Meet Our Team
Talem Consulting is a national, full-service, female-owned firm founded in 2011, specializing in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). We equip mission-driven organizations with the tools to build capacity, fundraise effectively, and dismantle systems of inequity.
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Led by Rachel Branaman and supported by a team of associates with deep subject matter expertise and lived experience across diverse sectors and communities, Talem brings an intersectional, equity-based framework to every engagement—ensuring that those most impacted are at the center of the work.
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We bring extensive experience working with organizations serving communities of color, immigrants, refugees, religious minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, and other historically marginalized groups. Our work across movements, cultures, and causes allows us to challenge traditional philanthropic narratives and remain responsive and adaptable to the needs of the communities we serve.
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In 2023, Talem was named Top Interim Service Provider by ManageHR Magazine for our leadership in leveling the playing field for BIPOC-led organizations. ​
Founder & Principal Consultant
Rachel Branaman, MNM
Rachel (she/her) is a civil rights advocate, speaker, and nonprofit leader who partners with organizations to build collective power, secure resources, and dismantle systems of oppression. Using an intersectional and equity-based framework, she centers the leadership and lived experiences of the communities most impacted by injustice. Rachel is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, accessible healthcare, bodily autonomy, gender diversity, and racial equality in nonprofit and philanthropic spaces.
As the founder of Talem Consulting, a national, woman-owned firm, Rachel uses her 20+ years of experience to advise organizations on culturally responsive, justice-centered, and community-driven fundraising, advocacy, and operational management. She served as executive director for a national LGBTQ+ civil rights organization and in interim or consulting roles with prominent national organizations in women’s health, healthcare access, Muslim civil rights, and educational equity. She is a seasoned leader in crisis and change management, successfully guiding organizations to financial stability and growth.
A respected writer and speaker, Rachel is the author of the book The Power of Community: A Practical Guide to Navigating Power Dynamics for Collective Good. She has also authored scholarly articles and nonprofit guides on gender and LGBTQ+ inclusion, culturally responsive fundraising, and board inclusion practices. Her expertise has been featured on podcasts, in national press, and through speaking engagements with a wide range of nonprofit, corporate, and government agencies.
Rachel earned a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Regis University and is an alumna of Austin College and Leadership Texas. Her national service includes serving as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Namibia from 2009-2011. She currently serves as Vice Chair on the board of the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU). Previously, she served on the boards of the Association of Philanthropic Counsel (APC), Journey of Hope Grief Support Center, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington DC (RPCV/W), and as a mayoral appointee to the Takoma Park Grants Review Committee.
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Download Rachel's resume or connect with her on LinkedIn.
Consultant
Saadia Ahmed
Saadia Ahmed (She / Her) is a visionary thought leader based in Dallas/Fort Worth with a profound commitment to serving her community. A graduate of Austin College with a degree in International Studies, she is a sought-after expert in youth development, women’s empowerment, and special needs advocacy. Saadia is the founder and advisor of numerous nonprofit and community initiatives, including Strong Muslimah, Young Muslimah, Gem Advisers Mentorship Program, Define 360, Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, and Yaqeen Institute.
Her impactful work in the advocacy field includes key roles with South Asians for Obama, Wendy Davis for Texas Governor, and Bangladeshi Americans for Biden-National Council. Saadia’s expertise spans youth development, community building, event planning, social media optimization, and annual fund development.
Saadia currently serves on the boards of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 200 Muslim Women Who Care, Faith in Texas, Women Organizing Women Democrats, and American Muslim Professionals of Dallas. In her local community, Saadia serves on the City of Frisco Urban Forestry Board and Frisco Independent School District Special Needs Advisory Committee.
In recognition of her significant contributions, she has been honored with the "Trailblazer" award by the Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, the "Community Leader of the Year" award by CAIR Dallas/Fort Worth, and was the inaugural recipient of Radio Azad's "Unsung Hero" recognition.
Fluent in English and Bengali, Saadia also has professional working proficiency in Hindi, Urdu, and French. She was a SHIFT fellow with GLEAN Network and is currently an Abrahamic Traditions Fellow and chaplaincy student at Chicago Theological Seminary.