Meet the Voices Behind Echo to Athena

Overview

Isabelle van Zeijl is recognized for her deeply expressive self-portrait practice, where she uses her own image as both subject and artistic medium. Her work explores the evolving relationship between vulnerability and strength, intimacy and universality, creating portraits that feel both deeply personal and collectively human.

Her artistic philosophy views beauty not as superficial, but as transformative — a force capable of elevating the human spirit and reconnecting people with authenticity, presence, and emotional depth.

Artistic Practice & Themes

Drawing inspiration from classical art traditions and contemporary visual culture, Isabelle creates carefully constructed photographic compositions that blur the line between observer and observed.

Her work frequently explores themes including:

• Identity & self-reinvention
• Femininity & human emotion
• Transformation & freedom
• Nature & humanity
• Inner strength & vulnerability

Her major series include:

• Dutch Masters Collection
• Flower Evolution
• Moonshot
• Ocean Series
• Deep Blue Portraits

International Recognition & Exhibitions

For more than two decades, Isabelle’s work has been exhibited internationally at major art fairs and cultural events, including:

• Art Miami
• EXPO Chicago
• London Art Fair
• Art Central Hong Kong

Her work is held in prominent private and institutional collections worldwide, including the Four Seasons Hotel George V.

Awards & Legacy

Isabelle is the recipient of the Young Masters Emerging Woman Art Prize and is widely respected for expanding the contemporary language of self-portraiture through emotionally resonant and visually immersive work.

Her practice continues to invite reflection on beauty, humanity, and the evolving nature of identity in the modern world.

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Overview

Jane Evans has spent her career challenging convention and creating conversations that many industries were afraid to have. From groundbreaking advertising campaigns to social advocacy movements, her work has consistently pushed culture forward while giving visibility to people and stories often overlooked.

Advertising & Creative Legacy

Jane became known for creating some of the most progressive and culturally disruptive advertising campaigns of her time. She introduced audiences to portrayals rarely seen in mainstream advertising, including divorced couples, unmarried partners living together, and men confidently taking on domestic roles.

She also helped launch James Squire, Australia’s first craft beer, and created the iconic Tim Tam Genie campaign, which continues to remain culturally recognized decades later. Her ability to predict cultural shifts and communicate them through storytelling made her one of the most respected creative voices in advertising.

Advocacy for Midlife Women

After experiencing ageism within the advertising industry herself, Jane shifted her focus toward advocating for midlife women and challenging society’s perception of aging and relevance.

Through initiatives like the Uninvisibility campaign and the Visible Start programme, she worked to help women return to the workforce with confidence and recognition. She also co-authored the bestselling book Invisible to Invaluable: Unleashing the Power of Midlife Women alongside Carol Russell, helping reshape conversations around visibility, value, and leadership later in life.

Vision, Technology & Future Thinking

Jane has spent decades helping audiences understand major technological and cultural changes. Having worked through multiple waves of innovation since the early days of computing, she developed a reputation for making complex ideas understandable and human.

Her work today combines storytelling, technology, culture, and social change, with a strong belief that communities and collective wisdom will shape the future more meaningfully than outdated systems of power.

Founder of 7th Tribe

Driven by her vision for a more balanced and inclusive future, Jane founded 7th Tribe, a platform designed to bring together matriarchs, changemakers, and community leaders.

Through 7th Tribe, she encourages women to gather, learn, collaborate, and take action toward building systems rooted in empathy, wisdom, and shared progress. She continues to speak globally about creating a world designed not for a select few, but for everyone.

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Overview

Ann Priftis has built an extensive career at the intersection of contemporary art, business strategy, and cultural investment. With leadership experience spanning galleries, auction houses, private collections, and global art ventures, she is widely respected for her expertise in fine art advisory, collection management, and market development.

Her work combines deep industry knowledge with a practical understanding of how art functions as both a cultural asset and an investment vehicle.

Leadership in the Fine Art Industry

Ann currently serves as the CEO of Off Piste Fine Arts, Ltd., overseeing seven galleries across Canada and the United States focused on original contemporary art.

Before joining Off Piste, she managed the prestigious Krause Collection, an internationally recognized private contemporary art collection based in the United States and Italy. Throughout her career, she has also held senior leadership positions with organizations including Chihuly Studio, Amazon Art, Over the Influence Gallery in Los Angeles, GINA Gallery of International Naïve Art, and Weschler’s Auction House in Washington, D.C.

Her experience spans gallery operations, business development, artist representation, auction strategy, and large-scale art initiatives.

Founder of CP/Art

In 2005, Ann founded Clark Priftis Art (CP/Art), an advisory firm specializing in fine art appraisals, corporate collections, blue chip acquisitions, and artist estate management.

Through CP/Art, she has worked closely with collectors, institutions, and family offices to help manage and grow significant art portfolios while navigating the evolving global art market.

Art Investment & Advisory Expertise

With over 28 years in the art industry, Ann is recognized for her insight into art as an alternative asset class and for helping collectors make informed acquisition and investment decisions.

She is a USPAP-compliant fine arts appraiser through the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and regularly advises on valuation, collection strategy, and legacy planning. Her expertise also extends into corporate art management and the growing relationship between wealth management and art ownership.

Speaking, Media & Thought Leadership

Ann is an international keynote speaker who frequently speaks on contemporary art markets, art investment, women in wealth management, and collection strategy.

She has been featured across global media outlets including BNN, WeWealth, and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. She also contributed the chapter Artful Investments: How Women are Shaping the Future of Art in Family Offices for the publication The Rising Role of Women in Family Offices and Family Businesses.

Most recently, she participated as a panel speaker at the European Financial Planning Association’s Wealth Management and Wealth Planning Forum in Luxembourg.

Education & Credentials

Ann holds a BA in Art History from the University of Maryland and a Certificate in Fine and Decorative Arts Appraisal from George Washington University.

Her academic background, combined with decades of hands-on leadership experience, has made her a trusted voice in both the art and wealth advisory industries.

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Overview

Deborah Delaney is known for creating deeply personalized wellness ecosystems that combine emotional intelligence, operational excellence, and regenerative living. Her work spans Europe, Thailand, and the Middle East, where she has advised global hospitality brands, private families, and institutions seeking more intentional approaches to wellness and leadership.

Her approach bridges science, strategy, and human connection, creating experiences that support both personal transformation and long-term relational well-being.

Wellness & Luxury Experience Design

Over the last 25 years, Deborah has designed high-level wellness programs and transformational retreats for some of the world’s most discerning clientele.

Her expertise includes luxury wellness architecture, retreat development, hospitality consulting, and longevity-focused travel experiences. She has also developed FDA-cleared detox products and led large-scale wellness initiatives built around nervous system regulation, emotional restoration, and sustainable lifestyle transformation.

Founder of Arc Vitae

Deborah is the founder of Arc Vitae, a private jet longevity journey designed for women navigating pivotal life transitions and leadership thresholds.

Arc Vitae combines luxury travel, emotional recalibration, wellness science, and community experiences to help women reconnect with clarity, vitality, and purpose in deeply meaningful ways.

Creator of the Legacy Framework

Deborah created the Legacy Framework, a model designed to support families and legacy systems navigating succession, emotional silence, identity shifts, and generational leadership.

Her framework focuses on relational health, sovereignty, and restoring alignment between family dynamics, personal values, and long-term legacy planning.

Philosophy & Thought Leadership

Deborah’s work is grounded in the belief that true wellness goes beyond physical health and must include emotional safety, belonging, and meaningful connection.

Drawing from her background in herbalism, nutritional science, and hypnotherapy, she integrates body literacy, psychology, and myth-informed storytelling into her work. Her writing and teachings explore what it means to lead well, live well, and leave behind a legacy rooted in humanity and wisdom.

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Overview

Ginni Galicinao works at the intersection of family dynamics, governance, and wealth transition planning. For more than 20 years, she has advised affluent families, family offices, and family enterprises on navigating the emotional, relational, and structural complexities that come with inherited wealth and leadership transitions.

Her work is centered on helping families create clarity, alignment, and continuity across generations while strengthening communication, trust, and shared purpose.

Family Governance & Wealth Transitions

Ginni is widely recognized for her expertise in family governance, succession planning, and family enterprise evolution.

She helps families design systems and structures that support healthy decision-making, leadership continuity, and long-term sustainability. Her work often includes preparing rising generations for leadership, facilitating succession conversations, and guiding families through business and ownership transitions with greater confidence and cohesion.

Family Office & Educational Program Design

A key part of Ginni’s work involves helping families establish and implement effective family offices that go beyond financial administration.

She also develops educational programs that encourage lifelong learning within families, covering topics such as wealth stewardship, philanthropy, communication, and relational intelligence. Her approach expands conversations beyond legal documents and trusts, focusing instead on values, identity, and the human side of wealth.

Relationship & Family Dynamics Coaching

Ginni supports families and couples through some of the most sensitive aspects of wealth and relationships, including discussions around the meaning of wealth, family expectations, and pre-prenuptial processes.

Her coaching style combines empathy, structure, and practical guidance to help families create healthier communication patterns and stronger foundations for future generations.

Speaking & Thought Leadership

An accomplished international speaker, Ginni has led seminars and educational programs across the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

She has spoken for organizations and networks including the Purposeful Planning Institute and Australia and New Zealand’s Private Wealth Network, sharing insights on inherited wealth, family enterprise dynamics, philanthropy, and multigenerational legacy planning.

www.DynamicsFamilyWealth.com 

Overview

Wasim Khaled is a technology entrepreneur, computer scientist, and expert in narrative intelligence and information warfare. His work focuses on understanding how artificial intelligence, behavioral science, and computational propaganda shape public perception, influence systems, and global risk environments.

Through his leadership at Blackbird.AI, he has become a recognized voice in the fight against disinformation and coordinated narrative attacks.

Blackbird.AI & Narrative Intelligence

As the CEO and Co-Founder of Blackbird.AI, Wasim leads the development of AI-powered systems designed to detect and analyze narrative manipulation, misinformation campaigns, and emerging digital threats.

The platform helps governments, enterprises, and institutions identify risks tied to information warfare, reputation attacks, and malicious influence operations across online ecosystems. His work combines advanced AI technologies with human behavioral analysis to better understand how narratives spread and shape decision-making.

Expertise in Information Warfare & Risk Intelligence

Wasim has extensively studied information operations, computational propaganda, cyber risk, and behavioral influence systems.

He regularly advises government agencies and Fortune 500 companies on how to identify, mitigate, and respond to escalating risks in the digital information landscape. His expertise spans artificial intelligence, cyber intelligence, defense applications, and strategic communications.

Industry Recognition & Media Features

Wasim’s insights and research have been featured in major global publications and media platforms including The New York Times, WIRED, Bloomberg, Fortune, NPR, NASDAQ, and TechCrunch.

He is also a member of the Social Intelligence Lab and the Weber Shandwick Collective, contributing to ongoing conversations around technology, influence, trust, and digital risk.

Entrepreneurship & Leadership

Before founding Blackbird.AI, Wasim founded LuxMobile, a company recognized as one of the Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Companies in America.

His entrepreneurial achievements also earned him recognition as the Inc. 500 Asian Entrepreneur of the Year, highlighting his impact across technology, innovation, and business leadership.

Overview

Jessica McGawley works closely with legacy families, family offices, and next-generation leaders to address the emotional and relational complexities that come with wealth, succession, and identity.

Her work focuses on helping families create healthier communication, stronger leadership readiness, and long-term continuity across generations.

Rising-Generation Development

Jessica is especially known for her expertise in preparing rising generations to responsibly navigate wealth, leadership, and family legacy.

Through mentorship, mediation, and structured guidance, she supports younger family members in developing confidence, self-awareness, emotional resilience, and a deeper understanding of their role within multigenerational family systems.

Founder of Dallington

In 2016, Jessica founded Dallington, the first specialist mentorship practice dedicated specifically to preparing rising generations for wealth and legacy responsibility.

Dallington was created to address the often-overlooked human side of wealth transition, helping families move beyond financial structures to focus on identity, communication, belonging, and long-term family cohesion.

Psychological & Family Dynamics Expertise

Jessica’s background in psychology and mediation allows her to guide families through sensitive conversations surrounding succession, expectations, conflict, and generational transition.

Her approach blends emotional intelligence with practical family governance insights, helping families build stronger foundations rooted in trust, clarity, and shared understanding.

Vision & Philosophy

Jessica believes wealth transition is not only a financial process but also a deeply emotional and relational one.

Her work is centered on creating spaces where families can have more meaningful conversations, strengthen intergenerational relationships, and prepare future leaders to carry forward both responsibility and purpose with confidence.

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Overview

Kedge has built a global career advising leaders, family offices, philanthropists, and institutions across the UK, Europe, the US, and Africa. Her expertise spans strategy, operational leadership, family dynamics, and confidential advisory work for some of the world’s most influential individuals and organizations.

Known for her discretion and relational intelligence, she supports clients through periods of transition, complexity, and leadership evolution.

Advisory & Coaching Practice

Kedge works closely with ultra-high-net-worth families, senior professionals, and rising-generation leaders on matters involving governance, succession, personal leadership, and family enterprise dynamics.

Her client experience includes advising members of the British Royal Family, international family offices, and Special Forces personnel. Her work often involves helping clients navigate emotionally sensitive situations while balancing personal, family, and organizational priorities.

Entrepreneurial Journey

An entrepreneur from an early stage in her career, Kedge founded her first business in Poland in 1991 during a period of major political and economic transition following the collapse of communism across Eastern Europe and the USSR.

After returning to the UK in the late 1990s, she entered the nonprofit sector and helped create WellChild, which later became one of the UK’s leading charities supporting seriously ill children and their families.

Work with the British Royal Family

In 2009, Kedge was appointed advisor to Princes William and Harry, supporting the development of their Charities Forum and Foundation initiatives.

Her experience working within highly visible and high-pressure environments further strengthened her reputation as a trusted advisor capable of managing confidential and complex leadership challenges with sensitivity and strategic insight.

Philanthropy & Community Engagement

Alongside her advisory work, Kedge remains deeply involved in philanthropic and volunteer initiatives.

She actively supports organizations focused on environmental sustainability in Africa, microfinance initiatives, and programs providing assistance dogs to veterans living with PTSD. Her previous volunteer work has also included supporting immigrants at a UK detention center, serving as a Governor of an NHS Hospital Foundation Trust, and acting as a trustee and treasurer for educational and medical research organizations.

Philosophy & Leadership Approach

Kedge believes that meaningful leadership requires emotional intelligence, trust, and a strong sense of responsibility toward people and communities.

Her work is rooted in helping individuals and families lead with greater awareness, resilience, and purpose while creating sustainable impact across generations.

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Overview

Thomasina H. Williams believes a family's most valuable asset is who they are, individually and collectively, not what they own.

She guides multi-generational families in cultivating connected, capable, and engaged stewards of both their financial resources and their relationships.

Family Systems Leadership

Thomasina helps families navigate generational transitions, leadership development, communication challenges, and the often uncomfortable territory that accompanies change. Clients describe her as "a gift" and as "high beams," helping them see possibilities they had not previously considered.

Her work is grounded in Family Systems Leadership and the belief that when one person leads from within, rather than reacts in the heat of the moment, it can shift what becomes possible for everyone.

Founder & Advisor

As Founder of Sankofa Legacy Advisors, Thomasina serves families, family offices, family foundations, and wealth advisors, helping them build stronger relationships, communication, and stewardship across generations.

Experience & Perspective

Thomasina was the first in-house Family Dynamics Consultant at one of the largest private banks in the United States, where she helped families navigate generational wealth transitions. Prior to that, she was a nationally recognized philanthropy strategist and an award-winning attorney.

As a third-generation member of a family whose wealth was lost in the second generation, and a current co-owner of a multi-generational family enterprise, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. She understands firsthand how unresolved tensions can shape both family legacies and balance sheets alike.

Learn more at DevelopFamilyLeaders.com

Overview

Dominnique Karetsos is internationally recognized for her work at the intersection of women’s health, technology, investment, and cultural systems. Her career has focused on advancing women’s agency, wellbeing, and economic empowerment through innovation, strategic advisory, and impact-led leadership.

She is widely regarded as one of the early architects of the women’s health and sexual wellbeing technology sector, helping bring legitimacy, investment, and infrastructure to conversations historically considered taboo.

Pioneer in Women’s Health & Sexual Wellbeing Technology

Dominnique is the former CEO and Founder of Healthy Pleasure Group, the first global ecosystem dedicated to sexual health and technology.

Through this work, she coined the term “sexual health and technology” and played a major role in building the commercial and cultural foundations of the industry worldwide. Her efforts helped open global conversations around women’s health innovation, intimacy, wellness, and healthcare accessibility.

Venture Capital & Investment Leadership

She is the Co-Creator and Founding General Partner of Amboy Street Ventures, the first venture capital platform exclusively focused on women’s health and sexual health technology.

Since 2015, Dominnique has personally invested in early-stage companies developing solutions that improve women’s health, autonomy, and financial power. She also serves on advisory boards and company boards across the women’s and sexual health sectors, supporting founders and organizations operating in culturally sensitive or emerging markets.

Strategic Intelligence & Thought Leadership

As a clinical sexologist and strategic intelligence advisor, Dominnique advises corporates, innovators, and institutions on the behavioral, cultural, and policy systems influencing women’s sexual and financial lives.

She regularly speaks on global stages including SXSW, Women in Tech Global Summit Paris, HLTH, and Women’s Health Innovation Summits. She also serves as Resident Host of Women’s Health Week events in New York and Europe.

Her work explores how power, culture, religion, and policy shape inherited beliefs around sexuality, health, and economic freedom.

Advocacy & Social Impact

Dominnique’s commitment to justice extends into anti-trafficking and survivor advocacy work.

She serves as Chief Impact Officer at the Blue Rose Foundation, an intelligence alliance focused on preventing human trafficking and grooming. Through Her100 Foundation initiatives, she also supports fundraising efforts for safe houses assisting survivors across Southern Africa.

Media & Philosophy

Her work and insights have been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Fortune, and The Telegraph.

At the core of her philosophy is the belief that women’s sexual wellbeing and financial wellbeing are deeply interconnected. She advocates for systemic change that recognizes health, wealth, safety, and agency as part of the same larger movement toward equity and human dignity.

Overview

Emily Bouchard is known for helping families navigate the emotional and relational complexities that come with wealth, leadership, and succession. Her work focuses on building stronger communication, deeper trust, and healthier long-term family relationships.

With a background in family therapy and leadership roles within financial institutions, Emily combines emotional insight with practical advisory experience to guide families through sensitive conversations around inheritance, governance, and legacy.

Family Governance & Leadership

Emily specializes in:

• Blended family dynamics
• Multigenerational family meetings
• Rising generation leadership
• Family governance
• Business succession planning

She serves as a fractional Chief Learning Officer to family offices, helping families prepare future generations to lead with confidence, responsibility, and clarity.

Therapeutic & Advisory Background

Emily is a licensed marital and family therapist with a strong foundation in wealth relationship dynamics. Her work bridges the gap between financial strategy and human behavior, helping families create healthier systems around communication and decision-making.

She holds a degree from University of Pennsylvania and a Masters in Social Work from University of Texas at Arlington.

Retreats, Speaking & Thought Leadership

Based in Placerville, Emily also leads horse-assisted transformational retreats focused on leadership, trust, and emotional awareness.

Through speaking engagements, workshops, and her podcast, she continues to guide families and advisors toward healthier conversations around wealth, purpose, and legacy.

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https://emilybouchard.com/

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Overview

Dr. Akasha’s work is rooted in love, liberation, and the belief that meaningful leadership begins with inner transformation. His approach combines adult stage development, complexity theory, belonging-centered practices, and consciousness work to help leaders lead with greater awareness and intentionality.

He facilitates leadership journeys, retreats, and transformational spaces that support individuals and groups in navigating uncertainty, paradox, and change while remaining grounded in humanity and connection.

Leadership, Transformation & Facilitation

Akasha works with senior leaders, organizations, and communities to cultivate deeper self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and systems-level thinking. His facilitation style blends intellectual depth with warmth, presence, and relational wisdom.

His work often explores:

• Leadership development
• Human transformation
• Complexity & systems thinking
• Consciousness practices
• Belonging & collective healing
• Adult stage development

Academic Background & Professional Work

Akasha holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Human Development from Fielding Graduate University and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) accredited by the International Coaching Federation.

Alongside his coaching and facilitation work, he serves on the executive leadership team at Cultivating Leadership and contributes globally as an Ambassador for the Inner Development Goals initiative.

Philosophy & Presence

At the center of Akasha’s work is an invitation toward wholeness, deeper listening, and courageous presence. Whether guiding a leadership cohort, facilitating a retreat, or supporting someone through personal transformation, he creates spaces that encourage reflection, connection, and practical growth.

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www.cultivatingleadership.com

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Overview

Dr. Stacy Feiner is known for her work at the intersection of psychology, leadership, wealth, and family enterprise. Through her advisory work, speaking, and writing, she explores how relational intelligence and women-centered leadership frameworks can reshape the future of wealth and collective wellbeing.

Her work emphasizes the “Ethic of Care,” a leadership philosophy grounded in connection, stewardship, and long-term human impact rather than purely transactional success.

Leadership, Wealth & Family Enterprise

As co-author of The Sixth Level, Dr. Feiner introduces leadership principles rooted in women’s psychology and relational systems thinking. Her work helps families and organizations navigate succession, influence, trust, and legacy with greater emotional intelligence and sustainability.

She is particularly recognized for highlighting the growing influence of women in global wealth leadership and the measurable societal benefits that emerge when wealth is guided through collaborative and care-centered models.

Psychology & Advisory Work

With decades of experience advising families, leaders, and family enterprises, Dr. Feiner brings deep psychological insight into conversations around power, identity, relationships, and generational leadership.

Her work reframes leadership not simply as authority, but as stewardship rooted in connection, responsibility, and human wellbeing.

Thought Leadership & Philosophy

Dr. Feiner frequently explores mythology, psychology, and cultural narratives to challenge outdated models of leadership. In her work on Hera, one of the most misunderstood figures in Greek mythology, she presents a new perspective on feminine leadership, relational wisdom, and family stewardship.

Her broader philosophy centers on the belief that sustainable leadership is built through trust, care, and relational depth.

www.stacyeiner.com | www.TheSixthLevel.com

Overview

Elizabeth is a passionate advocate for family-owned businesses and has dedicated her career to supporting the long-term health and continuity of family enterprises. Through her work, she helps families navigate the relational and structural complexities that come with leadership transitions, governance, and multigenerational collaboration.

Her approach combines governance expertise with practical experience gained from working both within family businesses and alongside them as an advisor and non-executive director.

Family Business & Governance Leadership

In 2021, Elizabeth founded Avanti Family Business Advisory to help family enterprises strengthen communication, leadership alignment, and next generation participation.

Her work focuses on:

• Family governance
• Family dynamics
• Next generation engagement
• Leadership continuity
• Family enterprise advisory

Before launching Avanti, Elizabeth served as Director General of the Institute for Family Business, where she worked closely with family businesses across the UK while advocating for the sector at the government level.

Governance & Advisory Experience

Elizabeth’s background includes experience in corporate governance, advisory leadership, and operational roles within her own family business, where she currently serves as a Non-Executive Director (NED).

She has also served as an NED for a sixth and seventh-generation family-owned business during her time living in the UK, giving her firsthand insight into the opportunities and tensions that multigenerational businesses often experience.

Global Perspective & Facilitation

Elizabeth holds a certificate in Family Business Advising from the Family Firm Institute and is a certified facilitator.

Living between the United States and Mexico, she works globally with families and organizations seeking stronger governance systems, healthier relationships, and sustainable leadership for future generations.

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Overview

Zita Nikoletta Verbényi is internationally recognized for her multidisciplinary work in family legacies, cultural preservation, and identity stewardship. Her practice focuses on helping families of significant wealth and influence understand, preserve, and communicate their legacy through research, narrative, aesthetics, and strategic advisory.

Her work blends cultural science, family enterprise understanding, storytelling, and archival thinking to create meaningful legacy frameworks for current and future generations.

Legacy Advisory & Curatorial Work

As Founder of The Legacy Atelier™, Zita delivers bespoke projects centered around:

• Legacy research & preservation
• Family legacy strategy
• Identity & stewardship advisory
• Narrative development
• Cultural & historical documentation

Her projects often combine meticulous research, refined storytelling, and luxury-level presentation to help families preserve both tangible and intangible aspects of their legacy.

Family Legacy Methodology

Zita has developed her own multidisciplinary framework focused on complex legacies and family legacy trajectories. This methodology serves as a guiding and benchmarking system for families seeking continuity, meaning, and long-term stewardship across generations.

Her work supports legacy builders, guardians, custodians, and next-generation leaders navigating questions around identity, continuity, values, and historical preservation.

Academic & Cultural Background

Zita is a cultural scientist and the first PhD Candidate focused specifically on Family Legacies, contributing new research to a field that remains largely underdeveloped academically.

She holds an M.A. in Philology with a Diploma in Comparative Aesthetics in Italian from ELTE University, along with studies in cultural management focused on museums, archives, and libraries.

Global Perspective & Collaboration

As a polyglot advisor and international content professional, Zita works globally with family businesses, family offices, and cultural institutions. Her projects often involve collaborations with trusted experts, researchers, archivists, and major cultural organizations to create deeply curated legacy experiences with intellectual depth and emotional resonance.

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www.thelegacyatelier.com

zita@thelegacyatelier.com

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Overview

Sasha Lund has dedicated her career to helping business families navigate one of the most critical moments in any legacy: transition.

Working across cultures and generations, she advises high-net-worth individuals and family enterprises on how to sustain continuity, strengthen relationships, and prepare future leaders to inherit more than financial success.

Her work centers on the belief that lasting legacies are built through values, communication, and trust, not simply through financial structures.

Founder of Core Values Consulting

Through her company, Core Values Consulting, Sasha works closely with family businesses and wealth holders navigating succession planning and generational transition.

Her approach goes beyond governance models and financial systems, focusing on the emotional and relational foundations that determine whether a family’s purpose and identity survive across generations.

She helps families address difficult but necessary conversations around leadership, responsibility, communication, and long-term stewardship.

Author & Thought Leadership

Sasha is a Forbes-featured and Schulze Award-winning author whose work has reached audiences around the world.

She is the co-author and editor of The Rising Role of Women in Family Offices and Family Businesses, a publication that brought greater visibility to the role of women within wealth, governance, and family enterprise leadership.

Her writing consistently explores themes of legacy, succession, identity, and the human dimensions of wealth transition.

Global Speaking & Legacy Conversations

A sought-after keynote speaker and chairperson, Sasha regularly speaks at international conferences focused on family business, wealth transition, governance, and leadership.

She is also the host of Legacy Talks with Sasha Lund, a podcast featuring in-depth conversations with leaders from multigenerational family businesses. Through these discussions, she explores what allows legacies to endure and what quietly causes them to fail over time.

Philosophy & Vision

Sasha believes transferring wealth is only a small part of succession. The greater challenge lies in passing down values, relationships, and a sense of purpose that future generations can meaningfully carry forward.

Her work is grounded in helping families build legacies rooted not only in financial continuity, but also in trust, identity, and human connection.

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Overview

Danielle Patterson is known for her work shaping more thoughtful and human-centered engagement within the Family Office ecosystem. Her career has focused on building trusted networks, facilitating aligned relationships, and helping families and advisors navigate wealth with greater intentionality and long-term perspective.

Her approach combines strategic insight with a strong belief that wealth is ultimately about people, values, identity, and community.

Family Office Access & Industry Leadership

In 2016, Danielle acquired Family Office List and transformed it into Family Office Access, growing it into a respected platform focused on data intelligence, strategic relationships, and curated engagement within the Family Office world.

Following the successful sale of the business, she joined ISS Market Intelligence, where she continues working at the intersection of family wealth, legacy, and relationship-driven leadership.

Business, Community & Relationship Building

Danielle is widely respected as both a business leader and community builder. Her work centers around creating meaningful connections between families, advisors, and organizations while encouraging more intentional collaboration within the wealth ecosystem.

Her background across sales, marketing, and business development has helped shape her understanding of how trust and long-term relationships drive sustainable success.

Creative Foundations & Personal Philosophy

Originally trained in Fine Arts, Danielle began her career managing a gallery under renowned Frans Lanting before transitioning into business leadership following the 2008 financial crisis.

That creative foundation continues to influence her perspective today, bringing a more relational, values-based lens to conversations around wealth, leadership, and legacy.

Personal Life & Perspective

Danielle lives on Seabrook Island with her husband and three children, balancing leadership in the Family Office sector with a strong commitment to family and community life.

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Overview

Monica Clare works with family business owners, successors, and rising leaders to support the transfer of authority, responsibility, and capital across generations. Her work focuses on helping families manage the emotional, relational, and structural complexities that often emerge during succession and legacy planning.

Blending financial expertise with trauma-informed facilitation and governance advisory, Monica helps families strengthen communication, leadership readiness, and long-term continuity.

Family Business & Succession Experience

Having grown up in her family’s manufacturing business, Balthes Farm Equipment, and later participating in the transition of her parents’ company, Kooljet Refrigeration Systems, Monica brings firsthand understanding of the realities families face during ownership and leadership transitions.

Her work is particularly focused on:

• Next-generation leadership
• Wealth transition
• Family governance
• Succession planning
• Communication & trust-building

She is especially attuned to identity shifts, governance gaps, and interpersonal dynamics that can affect family continuity across generations.

Finance, Governance & Coaching

Monica’s background in accounting and finance includes experience with PwC and Rogers Communications, giving her strong technical insight into ownership structures and financial systems.

Her advisory work integrates financial fluency, governance design, executive coaching, and trauma-informed practices to support both families and future leaders through periods of transition and growth.

Education & Global Perspective

Monica holds a degree in Economics from University of Western Ontario and an MBA from Schulich School of Business.

She is also:

• Certified Management Accountant
• Certified Professional Co-Active Coach
• Family Enterprise Advisor
• Certified Collective Trauma Co-Facilitator

Having lived in Europe for two decades, Monica brings an international and long-term perspective to leadership, stewardship, and family continuity.

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Founder & Entrepreneurial Leadership

As a founder, Kate has built companies, secured investment, and helped bring new ventures and legacy projects to life. Her experience includes raising seed funding and start-up capital, supporting organizational growth, and enabling funding for charitable and philanthropic initiatives.

Strategic Advisory & Crisis Management

Kate advises private clients, companies, family offices, and charities on strategic decision-making during periods of growth, transition, and uncertainty. Her work encompasses crisis management, strategic communications, business intelligence, fundraising, stakeholder engagement, and long-term planning.

Trauma-Informed Coaching

As a qualified Trauma-Informed Certified Coach (TICC), Kate works with individuals and organizations seeking to better understand the impact of trauma on performance, relationships, leadership, and well-being. Her work combines practical insight with a deep understanding of human behaviour and adaptation.

Service & Philanthropic Engagement

Alongside her professional work, Kate has worked in the victim and crime support sectors and has fundraised with organizations and individuals connected to the military and UK Special Forces. This experience has given her a unique perspective on resilience, recovery, service, and the realities of high-pressure environments.

Approach

“Kate takes an intentionally integrative and hybrid approach to her work, combining professional experience with her own personal experience of trauma. Having studied and worked extensively within both fields, Kate made a conscious decision to work at the intersection of psychological understanding and professional practice, weaving the two together.”

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www.katemacgowan.com

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Overview

Melissa Gragg is recognized for her work at the intersection of financial expertise, mediation, and human-centered negotiation. With more than two decades of experience, she has guided families, entrepreneurs, and legal teams through complex divorce and business valuation matters while helping clients make informed and strategic decisions during emotionally difficult transitions.

Her work combines financial precision with practical communication and negotiation strategies designed to reduce conflict and improve outcomes.

Financial Mediation & Business Valuation

Melissa specializes in:

• Divorce financial mediation
• Business valuation
• Settlement negotiation strategy
• Expert witness testimony
• Complex financial dispute resolution

Over the course of her career, she has prepared valuations for multimillion-dollar businesses and testified extensively in court as a financial expert witness.

Anchor the Deal & Negotiation Strategy

Melissa is the creator of Anchor the Deal, a negotiation framework designed to help individuals prepare and present settlement offers with clarity, structure, and confidence.

Her work focuses on helping people negotiate from a place of knowledge and stability rather than fear or emotional overwhelm, especially during life-changing financial transitions.

Education, Coaching & Digital Empowerment

Beyond mediation and consulting, Melissa hosts educational podcasts, leads workshops through The Divorce Allies, and created The Divorce Vault, a DIY divorce training platform for women and couples.

She also mentors women on using AI, storytelling, and digital tools to create financial independence and new opportunities after divorce.

Mission & Philosophy

At the core of Melissa’s work is a commitment to helping people reclaim their financial voice. Her approach encourages individuals to navigate negotiations with dignity, preparation, and long-term confidence while building a stronger foundation for the next chapter of their lives.

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Overview

Stephanie Ellis-Smith is known for helping individuals and families align wealth with purpose, civic responsibility, and long-term social impact. Her work focuses on guiding donors through thoughtful philanthropy, family giving strategies, and values-driven leadership.

Through her advisory work, she supports families and institutions in building more intentional approaches to generosity, governance, and legacy.

Philanthropy & Family Giving

As founder of Phīla Engaged Giving, Stephanie advises donors, family foundations, and philanthropic institutions on:

• Strategic philanthropy
• Family giving
• Wealth & purpose alignment
• Governance & civic engagement
• Social impact strategy

Her work is especially respected within the family philanthropy and social impact sectors, where she helps clients create giving strategies rooted in both measurable outcomes and personal values.

Leadership & Advisory Experience

Stephanie is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) and has served across multiple leadership roles including nonprofit CEO, social enterprise COO, foundation trustee, and corporate board member.

She currently serves on the boards of:

• National Center for Family Philanthropy
• UCLA Alumni Association
• Seattle Art Museum Development Authority

She also serves as Dean of Philanthropy at Purposeful Planning Institute.

Speaking, Recognition & Thought Leadership

Stephanie’s expertise in generosity, wealth, and civic engagement has been featured by publications including Bloomberg, Forbes, The Economist, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

She is also a frequent keynote speaker at major university, nonprofit, and philanthropic conferences.

Personal Background

A graduate of University of California, Los Angeles, Stephanie lives in Seattle with her husband, historian Douglas Smith.

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Overview

Sofia Michelakis works at the intersection of philanthropy, identity, leadership, and social impact. Her advisory work focuses on helping donors and families align wealth with meaning, civic engagement, and long-term generosity.

She is particularly recognized for her work with women navigating transitions around purpose, influence, and giving, helping clients approach philanthropy as both a personal and societal force for change.

Philanthropy, Women & Social Impact

At Phīla Engaged Giving, Sofia advises families and donors on:

• Strategic philanthropy
• Family giving
• Women & wealth
• Civic leadership
• Values-driven generosity

Her essays and commentary often explore the evolving role of women in philanthropy, including themes around identity, leadership, spend-down philanthropy, and barriers that prevent greater social impact.

Leadership & Global Experience

Before joining Phīla, Sofia served as Deputy Director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she was the principal contact for the Giving Pledge.

She also held leadership roles within the Social Venture Partners network, helping donors and families translate values into meaningful community action.

Earlier in her career, she directed community development and microenterprise initiatives across Seattle and parts of South America.

Education & Personal Background

Sofia holds a JD from University of Michigan and a BA from Stanford University.

She currently lives in Seattle and brings a globally informed, deeply human-centered perspective to conversations around wealth, philanthropy, and leadership.

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Overview

Julie Castro Abrams is widely recognized for her work advancing women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and economic access. Her career has focused on helping women build companies, secure funding, gain board representation, and reshape systems that have historically excluded them from leadership and investment opportunities.

Her work combines movement building, venture investing, policy advocacy, and executive leadership development.

Women’s Leadership & Venture Capital

Julie has played a major role in advancing women’s representation on corporate boards and within the start-up ecosystem. Through her leadership, advocacy, and network-building efforts, she has helped create pathways for more women to enter positions of influence and decision-making.

As General Partner for three venture funds focused exclusively on women founders, she continues working to address the ongoing imbalance in venture funding received by women-led businesses.

Her work focuses on:

• Women’s entrepreneurship
• Venture capital & funding access
• Gender equity in leadership
• Board leadership & governance
• Economic empowerment for women

Entrepreneurship & Community Impact

Julie is known for her ability to connect people, facilitate meaningful conversations, and build communities around shared purpose and action. Thousands of businesses credit her mentorship, support, and advocacy as part of their launch and growth journey.

Her efforts have contributed to significant economic growth within communities while helping more women gain access to entrepreneurial opportunities and leadership roles.

Speaking, Advocacy & Recognition

A sought-after speaker on entrepreneurship, leadership, and women-led innovation, Julie frequently speaks about structural inequality, women’s leadership, and building inclusive economic systems.

Her work has earned numerous honors, including:

• Jobs Genius Award
• Morgan Stanley Innovation Award
• Cisco Innovation in Technology Award
• Stevie Award for Best Non-Profit Executive
• Human Rights Award from the Commission on the Status of Women
• Marin Women’s Hall of Fame recognition

Philosophy & Mission

At the core of Julie’s work is the belief that economic access and leadership opportunities for women create stronger communities, healthier economies, and more equitable systems for future generations.

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