehicles that transport the VIPs to the event.   Their special guest, Santa, arrives mid afternoon via helicopter and distributes gifts to the VIPs and their siblings from their own wish list.

Is there a special connection you feel to this/one of these causes?

Giving back has always been my passion.  I was asked to join a good friend in volunteering with this foundation almost 10 years ago.  I was so touched by the experience that I decided to return to volunteer for their annual signature event (Fantasy Flight) and eventually joined their advisory team, and now serve as a Director on their Board.

What activities do you do when you volunteer?

In addition to fundraising, I am also the volunteer coordinator for Fantasy Flight.  This involves recruiting volunteers to help set up and decorate the hangar as well as volunteer for the event day.  We are very fortunate to have loyal and returning volunteers.  Finding 100+ volunteers is no easy task!

Share with us about what it means to be on the board of a charitable organization.

The feeling of making a difference and impact is my biggest driver.  Seeing and feeling the VIP’s happiness through their smiles and brightness in their eyes are priceless.  Not all VIPs (kids and families) are fortunate enough to make it to a future event so we do all that we can to make this a memorable experience for each and every one of them.  We truly want them to experience a magical day without disease.

Nutanix Spark offers our thanks to Hema for sharing her “why”.

To learn more about our Nutanix Spark programs, visit the Nutanix Corporate Social Responsibility page.