Get to know the Dreamers
CoDream is more than just a space—it’s a movement. A hub where innovators, creators, and visionaries come together to build, experiment, and bring bold ideas to life. Whether crafting physical spaces, developing cutting-edge tech, or sharing powerful stories, CoDream is where passion meets purpose.
At the heart of it all are the people who make it happen. Meet the dreamers behind CoDream: Aza, Anna, and Grandpaw—each bringing their own energy, skills, and wisdom to shape this ever-evolving community.
Aza Steel
I have been creating businesses and philanthropic projects since childhood.
Experience
Founder / CEO @ GoGuardian
I founded GoGuardian and grew it to about 80 employees. Twas an absolute blast (especially the first 2 years or so). We worked really friggen hard, played soccer after work, and I wore board shorts underneath my business casual attire for impromptu surfing. We raised $5m that we never ended up spending, because the business worked! GoGuardian was last valued at over $1B. Go team go!
Software engineer intern @ Yahoo!
Many moons ago I went to a career fair at UCLA and ended up getting an internship at Yahoo as a front end software engineer. I was a sociology major, but had picked up coding as a part some side projects.
Anna Fernandez
Anna is a traveller, a musician, teacher and a fearless human. She loves inspiring people to find their voice. She is the mom of CoDream, and leads the arts-centered cohorts, making sure that guests, volunteers and interns are comfy and not working too hard.
Experience
The Voice, Season 26
She crushed it. Go watch.
Recording artist as Beya
Grandpaw
Grandpaw is CoDream's official pup. He loves long walks on the beach, cuddles with his favorite volunteers, and a good butt scratch.
Skills
Advanced Chicken Hunter
Grandpaw will welcome you home like you’ve been gone for 10 years (even if it was 10 minutes)
Passionate Greeter
A true professional in the art of the hunt, this highly skilled operative not only secures the target with precision but also handles post-mission cleanup like a seasoned pro. Expert in silent takedowns, rapid burial techniques, and evidence disposal, ensuring zero traces (except maybe a suspiciously full belly). The perfect blend of stealth, speed, and suspiciously good manners.
Snack Acquisition Specialist
Masters the art of begging with sad eyes and strategic paw placement
Selective Listener
Responds instantly to the sound of a treat bag but mysteriously “forgets” commands.
Specializes in impromptu howling concerts at the most inconvenient hours.
Midnight Singer
Mentors
One of the sweetest recognitions this life is that we are apart of a collective. Through a recognition that we have many blind-spots, weaknesses and cracks as humans, we can rise into our potential by surrounding ourselves with people that make us more whole.
Here are some of the people that make me more whole, and are excited to dream alongside!
<3,
Aza
Matt Mochary
Matt is first and foremost a tremendous human that loves laughter, intimacy and self-inquiry.
He also has written a book called the "Great CEO Within" and coached the likes of Sam Altman (Open AI), as well as the CEOs of Reddit, Coinbase, the list goes on.
He lives up the road and plays soccer with us regularly.
Rishabh Aggarwal
Rishabh actually interned for me many moons ago at GoGuardian! Since then we have become great friends. He is a tremendous designer and coder and creator of collaborative spaces..
Rishabh now works at OpenAI. In the past he has worked for Facebook (Meta) and attended UCLA. Go Bruins!
Rishabh loves Kauai and comes out as his schedule allows.
Lane is a leader that now helps other leaders. He created an organization that was voted the Glassdoor "Best Place to Work" as voted by his employees. That is pretty incredible.
He is also a wonderful, curious and caring human. A true elder that we can all look up to.
And he understands how to build tech companies. What a combo!
Lane Rankin
What is the role of a mentor at CoDream?
Mentors are people that we can call on to make sure we don't get too wildly far off track. They may come to various events. Or in the case of Matt, they may come to most of our soccer games. Our mentors also live very busy productive lives outside of CoDream, so don't get too grabby or we will scare them off.