I help organizations incorporate and understand neuroscience research to help them improve company culture, interpersonal relationships and the ability to innovate.
ABOUT ME
My graduate degree from New York University, and fieldwork at the NYU Phelps Lab for Neuroscience Research, NYU Institute for Prevention Science - Child Study Center, and Yeshiva University's Albert Einstein College of Medicine focused on the cross-section of neuroscience, emotion regulation, trust and empathy. For my thesis, I conducted original research on Empathy and Pro-social Behavior this research won third place at the annual Graduate Research Conference in 2010.
I was also mentored by Dr. Zoran Josipovic, whose work on mindfulness and meditation inspired me to spend several months at various monasteries and learn from meditation teachers from India, Africa and Vietnam.
What I have learned from my many years with organizations, schools, businesses and researchers from such diverse communities, cultures and backgrounds is that when we invest in the well-being of our mind-brain-body system, we increase our chances of discovering our highest potential.
ABOUT MY WORK
The content on this site comes from a combination of over a decade of counseling and teaching in schools and organizations across the US, Canada, Europe, Latin America and Africa, with insights gained from my graduate research and training in monasteries with meditation and mindfulness teachers from Africa, the US, Vietnam and India. For the past several years, I have offered neuroscience workshops and consulting to parents, teachers, universities and businesses such as Google, HPI Design School in Berlin, Illinois State University, Northwestern University, Chicago Teachers Union, City Colleges of Chicago, as well as nonprofits and school districts throughout the US, Europe, Australia and Canada.
One of my latest talks was at the Symposium on Neuroscience and Physiological Perspectives on Design Thinking and Creativity hosted by Stanford University and the Hasso Plattner Institute for Design in Berlin. The theme was 'Embodied Creativity and Cognition'.
THE MODEL
Workshops include interactive exercises using everyday objects and personal reflection to help participants move through a three-step process (LEARN, INTERNALIZE, TEACH) that helps them understand and apply the science behind growth mindset and social emotional intelligence. This process sparks new levels of passion for learning and a sense of purpose that fuels perseverance through challenges and willingness to risk failure.
Clients then get neuroscience-informed strategies and resources on how to catalyze mindset and perception shifts within their teams, organizations and communities in order to cultivate innovative, deep learning and contribution from all members.
"[...]inducing a growth mindset by teaching neuroplasticity has an overall positive effect on motivation, achievement, and brain activity"
- Trends in Neuroscience and Education, Volume 12, September 2018
CURRENT AND PAST CLIENTS
Northwestern University, School of Education and Social Policy
Google
Northeastern University, Chicago
Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking, Berlin
City Colleges of Chicago
Illinois State University, Department of Education
University of California San Diego, School of Medicine
Tutoring Chicago (formerly Cabrini Green Tutoring)
EHOVE Career Training, Ohio
Blue Valley School District, Missouri
Horizon Science Academy, Chicago
Christopher House Chicago
Oak Park String Academy
Suzuki Music Association
Empowerment through Education and Exposure, Chicago
Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth, Canada
Alberta Children's Hospital, Canada
Independence School District, Missouri