Claire Wathen

Skoll Foundation

Connect with Claire Wathen on social media :

As Director, Network & Partnerships, Claire cultivates the global Skoll network of social entrepreneurs and innovators, funders, private, and public sector leaders. Animated by the power of connection, Claire works with partners across systems to help unlock resources and bridge ecosystems. To intentionally bring new voices into the network, Claire leads network engagement for the Skoll World Forum and supports other Skoll convenings. She launched and now oversees the Skoll World Forum Fellowship and TEDx Skoll Conversations programs.

Prior to Skoll, Claire managed the San Diego Zoo’s internal innovation lab under the CFO. She worked with corporate R&D teams, led organizational experiments, hosted tech community events, and prototyped field conservation and learning tools. An alum of Seth Godin’s altMBA and John Paul the Great Catholic University, she advises impact organizations on network building and growth strategies.

Dr. Julia Kim

Program Director, Gross National Happiness Centre Bhutan

Dr. Julia Kim is the Program Director of the Gross National Happiness Centre Bhutan. She joined the GNH Centre after serving as a member of the International Expert Working Group for a New Development Paradigm, convened by the Royal Government of Bhutan. Prior to living in Bhutan, Julia worked as a physician and HIV researcher in Africa and Asia, before serving with the United Nations (UNDP and UNICEF) in New York. She brings a background in leadership development, research, and policy in the fields of wellbeing economics, global health, and sustainable development, and is an Executive Committee member of the Club of Rome, and an associate of the Presencing Institute – a global network that views awareness-based systems change as a core capacity for 21st-century innovation and leadership

Kyla Carlsen

Co.act Detroit

Detroit,
Michigan

In her role as the Senior Director of Program Strategy & Innovation, Kyla oversees the co-creation of capacity building programs and community-centered grant-making for social change organizations with an emphasis on equity and access, network building and cross-sector collaboration.

Kyla is Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified and has experience leading and managing teams, facilitating design thinking sessions to develop innovative approaches to solve problems, program strategy and implementation, project management, fund development and collaborating with stakeholders to scale impact. She previously served as Senior Operations and Financial Manager for the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, overseeing small business programs with a combined annual budget of $8mm and supporting commercial corridor development, increasing resident access to goods and services, and economic mobility.

Kyla has a background in finance, facilitating access to capital, capital readiness, and closing the racial funding gap for entrepreneurs and social impact organizations. She is passionate about innovating alternative social and economic investment strategies to achieve more equitable outcomes.

Kyla is an alumnus of the Detroit Global Shapers hub, an initiative of the World Economic Forum that connects a network of young leaders driving dialogue, action and change in their communities. She enjoys traveling, supporting small businesses, spending time with her ten year old pitbull, wine and cooking.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

Feeling whole inside and out (mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually), pouring from a full cup, listening to and prioritizing what my mind body and spirit need.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Care.

Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing?

Meditation, journaling, gratitude, exercise, walking, laughing, spending time with people I love and my dog, enjoying sunshine or nature, writing, doing things that bring me joy, laughter and make me smile.

Why is it important that we prioritize individual, organizational and societal wellbeing?

We can’t heal our communities until we heal ourselves. Many of the social issues our organizations work to address – poverty, hunger, racial and social inequity, education and youth development – are rooted in system issues that require the collective healing of ourselves and our communities. Until this healing process happens at scale, we will continue to address these societal challenges reactively instead of actually eradicating them, and burning ourselves out while doing so.
Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or articles that you believe support, promote or educate on wellbeing and related themes?

Coact has a wealth of wellbeing resources and webinars in our resource library, we are also launching a Wellbeing Toolkit. Personally I’ve used Beth Kanter’s resources, and Rachel Hollis’s podcast and practices to create my own wellbeing rituals.

Connect with Kyla Carlsen on social media :

Co.act Detroit

Martin Kirchner

Pioneers of Change (Austria)

Cohousing Pomali,
Lower Austria

Designing and leading educational programs for Changemakers since 2010, producing the yearly Pioneers of Change Online Summit with > 100.000 participants since 2017, director of the NGO “Pioneers of Change” which integrates inner work and outer action, founder of Cohousing-Community “Pomali” where he lives happily with 30 other families with his wife and 3 wonderful kids, originally a software engineer and climate activist

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

The foundation for contributing to “the more beautiful world” in the outside.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Interbeing

Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing?

Yes, long nature walks, meditation and yoga with breathing exercise, eating well, cultivating friendships.

Why is it important that we prioritize individual, organizational and societal wellbeing?

To not repeat old patterns.
Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or articles that you believe support, promote or educate on wellbeing and related themes?

The book “The Choice” from Dr. Edit Eva Eger (Auschwitz survivor)

Connect with Martin Kirchner on social media :

Pioneers of Change

Charnae Sanders

Co.act Detroit

Detroit, Michigan,
United States of America

With a passion for community and a heart for service, Charnae Sanders experiences great joy in finding meaningful ways to connect with others. As Program Manager at Co.act Detroit, Charnae plays a vital role in shaping Co.act’s programming, including the Nonprofit Wellbeing Series, special events, workshops, and more. She is also the talented and thoughtful host of Co.act Detroit’s Natural Collisions podcast.

A native Detroiter, Charnae’s desire for building up her community and bringing diverse and underrepresented voices and thoughts to the table motivates her daily. She loves to curate unique and unforgettable experiences through programs that equip and empower others with knowledge and resources.

With a deep love and interest for self and community care, she strives to find a diversity of ways changemakers can tend to their wellbeing holistically. Through the Nonprofit Wellbeing Series, she also explores how nonprofit leaders can activate a culture of wellbeing within their organizations. She is a contributor to the Rest and Liberation Initiative, created in partnership with Co.act and other intermediary partners in Southeast Michigan to support cultures of rest and liberation of BIPOC professionals in our sector.

Charnae serves on the board of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Detroit, a local chapter that promotes the growth, learning, and development of young nonprofit professionals. She is a current member of The Social Innovation Forum’s Community Organizations Reimagining Ecosystem (CORE) cohort, a new leadership initiative focused on place-based work and social change.

She is also a former alum of the prestigious, Challenge Detroit fellowship program where she worked among small teams to bring social impact projects to life in collaboration with local nonprofit partners. In the past, she participated as a cohort member of The Black Healing Justice Project, created in partnership with Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) and The Kresge Foundation.

Prior to coming to Co.act Detroit, she served as the Public Programs Coordinator at the Detroit Historical Society. She is a proud alum of Central Michigan University with a background in journalism. Charnae is a published writer and poet with work that has been published in the Wall Street Journal and Detroit Free Press among others. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, traveling, dancing the night away at concerts and exploring the city she calls home.

– What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

To me, inner wellbeing means tending to our many layers—physical health, mental health, emotional health, spiritual health, and so on—in a way that honors our humanity and capacity.

– How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Birthright
– Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing?

My go-to practices include prayer, breathwork, and going on walks. My morning routine usually consists of stretching and participating in a guided meditation followed by setting my intentions for the day and affirming myself of my value. Throughout the day, I think it’s important to take a pause to check-in with yourself. So, I’ll occasionally step away from my desk and take a sacred pause to do a body scan meditation and acknowledge how I’m feeling. I also love to create a cozy environment in the evening where I burn candles while reading or listening to music and journaling.

– Why is it important that we prioritise individual and collective wellbeing?

We must prioritize our individual, organizational, and societal wellbeing to fully thrive and experience the fullness of life. When we recognize how interrelated each of these various levels are and collectively prioritize them, we can clear a more luminous path for future generations on what it means to truly love and care for one another.

– Do you have any favourite books, podcasts, or articles that you believe support, promote, or educate on wellbeing and related themes? 

I am a big fan of “The Daily Shine,” “GirlTrek’s Black History Bootcamp,” “This Morning Walk” and “The Hey Girl” podcasts. I love the books: “After the Rain: Gentle Reminders for Healing, Courage, and Self-Love” by Alex Elle, “Vibrate Higher Daily: Live Your Power” by Lalah Delia, and “The Self-Care Year: Reflect and Seasonal Rituals” by Alison Davies. I am currently reading, “Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto” by Tricia Hersey, which is great!

Connect with Charnae Sanders on social media :

Personal Website
Co.act Detroit

Sharon Salzberg

Meditation Teacher and Author

Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of twelve books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, now in its second edition, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Her forthcoming release, Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom, is set for release in April of 2023 from Flatiron Books. Her podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed six million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond. www.sharonsalzberg.com

Connect with Sharon Salzberg on social media :

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Parker J. Palmer

Writer, speaker, activist, and Quaker elder

Parker J. Palmer is a world-renowned writer, speaker, activist, and Quaker elder who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality, and social change. Parker holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, as well as thirteen honorary doctorates, two Distinguished Achievement Awards from the National Educational Press Association, and an Award of Excellence from the Associated Church Press. Founder of the Center for Courage & Renewal, he has reached millions worldwide through his ten books, including Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, A Hidden Wholeness, On the Brink of Everything, and Healing the Heart of Democracy.

Connect with Parker J. Palmer on social media :

Ana Janošev

Social Impact Award

Berlin,
Germany

Ana Janosev, in her role as the Managing Director, is leading Social Impact Award, one of the world’s largest communities of early-stage social entrepreneurs under 30, active in Europe, Africa and Asia. Ana is committed to build capacity among early-stage entrepreneurs and foster cross-sector dialogues on the topic of social entrepreneurship. Based in Vienna, Austria, she is leading a diverse team of 100+ SIA team members and is overseeing the community growth and strategic development. Moreover, Ana is an experienced workshop and event facilitator, trained in design thinking and organizational development. She enjoys designing events which bring people together and is curious about how people connect in different settings. Ana is a frequent speaker and moderator at events and conferences with a focus on social entrepreneurship, social innovation, and youth advocacy. Before she joined Social Impact Award in 2018, Ana was a Program and Partnerships Manager at Razlivalište (Serbia), coordinating Social Impact Award Serbia and other youth programs, with a strong focus on fundraising. Ana holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs. She received two scholarships from the U.S. Department of State for education in the U.S. In 2022, Ana was received a recognition as Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise by Euclid Network.

– What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

Being content from within with the life you have, finding spaces to engage and re-connect with yourself and your purpose.

– Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing?

Exercise, long walks, reading

Connect with Ana Janošev on social media :

Social Impact Award

Joana Breidenbach

betterplace.org

Berlin,
Germany

Joana holds a PhD in cultural anthropology, is a social entrepreneur and author of numerous books. She is co-founder of betterplace.org and founder of the betterplace lab. Over the last 8 years, she has experimented with distributed leadership and radical self-organisation and is deeply interested in the inner competencies needed for the current paradigm shift. As an advisor and investor, she supports many digital-social innovations, such as the ReDi School, DeepL or The Next We.

– What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

To balance my basic needs between belonging and becoming and to be able to hold the inevitable inner tensions that arise in life.

– How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Selfcontact
– Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing?

Meditation, self-reflections, sharings

– Why is it important that we prioritise individual and collective wellbeing?

Because the deep crisis we find ourselves in – individually, as societies and nature – can only be transcended if we include more of reality, especially the subjective, inner side of the world.

– Do you have any favourite books, podcasts, or articles that you believe support, promote, or educate on wellbeing and related themes? 

My own podcast , Iain McGilchrist: https://channelmcgilchrist.com/and free Wellbeing online courses by betterplace lab.

Connect with Joana Breidenbach on social media :

Personal Website
New Work needs Inner Work's Instagram

Reggie Hubbard

Teacher, Activist, Strategist, and Organizer

Severn, MD,
United States

Reggie is the founder/chief serving officer of Active Peace LLC. His yogic and meditative practices have served as a sanctuary of peace and perspective while navigating the stresses of being a black man in the world and serving in pressure-filled jobs at the height of US politics. His practices have also helped him navigate complicated emotions (anger, grief, disappointment) to find and nurture peace of mind and ease of spirit, which is why he now seeks to share them widely for the wellbeing of all. Reggie has taught Members of Congress, Congressional Staff, leading progressive organizations, and individuals from all walks of life – simple tools for managing stress and bringing peace to mind body, and spirit.

In addition to his yoga teaching practice, Reggie has held many senior strategic and logistical roles across a variety of fields, ranging from global marketing, digital and community organizing, government relations, and international education to Presidential campaigning. He is a featured speaker on political strategy, new consciousness, wellbeing and social justice, and civic engagement for leading publications, podcasts, and platforms including Be Here Now Network, The Hill, Mind and Life Institute, SoundsTrue Foundation, Upaya Zen Center, Wanderlust, the Wellbeing Project, Summit, Yoga Alliance, and Yoga Journal.

Reggie’s life work sits at the intersection of bringing more peace and balance to activists; guiding the wellness community toward being more engaged, concerned citizens; enhancing the well-being of all walks of life; and, shifting the world toward more justice for all. Through Active Peace LLC, he teaches and advises all walks of life to enhance well-being as a foundation rather than an afterthought, shifting culture and improving personal and professional outcomes.

In addition to advanced training in yoga and meditation, Reggie received a B.A. in philosophy from Yale University and an MBA in international strategy from the Vlerick Business School in Belgium.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

Inner wellbeing is the wellspring from which creativity, passion, purpose, clarity, health and justice flow from. If we hope for peace, love, grace, joy and justice in the world and do not nourish our inner-wellbeing to flourish, it will never happen. Conversely, the more we provide for and fortify our inner wellbeing, the deeper our impact in the world.

In my personal life, as I have made inner wellbeing sacrosanct and foundational, it has transformed my impact as an activist and in service to the healing and wellbeing of others.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Vibrancy.

Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing?

Every evening and morning I play a sound bowl to make soothe my mind in preparation for sleep and to set the tone for the remainder of the day.

Why is it important that we prioritize individual, organizational and societal wellbeing?

As mentioned above, if we hope for peace, love, grace, joy and justice in the world and do not nourish our inner-wellbeing to flourish, it will never happen. Conversely, the more we provide for and fortify our inner wellbeing, the deeper our impact in the world.

Remembering that our organizations and society are made up of individuals, prioritizing inner-wellbeing in community has the compound effect of making organizations and society more structurally compassionate and human, and less bureaucratic.

Connect with Reggie Hubbard on social media :

Active Peace Yoga