Aniseh Dalju and Mark Spijkers

Aniseh was born in Iran and with her family escaped the war as a young girl, immigrating to Austria before eventually building a new life in California, where she learned the language quickly and attended university. Shaped by these early experiences, she developed a deep belief in the power of education and opportunity. That conviction has guided her personal and professional journey and continues to influence the work she does today. Today, Aniseh is the founder of Onward, a minority-owned and woman-owned travel management company specializing in sports team travel, corporate events, and student and alumni group experiences. Guided by the mantra that travel is one of the greatest forms of education, Onward helps organizations explore the world with purpose and connection. Aniseh is committed to creating pathways for growth, empowerment, and community impact. 

Mark is a Dutch-born design leader with a career dedicated to designing meaningful, human-centered experiences. His curiosity for people and culture took him from the Netherlands around the world before eventually landing in Southern California. Currently with HyperX, he leads global teams across industrial, software, and experience design, guided by a deep belief in accessibility, empowerment, and the transformative power of curiosity. He’s passionate about creating environments where people can thrive, elevating diverse voices, and championing lifelong learning.

Aniseh and Mark started their journey together in the mountains of Nepal and now live in Huntington Beach with their two amazing children: River, a college student, and Darya, a high school student, who both inspire them daily to lead with resilience, purpose, and heart.