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Lalita Suzuki

Special Projects Manager, The Omidyar Group

Lalita Suzuki serves as Special Projects Manager at The Omidyar Group. She supports their philanthropic programs through grant administration, research, and project management. Prior to this position, Lalita worked at Hopelab, also part of The Omidyar Group, where she managed user-centered research in the development of innovative products designed to improve the health and wellbeing of adolescents and young adults.

Lalita holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in Psychology from UCLA with an emphasis in Child Development.

Connect with the Omidyar Group on social media:

IN LALITA’S WORDSIN LALITA’S WORDS

How do you think individual, collective, and planetary wellbeing are connected?

When the planet is well, it provides gifts of clean air and water, nourishment, and inspiration so the collective can flourish. When the collective is well, it provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support so individuals can thrive. When individuals are well, they can continue to put energy into improving the wellbeing of themselves, the collective, and the planet as a whole. Wellbeing builds upon wellbeing, and flows up and down this chain. We all play a part in this process.

What do you hope the outcomes are from the global Hearth Summit?

The sparking of creativity, curiosity, compassion, and connection.

Bill Coy

Poet in Residence

Bill’s professional journey has allowed him to work in the most beautiful places on the planet. Honolulu Hawaii, the Vatican, Yosemite Valley, Marin County, Skywalker Ranch, and Fargo North Dakota.

Most recently Bill was the designer and director of the Omidyar Fellows, a cross sectoral leadership development program in Honolulu Hawaii. Previously he was a partner at La Piana Consulting heading the leadership practice. His professional background includes head of training and development at Industrial Light & Magic, George Lucas’s visual effects firm and Director of HR at Yosemite National Institutes.  He holds graduate degrees in systematic theology and clinical counseling.  He is a licensed marriage and family therapist.

His work has allowed him to act as a teacher, facilitator, therapist, writer, aggregator of the wisdom of others, executive coach, and consultant. He has been an executive coach at Stanford Medical Leadership Academy since its creation. He treasures his role as a spouse, father, and grandfather.

Bill is also the poet in residence for the Wellbeing Project, a global organization that promotes the inner wellbeing for changemakers.

Towards the end of his career right now, not ready to retire, he is looking forward to discovering what is next and how to write the chapter in this stage of life.  He continues to be confused about how a 35-year-old man like himself can have 69 birthdays.

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Anique Jordan

Artist, Writer & Curator

Anique Jordan is an artist, writer and curator who looks to answer the question of possibility in everything she creates.

As an artist, Jordan works in photography, sculpture and performance often employing the theory of hauntology to challenge historical or dominant narratives and creating, what she calls, impossible images. Jordan’s work considers different logics of time, the black surreal and the marvellous as it relates to the black Atlantic experience. Jordan has lectured on her artistic and community-engaged curatorial practice as a 2017 Canada Seminar speaker at Harvard University and in numerous institutions across the Americas. In 2017 she co-curated the exhibition Every. Now. Then: Reframing Nationhood at the Art Gallery of Ontario.  Jordan has recently completed her MFA in Photography at Rhode Island School of Design, is a 2024 recipient of Canadas 100 most accomplished Black women and is currently an Assistant Professor and AICAD Fellow at Parsons School of Design.

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Manuel Bagorro

Hearth Summit Head of Arts

New York,
USA

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Manuel Bagorro is a long-time Creative Advisor at Carnegie Hall, working on the design, planning and implementation of a range of programs. He is also Artistic Director of Bay Chamber Concerts and Music School in Rockport ME, Founder and Artistic Director of the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) in Zimbabwe and served as a program advisor for CultureSummit Abu Dhabi in 2017 and 2018. He curated the arts program for the first Wellbeing Summit in Bilbao, 2022 and leads the artistic team for the Global Hearth Summit in Ljubljana, 2025. For the last 12 years, his work with Bay Chamber Concerts and Music School has resulted in a new approach to the organization’s educational offerings and community engagement programs. Under his leadership, the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) became one of the most significant artistic and social impact projects in Southern Africa, weathering the social, political and economic turmoil in Zimbabwe for more than a decade.

He is also a pianist, having performed extensively and won prizes in the Newport International and Royal Overseas League Piano Competitions. He performed in the John Schlesinger film, Madame Sousatzka, and appeared as soloist with the BBC Welsh and Cape Town Symphony Orchestras. He composed the music for a series of documentaries entitled Africa Unmasked and played for Queen Elizabeth II and other dignitaries at a State Banquet in London in 1995.

Paola Martins

Networks Advancement Coordinator

Caracas, Venezuela

Connect with Paola Martins on Social Media :

Paola, originally from Venezuela’s coastal region (Lecheria) and now residing in Caracas, is a Civil Engineer with a Master in Business Administration from IESA. Her expertise lies in commercial operations and strategic planning. During her leisure time, she enjoys listening to podcasts, watching series, and relaxing at her favorite spot—the beach. For Paola, wellbeing entails nurturing both physical and mental health.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

For me inner wellbeing involves connecting with our emotions, making peace with life’s journey and confidently navigating daily decisions, all while striving for balance.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Vitality

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

Dedicating time to loved ones and prioritizing physical health through mindful nutrition and exercise. Additionally, I nurture my spiritual wellbeing by engaging in practices such as gratitude journaling and setting goals.

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

Putting wellbeing first is really important for happiness and doing well. When individuals are healthy and fulfilled, they perform better, leading to stronger organizations and communities.

Adriana Azpurua

Hearth Summit Travel and Accommodation Senior Manager 

Bogotá,
Colombia

Connect with Adriana Azpurua :

Hello My name is Adriana, I am Venezuelan-Colombian, mother of twins.
For the last 11 years of my professional life, I have worked in the travel and tourism industry, creating memorable experiences for my passengers.
I graduated with honors in Public Relations and Corporate Image in Madrid, Spain.
I have a specialization in MANAGEMENT, in the Advanced Management Program of IESA in Venezuela; in addition, I obtained a certification from IAB Colombia in Digital Marketing.
I have nearly 25 years of experience in management positions as a Marketing and Communications Manager for the Latin American and Caribbean market, leading the area of different corporations and industries such as Banking, Mass Media, Hospitality, and Tourism.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

It is being present in the today and in the now.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Empathy

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

Dancing

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

Because we are part of the ecosystem of life and as an important element of organizations and society we must be in wellness for the ideal balance in presence and interaction.

Shawn Westcott

Special Initiatives and Projects Lead at The Wellbeing Project

Stockholm, Sweden

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Shawn is a father, husband, and global citizen working to create experiences and connections to practices that rewake people’s interconnectedness to our natural world and each other. With more than 20 years of experience in US politics, sustainability, and impact investing, he is a passionate connector, change catalyst and social entrepreneur, having been a first-mover and catalyst in several movements, including US welfare reform, social entrepreneurship, sustainability, and impact investing.

Shawn began his career as a social entrepreneur, helping to launch a national student-led non-profit focused on welfare reform issues in the US. After university, he began his career with Al Gore’s campaign for President, and eventually working as a US political strategist, Chief of Staff & campaign manager over 9 years.

In 2007 Shawn moved to Sweden to study a Masters in sustainability leadership, after which he had a career as a sustainability adviser to governmental sustainability initiatives and corporates. During this time, he also served as Chairman for the Swedish NGO Social Entrepreneurship Forum. In this role he led the development of the first social impact accelerator and incubator in the Nordics, in partnership with the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). The program worked to support social entrepreneurs in 20 countries in the Global South. For this he was selected as one of the “Top 100 Leaders to Affect Sustainability in Business in Sweden.”

More recently, Shawn spent nearly a decade as a pioneer in the Impact Investing space in Sweden and the Nordics, having initiated and founded the first impact investor network in the Nordics in partnership with Toniic. He later helped lead Nordic operations for two different global impact asset management firms, Triodos Investment Management and BlueOrchard Finance, working within the renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, infrastructure, sustainable food and microfinance sectors.

In 2021-22, Shawn took a nearly two-year sabbatical — a transformative experience wherein he worked to recalibrate his life and career. This included a deep dive into personal development and wellbeing, trauma-informed decision-making, collapse awareness and the further development of a spiritual practices. After this period, Shawn decided to spend the remainder of his career working to inform, inspire and support other people’s awareness of our role in the natural world and deeper sense of connectedness to one another.

Alejandra Mejia

Fundraising Coordinator

San Salvador
El Salvador

Connect with Alejandra Mejia :

Alejandra launched her professional journey in the social sector as a Marketing and Communications Coordinator at the Art Museum in San Salvador. In 2008, she earned a degree in Communications Integrated Marketing from Escuela de Comunicación Mónica Herrera.

In 2010, she ventured abroad to participate in a cultural exchange program in Michigan, US, where she immersed herself and studied Intercultural Communications. In 2011, continued her studies and earned a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from San Francisco State University in California.

Returning to El Salvador in late 2011 with a clear commitment to contribute to her country, Alejandra played a key role as part of the founding team at ConTextos, where she served as an Assistant Director and Development & Communications Director for over seven years.

From 2019 to 2021, Alejandra worked closely with entrepreneurs based in the US and El Salvador, where she explored roles as an admissions officer at an innovative private school and as a marketing director at an immigration law firm.

In 2020, Alejandra became a mom and that led her to take intentional time off between 2021 – 2022, to focus on passion projects and inner wellbeing.

She started teaching Entrepreneurial Thinking and Empathetic Thinking at her Alma Mater in 2023, for students of Marketing, Communications, and Strategic Design.

At the end of 2023, Alejandra reconnected with the social sector, assuming the role of Fundraising Coordinator at The Wellbeing Project, where she can balance her roles as a mom, teacher, and fundraising professional while continuing to work on her inner wellbeing. 

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

Inner wellbeing, to me, can be encapsulated in a single word: “balance.” I believe that every person embarks on a distinct healing journey, and healing is a singular and personal adventure. Inner wellbeing involves discovering how to approach daily challenges with purpose and equilibrium.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Balance

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

1. Meditation every night has proven to be a powerful tool.

2. Lighting a scented candle, savoring a cup of tea, and journaling, are some of the rituals that help me calm and reflect.

3. Expressing gratitude for every payment I make: It helps me with having an abundance mindset.

4. Yoga and regular gym workouts to stay active and energized

5. Regular check-ins with my therapist.

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

It is important to prioritize individual and collective wellbeing because big changes begin at the individual level. By prioritizing wellbeing, we can break generational cycles of trauma, become more present, and act with greater intentionality. This, in turn, allows us to spread healing and wellbeing throughout all levels of society.

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

Podcast: Life Kit from NPR

App: Insight Timer for meditations

Books: Real Life, Sharon Salzberg Good Morning Monster, Catherine Gildiner Real Self-Care, Pooja Lakshmin, MD Rest is Resistance, Tricia Hersey

Adriana Romero

IDP Coordinator at The Wellbeing Project

Mexico City,
Mexico

With over 9 years of experience as a dedicated project manager, she has refined her skills in comprehending clients’ precise needs and seamlessly communicating and coordinating projects with diverse and talented teams.

Her journey as a designer and visual artist complements her professional path, enabling her to infuse projects with attention to detail, strategic analysis, and creative problem-solving.

In the realm of self-discovery and personal growth, and aligned with the principles of The Wellbeing Project and The Inner Development Program, Adriana strongly believes that uncovering tools to nurture inner peace and self-awareness is essential in navigating the complexities of the world.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

Taking action into cultivating your inner-peace.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Wholeness

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

Practicing gratitude on a daily basis and being mindful of my inner dialogue through meditation, long walks, journaling, and painting. Additionally, observing and learning to stay present through Paco, my cherished dog and favorite companion.

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

I believe it all begins with self-awareness, and developing this powerful skill has an impact on all aspects of life.

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

Diego Perez / @yung_pueblo and James Clear Newsletters, All about love, The creative act: a way of being. Mel Robbins podcast, The Diary of a CEO.