Michelle Arevalo-Carpenter

Betterfly / IMPAQTO

Quito,
Ecuador

Michelle is the Global VP of Purpose and Communities at Betterfly, the first social unicorn start-up, with operations across Latin America. Before her current role, Michelle was the CEO and co-founder of IMPAQTO, a B Corporation with a mission to support impact entrepreneurs reach their goals by building the ecosystem and network they need to thrive. IMPAQTO offers coworking spaces, a business accelerator, innovation consulting services and an impact investing fund to Latin American entrepreneurs building a better world. Before her career in business, Michelle was the founding Country Director of Asylum Access Ecuador, a legal clinic for refugees that later scaled to Asia, Africa and did direct advocacy at the United Nations in Geneva.

As a consultant, has focused on paths to scaling impact for grassroots organizations, including an association of families of disappeared children in El Salvador, and communities at risk of development-induced displacement in Thailand, Cambodia and India. Michelle counts a number of firsts throughout her career: with IMPAQTO, she opened the first private coworking space in Ecuador, also the first certified B Corporation in the country. She launched GreenCrowds, Ecuador’s first crowdfunding platform. She is also the first woman under 40 to be named in the top 100 reputation ranking business leaders in the Merco Ranking.

Michelle is a recent mother of twins, and is married to tech and climate entrepreneur and writer Matthew Carpenter-Arevalo. They live in Quito, the place they have chosen as their home. She holds an Mst in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oxford and a Master’s in Public Policy, UC Berkeley.

Connect with Michelle Arevalo-Carpenter on social media :

Personal Website

Luzette Jaimes

Ashoka

Washington, DC,
United States

Luzette works on social ecosystem activation and system change through the design and facilitation of transformational learning processes. She works in the areas of human development, coaching, being-well, and awareness-based leadership development for changemakers. For two decades she has focused on social entrepreneurship through different roles at Ashoka, including launching Ashoka’s Learning & Development to deepen an organizational learning culture in support of their vision of accelerating the emergence of an “Everyone a Changemaker” world. Luzette works with CoCreative – a consulting firm that designs and facilitates Multi-stakeholder Innovation Networks to solve complex problems, from community revitalization to supply chain sustainability to education. Luzette is the founder of Alive & Thriving – a human development incubator for individuals and groups, co-founder of Consciousness Coalition (CoCo Labs*) – an ecosystem catalyst for cultural evolution and consciousness expansion, and co-founder of Weaving Lab – a network focused on creating learning ecosystems for wellbeing for all. Luzette is adjunct faculty at George Washington University Center for Public Leadership’s e-Co Leadership Coaching Program. She holds a BA in Finance & Intl Rel, a MSc in Holistic Science (whole and complex systems). Professional Certified Coach PCC, Theory U facilitator, Being-well coach and mindfulness practitioner.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

Inner wellbeing happens when I am grounded and present to meet life as it comes. When I have a state of okay-ness, even when facing difficult situations or experiencing difficult emotions. Inner wellbeing means freedom of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual conditioning and wounds that I no longer carry and that no longer limit my capacity to flourish and feel well in the human experience.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

quality-of-life-experience

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

Mindfulness, Somatic Therapy, Positive Contribution to the World, Walks in Nature, Sabbaticals, Taking Pauses, Cultivating Friendships, Creating collective soulful spaces.

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

All we do depends on how we feel. If we prioritize wellbeing, we prioritize our life.

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

Wellbeing Toolkit by Ashoka

Connect with Luzette Jaimes on social media :

Personal Website
Ashoka

Ariane Luque

People & Culture Senior Manager at The Wellbeing Project

Madrid,
Spain

Connect with Ariane Luque on social media :

If we were having coffee and you asked me, I would tell Ariane is passionate. Passionate about people, traveling, nature, painting, cinema, music, and spending quality time with her loved ones.

She has a degree in Tourism and a master’s degree in Management with a specialization in International Business. Also, She has been involved in Human Resources and Strategic Coaching. Ariane has always worked and studied at the same time. She has had the opportunity to collaborate with professionals from all fields in hospitality and restaurant businesses, consulting, advertising, and banking… always in the administrative and human resources field.

She considers herself a down-to-earth person but always holds the dream and the goal of improving the world by doing her bit. She believes that all together we can achieve great things.

Nowadays, she considers well-being to be fundamental. Physical, emotional, psychological, and social well-being. For this reason, she is happy to be part of this wonderful project and to continue enjoying, learning, and contributing to it.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

For me, inner well-being is learning how to connect our inner life with the outer world in harmony. It is also about understanding what is going on inside us and learning to deal with it healthily.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Harmony

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

Breath exercises, mindfulness, therapy… I also try to write down in a notebook the reasons why I am grateful every day, goals and highlights of my day to day life.

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

“Wellbeing inspires welldoing”. Not only for our health but also because if we are well, we will transmit this well-being to the people around us and this will be reflected in the way we work and live.

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

In this field, my favorite book is “Your Erroneous Zones” by Wayne Dyer. I usually watch or listen to TED Talks and If you ask me about authors maybe I will say Susan David, Mario Alonso Puig, Fidel Delgado, and Emilio Duró, among others.

Peter Mortifee

Co-Creation Team Advisor at The Wellbeing Project

Vancouver, BC,
Canada

Connect with Peter Mortifee on social media :

Peter is a co-founder of the Somerset Foundation and has been its Chair since its inception in 2001. He engages in various capacities with social purpose initiatives where his input and interest relates primarily to governance, structure, strategy, tactics, policy and financial sustainability. He has been involved with the The Wellbeing Project as an advisor to its Co-Creation Team since 2014. He is a member of the global Ashoka Support Network and has engaged with several Ashoka Fellows. He is a member of Outward Bound International’s Global Ambassador Network and is a co-founder & Chair of the Chute Creek Stewardship Society which seeks to regenerate salmon spawning habitat.

He spent twenty five years training, practicing and teaching as a medical doctor. Following a medical degree at the University of British Columbia and a multi-year Internship in New Zealand, he became a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In 2008, he relinquished his Clinical Assistant Professorship with the Department of Medicine at U.B.C. and retired completely from his medical practice in order to explore new ways of engaging. He is a keen photographer and explores wellbeing photographically through his social media channels and his photographic website – ReflectionsOnWellbeing.photo He also loves music and travelling. He and his wife Nancy live in Vancouver, Canada and between them they have four wonderful adult children, two delightful grandkids and at least one walking adventure every year.

– What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

It’s a fundamental personal priority.

– How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Compassion.

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

Finding quiet time daily for self care.

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

Our future depends on it and will be shaped by it.

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

Anam Cara by John O’Donohue.

Personal Website
Somerset Foundation

Jonas Dinger

Managing Director

Social Impact Award

Vienna,
Austria

Jonas Dinger is Managing Director of Social Impact Award, one of the world’s largest communities of early-stage social entrepreneurs under 30, mainly active in Europe, Africa and Asia. Jonas is committed to build capacity among early-stage entrepreneurs and foster cross-sector dialogues on the topic of social entrepreneurship.

Based in Vienna, Austria, he is leading a diverse team of 100+ SIA team members and is overseeing the community growth and strategic development.

Jonas joined Social Impact Award in 2018 and was amongst other roles in the team, responsible for SIA’s program in Austria and in Germany, as well as for SIA’s international partnerships and scaling efforts. He is also regularly giving university lectures on the topic of social entrepreneurship.

Before joining Social Impact Award, Jonas worked two years at the Social Entrepreneurship Center of the Vienna University of Economics and Business as a researcher. This followed several engagements for different initiatives in the social entrepreneurship ecosystem (e.g. at GIZ, SEED – Promoting Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development, and others). Jonas has a Master of Arts in political science having studied at University of Vienna, LMU Munich and University of Vilnius.

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Gary Shearer

The Saville Foundation

Bristol, Somerset
United Kingdom

Born and schooled in Johannesburg South Africa, having a rich full-spectrum business experience in the IT wave of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, including being a founding management team member of the now global Datatec Group.

Co-founded award-winning New York based wine trading entity Cape Classics Inc. with my brother in 1991, with the experience of over almost two decades of tough but creative and stimulating challenges growing the business from the ground up informing much of my current journey.

In 2006 I sold my shares to participate in the realm of Social Change, and am privileged to be the CEO of The Saville Foundation working around the globe within education and enablement of individuals and communities.

I have two fabulous thirty-something children, and since 2018 have lived in the UK in Bristol with my incredible soul-partner Lara. We make trips back to South Africa as often as possible.

– What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

The feeling of contentment and happiness that bubbles inside the more I work on deprogramming myself….

– How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Self-love

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

Chi-gong, Yoga, Meditation, breathwork.

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

Happy content people function more effectively and with repect for self and others.

Connect with Gary Shearer on social media :

Marlize Swanepoel

Sp(i)eel Arts Therapies Collective

Cape Town,
South Africa

Marlize Swanepoel is a Dramatherapist and the founding director of sp(i)eel arts therapies collective, an NPO that addresses intergenerational trauma and co-create community-based models of mental health care that are culturally informed and relevant to the South African context. She serves on the Secretariat of the South African National Arts Therapies Association (SANATA) and is a guest lecturer at the University of Cape Town. She is an enthusiastic advocate for the Arts for Health movement in South Africa that speaks to healthcare from a global South perspective. She loves being in spaces of learning, unlearning and dancing.

– What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

When I can hear my body’s cues and are able to choose caring for myself as many times as possible.

– How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Presence

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

I honour the wisdom of my female cycle, to take note when I need to cocoon or when there are bursts of creative energy and I try to be in play for as much time as possible.

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

If we want to be able to co-regulate, we have to begin with ourselves, to be regulated when we do our work. Lasting change is possible when it comes from a grounded, reflective and thoughtful place, and not as a reactive response.

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

Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman, Everything by Bayo Akomolafe and the ancient tales and myths.

Connect with Marlize Swanepoel on social media :

Helena Geefay

Talent Development Officer

Hewlett Foundation

Menlo Park, CA,
United States

Helena is the Talent Development Officer at the Hewlett Foundation. She oversees professional development and growth opportunities for Hewlett employees, manages ERGs and other DEIJ initiatives, and supports organizational development, learning, and other HR projects. Areas of staff development include leadership, management, interpersonal skills, cultural competency, career development, coaching, feedback, and other professional development areas. Helena started her career as a mental health therapist and progressively moved into roles that focused more on developing people in the workplace. Prior to joining the foundation, she served as the head of human resources and operations for City Year San Jose, and supported leadership development programs at The Walt Disney Company. She enjoys engaging people in meaningful work and curating dynamic learning environments that support sustained growth. Helena lives with her family in the SF Bay Area. and holds a master’s degree in psychological counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University, and bachelor’s degrees with honors in psychology and English from the University of Southern California.

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Madhavika Bajoria

AVPN

Singapore

Madhavika Bajoria joined AVPN in October 2021. Maddy brings significant experience in multi-sectoral partnerships, program management, and advocacy to advance knowledge and implementation in public health nutrition, gender equality and social protection. She previously served as the Global Policy & Engagement Manager and India Program Manager at Swiss-based think-tank Sight and Life. In this role, she led the creation of India’s first-ever platform, IMPAct4Nutrition, to engage the private sector in the government’s National Nutrition Mission. She was the architect of the platform’s growth to 200 companies actively investing in improving workplace nutrition for 10 million employees. IMPAct4Nutrition was awarded AVPN’s prestigious Constellations award in 2021. She also helped the Government of India gain multi-stakeholder buy-in for the implementation of large-scale staple food fortification, which is significantly reducing the burden of malnutrition in the country. Globally, she drove the introduction and scale-up of prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation in 10+ low & middle-income countries and successfully led efforts to change WHO’s policies in support of maternal nutrition. Driven by a commitment to translating science into practice and policy, Maddy has presented at various international and regional fora and co-authored several publications on large-scale policy change and public-private partnerships. She has also worked with J-PAL, CARE and the ILO on catalyzing partnerships and policy change in a variety of sectors. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Columbia University, a BA in International Relations & Economics from Bryn Mawr College and a General Course diploma in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

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Riyaz Gayasaddin

Camelback Ventures

Colorado,
United States

Born and raised in the Midwest, Riyaz cherishes his Asian-American identity and his journey to continuously better understand and live into that hyphen between Asian and American. His journey has taken him to his parent’s home country of India, classrooms in Baltimore, the chilly winters of Minnesota, and currently the snow-capped peaks of Colorado. He is passionate about developing individuals and teams, building culture, and shaking up the status quo by nurturing developing leaders who work through an equity lens to become the change agents of tomorrow. Outside of work, Riyaz is a foodie. He approaches food as he does life – seeking diversity, opportunities to connect with others, and a chance to have a good time over a shared meal. Riyaz was lucky enough to attend Macalester College and Johns Hopkins University and strives never to stop learning and growing.

Connect with Riyaz Gayasaddin on social media :

Camelback Ventures