Who We Are

Chair

Karthik Balasubramanian

Dr. Karthik Balasubramanian is broadly interested in real-world optimization, especially as it is applied to base-of-the-pyramid business strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa and voter turnout among traditionally marginalized urban communities in the United States.

Karthik earned a Doctorate of Business Administration from Harvard Business School, where his dissertation focused on the optimization of inventory management for mobile money agents in Tanzania, Kenya, and Zambia.

Over the past 15 years, Karthik has conducted high-impact strategic analytics for the World Food Programme, the American Red Cross, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, corporate clients as a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group, and many political campaigns.

Member

Matthew Gilsbach

Matthew Gilsbach is a long-time advocate for accessibility, inclusion, and equitable design. As a Store Manager with Starbucks, he led the opening of Starbucks’ first U.S. Signing Store and the company’s most accessible store—initiatives that have since shaped inclusive design and training across the organization. He also serves as Vice President of the District of Columbia Association of the Deaf (DCAD), advancing policies and practices that center Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing communities.

Matthew holds a Master of Business Administration from Ball State University, a Master of Science in College Student Development and Counseling from Northeastern University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Gallaudet University. His work bridges business innovation and public service to create barrier-free spaces where all residents can connect and thrive.

Member

Sherin Koshy

Sherin Koshy is a Washington, DC–based enterprise sales strategist with more than 15 years of experience supporting complex organizational and workforce transformations across regulated industries. She is known for her ability to partner with C‑suite leaders—including CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, Chief Data/AI Officers, and CHROs—to align modernization initiatives with organizational readiness, talent strategy, and long‑term operational resilience.

Sherin’s work sits at the intersection of technology, people, and policy. She has led multimillion‑dollar portfolios and helped executive teams navigate challenges ranging from digital modernization and AI adoption to workforce capability building and change management. Her approach blends analytical rigor with human‑centered leadership, enabling her to translate complexity into clear, actionable strategy for senior decision‑makers.

In addition to her role on MAAC, Sherin has served on the DC State Advisory Panel on Special Education, contributed to road‑safety and accessibility initiatives, and held board positions supporting women and children in West Africa. Across all her work, she champions equitable policy and advocates for governance, accountability, and systems designed with equity and accessibility at the center.

Member

Kelly Mack

Kelly Mack is a communications professional, specializing in health issues. She has lived with juvenile onset rheumatoid arthritis since age two, resulting in significant physical disabilities and use of a motorized wheelchair.

In her spare time she writes about disability issues in her newsletter Rolling With It. Kelly is very interested in mobility and how accessible pathways and transportation enable community inclusion for disabled people. You can find Kelly on Instagram @mskellym36, X @MsKellyM, and on LinkedIn.