Transforming survival into empowerment and empowerment into impact.
Our Name
The name carries both intimacy and resilience.
Em is an endearing Vietnamese word for “younger sibling” or “the more vulnerable one” in a relationship - someone who deserves care, protection, and guidance. Sen means lotus, Vietnam’s national flower, which symbolizes beauty and strength that rise from adversity, blossoming from the mud.
Together, Emsen House embodies a mission to provide a safe and nurturing place where those facing vulnerability are not only protected but also supported to flourish. It is more than a shelter - it is a sanctuary that provides stability, dignity, and the foundation for growth, helping survivors of gender-based violence reclaim dignity, build resilience, and pursue futures defined by strength, not circumstance.
Our Mission
We are a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to reshaping the future of survivor recovery. Our mission is to empower those affected by gender-based violence - including domestic abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking - to reclaim their identities, pursue bold aspirations, and build futures defined by strength, not circumstance.
At the heart of this mission lies one of the greatest barriers to recovery: financial independence. We bridge the gap between survivors, vocational training and career placement. Integrated vocational training programs and social enterprises - cafés, beauty salons, thrift shops…- create economic engines that not only fund our mission but also provide survivors with pathways to long-term recovery. By directly participating in these ventures, survivors gain skills, confidence, and opportunities to rebuild their lives. It is our deepest belief that not only do these survivors have the capability to rise above their circumstances, but also they embody the power to drive social progress.
Our Vision
Partnerships multiply our impact. We partner with providers to offer vocational training at our locations, and other mission-aligned organizations to expand our capacity to serve and operate these models at scale. We take pride in evolving and strengthening our partnerships to diversify revenue streams and deepen our shared vision.
But our ambition extends beyond building financial independence for survivors. In the long run, we aim to address housing insecurity, another profound barrier to a long-term sustainable recovery. Our development model reimagines transitional housing through a humane approach to design where the focus is on transforming a seemingly earthy place into a sanctuary for healing with dignity. By uniting housing, vocational training, and social enterprise, we stand precisely at the intersection where recovery becomes transformation.
Join us in our mission and together, we can build a platform for systemic change - an ecosystem that cultivates resilience, stability and upward mobility for generations to come.
Our Founder & CEO
Fiona Le, RA, DBIA, MBA
Fiona Le is the founder and CEO of Emsen House, a social-impact organization transforming survivor recovery through vocational training, trauma-informed design, and community-rooted social enterprises.
With over 15 years of experience leading multidisciplinary teams across the United States, Singapore, and Vietnam, Fiona brings a rare blend of technical rigor, interpersonal compassion, and global perspective to her work. Her career in design and construction has shaped her into a resilient, solutions-driven leader—one who navigates conflict and complexity with clarity, empathy, and unwavering perseverance.
Fiona’s international background allows her to see people for who they truly are, valuing their stories, strengths, and identities across cultures. This human-centered approach is at the core of Emsen House’s mission: creating dignified, empowering recovery pathways for survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Since 2022, Fiona has been volunteering as a certified domestic-violence counselor with WOMAN Inc., deepening her commitment to compassionate, client-centered support. Her lived dedication—to healing, empowerment, and dignity—shapes Emsen House’s holistic model and guides its vision for long-term change.
Our Board of Directors
Thomas Silva, FAAR, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP - Architectural Design Advisor
Thomas Silva, is a licensed architect with more than four decades of experience leading complex, design-focused projects across the United States and abroad. Currently Project Director, Design at Webcor Builders, he specializes in aligning architectural vision with cost, schedule, and constructibility from concept through completion. His career has spanned healthcare, higher education, cultural, and research facilities, including the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, the UC Merced campus expansion, and advanced research laboratories at Stanford and UC campuses. Previously, he founded Thomas Silva Architects, a San Francisco practice centered on sustainable and institutional design, and has collaborated with renowned international firms such as Herzog & de Meuron and Perkins & Will. A Rome Prize Fellow and recipient of the Graham Foundation Grant, he brings a deep commitment to design excellence and social responsibility. His expertise in human-centered, resilient design supports Em Sen House’s mission to create spaces that foster safety, dignity, and renewal for those rebuilding their lives after trauma.
He serves on the Board of Directors, advising on design standards, sustainability, and the creation of restorative environments for survivors.
Charles Li - Federal Grants Advisor
Charles has served as a Senior Manager at the Port of Los Angeles for the past six years in the Financial Planning and Analysis Division. During his tenure, he built the Port’s first Line of Business Profit and Loss statement, structured the Port’s second-highest guaranteed revenue lease, and led the buildout of data analytics capabilities to support internal decision-making. In addition to the Port, he has worked in the City's Chief Administrative Office. His extensive experience in the public sector and deep understanding of government regulations will support Emsen House in advancing its mission. Before joining the public sector, Charles worked in Corporate Finance and Strategy at Pacific Life, a Fortune 500 life insurance company, and began his career as an analyst at The TCW Group, a boutique investment manager.
Noelle Payomo - Strategic Operations Advisor
Noelle Payomo is the Chief Operating Officer of Kidango, one of California’s largest early childhood education nonprofits, where she oversees strategic operations, systems design, and large-scale initiatives that serve thousands of children and families every day. Under her leadership, Kidango has expanded its operating capacity and strengthened its infrastructure to advance equitable access to quality early learning and family supports.
A values-driven leader and current Executive MBA candidate at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Noelle brings deep experience in scaling mission-driven organizations with a focus on operational excellence, innovation, and social impact. Her work bridges strategy and compassion, designing systems that not only perform efficiently but also honor the dignity and potential of every individual served.
As a member of the Board of Directors for Emsen House, Noelle supports strategy and operations, helping to build sustainable models for transitional housing development that integrates vocational training and business models to empower survivors of gender-based violence. She is especially passionate about integrating wraparound supports that promote long-term stability and healing for families rebuilding their lives.