"I have made it my life’s work to help people get out of their own way.”

Alan is a Co-Founder of Wise Up: New York, Founder of The Trampoline Group, and an executive coach and facilitator based in NYC & CT.

Born and educated in the UK, Alan’s career in Training and Organizational Development spans 25+ years and includes management positions at Hilton International, British Airways, The Hearst Corporation, and MTV during the height of the Britney, NSYNC, and Spice Girls era.

Zig Ah Zig Ah.

Learn more about Alan.

“It brings me a deep sense of joy to bring people together into spaces that make them feel seen.”

Jay is the Co-Founder and Head of Experience at Wise Up: New York.

He draws on his eclectic, multi-faceted career in the performing arts, visual arts, hospitality, and learning and development to create safe, welcoming, diverse spaces and the overall magic and creativity of the Wise Up experience. 

Based in NYC, and when he’s not doing all things Wise Up - Jay is a working queer pop artist and painter, showing his work in galleries and shows around the country. 

Learn more about Jay.

“Creating community and sharing understanding is my oxygen - it gives me purpose!”

Karen is a certified executive coach who helps leaders get unstuck, reinvent their careers, and speak more powerfully to thrive in a changing world.

Her delightfully nonlinear career path includes work at CBS News, CNN, and MSNBC, collaboration with organizations like Human Rights Watch, the New York Women's Foundation, and the Tribeca Film Festival, and the founding of a public elementary school in NYC. She is passionate about helping others communicate effectively and achieve their personal development goals. 

She’s based in Brooklyn with her husband Steve and is a huge fan of strong coffee, real talk, and Missy Elliott.

Learn more about Karen.

“My work on this earth is to help us reconnect - to ourselves, to one another, & to this planet we call home.”

Nasimeh is a celebrated coach, facilitator, and artist based in Brooklyn. Her viral posts and videos inspire millions, while her monthly creativity events help adults reconnect with their innermost wonder, joy, and play.

Originally from Tallahassee, Florida, and of mixed Iranian-American descent, Nasimeh is an avid rock climber, runner, and unapologetic stan of the Great British Bake Off.

Learn more about Nasimeh.

“I love what I do and feel deeply grateful that I get to live in a space of love and connection so often.”

Victoria is a certified emotional well-being coach, workshop creator, meditation teacher, and artist who helps people break through limiting beliefs and build skills to manage stress and anxiety to create more fulfilling lives. She has held over two thousand 1:1 and group coaching sessions and has a background in ACT, CBT, DBT, NVC, and Positive Psychology.

Whether teaching workshops, leading retreats, or working one-on-one, her mission is to help others trust themselves and live with clarity and purpose.

Learn more about Victoria.

“I do what I do to help professionals communicate more effectively and authentically so that they can do work they love in environments that feel safe.”

Tihanna is an executive coach and communication consultant with a focus on public speaking, storytelling, and leadership. She believes communication is the bridge that can either build or burn bridges everywhere in life. 

Based in Brooklyn, Tihanna is a super-mom-super-hero, spirit-led, no-nonsense, no-bullshit, big-hearted, intuitive who is here to have your back. When she’s not being a super-mom, you can also find her facilitating Inner Power classes at Othership. 

Learn more about Tihanna.

“When we are all empowered to be our best, most authentic selves and create spaces to respect that for and in each other, I think the world is a much better place.”

Hutch - as she is singularly known - is a one-name, one-woman beacon of inspiration, connection, and humanity. She’s a storyteller, comedian, improviser, and coach who offers playful and creative tools to help others stay authentic while skillfully getting out of their own way.

Based in NYC, Hutch writes, performs, and coaches throughout the city, is allergic to nearly everything, and does one hell of a Bernadette Peters impression. 

Learn more about Hutch.

"I'm passionate about helping people heal through telling the stories of their own lives."

Megan is the Producer of over 250 hours of nonfiction television, an award-winning filmmaker, a media educator, and a public speaker.

Megan has been a storyteller for her entire career, spanning multiple genres. She has also been the Showrunner of numerous top-rated nonfiction TV series in the USA and Canada. Passionate about sharing her expertise with others, Megan, based in NYC, teaches storytelling as a means of personal growth and healing.

Learn more about Megan.

"Helping people live life on their terms."

Originally from Alaska, Dr. Makenzie Peterson is a behavioral and population health professional who is trained in bringing a preventative, systems-based lens to improving overall wellbeing by addressing the root causes of distress. From developing global social impact coalitions to individual/skill development consulting, no task is too big or small to make a positive difference in the world. 

Makenzie is disarming and tenacious, based in Ithaca but a big city lover. She also proudly gives hugs that would shame a bear.

Learn more about Makenzie.

“My superpower is creating a warm, welcoming environment where people feel free to play and be vulnerable."

Chloe is a writer, director, facilitator, and long-form improviser. By day, she produces, edits, and reports award-winning documentary podcasts and genre-bending audio drama for clients ranging from The New Yorker to Marvel Comics.

And, by night, Chloe performs long-form improv at the Magnet Theater in NYC. She has a degree in Choreography that she mostly uses at weddings.

Learn more about Chloe.

"I love helping people understand how to work with their energy and align it with their intentions - it's the quickest way to get out of your head and start seeing results."

Brett is an executive coach, mindset coach, professional Shaman, and facilitator. She combines corporate know-how with an intuitive soul, wit, and empathy. 

She works to empower others to gain clarity on their career goals, combining traditional coaching with mindfulness practices, neuroscience, and manifestation to help create life-changing experiences.

Brett resides in Connecticut with her husband and their two cats. She is passionate about animal rights and is an advocate for invisible illness awareness.

Learn more about Brett.

"I care about relationships…with ourselves, each other, and our planet.”

Betsy is a certified Reiki Master and facilitator. Her approach builds capacity for self-healing and emotional regulation, emphasizing stress management, recovery, and radiant resiliency.

Before practicing Reiki full-time, Betsy worked in NYC’s government, non-profit, and philanthropy sectors for over 20 years, developing programs, shaping policy, and managing volunteers at all stages and ages.

Based in Brooklyn, she is also a poet and a Sweet Action Poetry Collective member.

Learn more about Betsy.

“I love​ my work using improv and performance to uplift and empower because it requires bravery, problem solving and collective discovery.”

Ali is a comedian, improviser, storyteller, and teaching artist dedicated to uplifting audiences through intimate storytelling and interactive live shows that generate empathy and connectedness. 

Miami-born and based in NYC, Ali's background as an improviser and lover of people has informed her character-driven, autobiographical comedy. Her work has been featured worldwide, from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to The Upright Citizens Brigade, Joe's Pub, and Don't Tell Mama in NYC.

As a teaching artist with COLAB Theatre group, Ali is passionate about creating inclusive spaces for all artists. Her hot take on a "Sexy Bernie Sanders” impersonation is not to be missed!

Learn more about Ali.

“Across the various disciplines of my work, the unifying thread is a passion for helping people understand themselves and make values-aligned choices about their place in the world through creative expression and play.”

Ben is a facilitator, educator, musician, theater artist, spiritual director, and ritual leader passionate about play's healing and transformative power.

His work invites people to explore both the serious and playful aspects of life, creating space to discover what’s true within themselves and in social contexts. He is committed to foregrounding anti-racist practice, disability justice, and queer liberation in his work. 

Ben is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, is a brilliant musician, and holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School.

Learn more about Ben.

"I'm here to help people laugh and feel their humanity."

Lauren is a comedian and actor who creates comedy about being a misfit. Originally from Queens, they also teach comedy to everyday folks who just want to get a laugh.

Based in NYC and travels all over the world doing comedy, but never forgets their hometime with their NYC history obsession. They'll no doubt regale you with anecdotes when you meet.

Learn more about Lauren.

“I help guide people back to themselves or sometimes make the first introduction.”

Crystyn is a trainer, coach, and owner of Minnie Endeavors, a business and educational consulting company. She works with clients and organizations using executive functions and emotional intelligence as her foundation, training educators and coaching leaders in professional development programs globally. 

Crystyn was born and raised in the birthplace of hip hop, The Boogie Down Bronx. She teaches dance to keep her creative juices flowing. She’s striving to visit at least 100 countries and has boogied down in 49 so far. 

She immerses herself in whatever culture or community she has the opportunity to dwell in and believes in sprinkling a little bit of sunshine wherever she goes. 

Learn more about Crystyn.

"I still believe that in most interactions—if not all—you can bring humanity. It’s a simple thing to do, but not an easy one". 

Kibel is a bilingual Learning & Development leader passionate about humanizing every project she leads. With over a decade of experience in workforce development and organizational growth, she creates transformative learning spaces that empower immigrant women and diverse communities.

She blends storytelling, strategy, and heart to drive meaningful change. When she’s not leading programs, she’s likely producing something creative—or singing, for joy, not for judgment.

Learn more about Kibel.

“People learn best in an environment that’s upbeat, creative, and fun!”

Lois is a human development expert, ICF-certified executive and life coach, motivational speaker, and facilitator who creates an enlivened, safe space for people to step into their most courageous, authentic selves.

She uses communication, mindset, and EQ to support people to thrive personally and professionally.  She was the life coach for three national makeover campaigns: SELF, Fitness, and Fitblog (Sears).

Lois is based in NYC and upstate New York and is the author of Courage to SPARKLE, an Amazon #1 Bestseller in New Releases in Self-Help/Emotions that helps people shine bright, share their gifts, and make a difference. 

Learn more about Lois.

"I believe deeply in the transformative power of joy and play"

Ania is a theatre maker, facilitator, and clown passionate about creating educational and creative experiences that elicit deep conversations about the world.

Originally from Berkeley, CA, they also play enough string instruments to form a one-person quartet.

They are based in Jackson Heights, Queens.

Learn more about Ania.

"I like leaving things better than I found them." 

Erik is an award-winning Broadway/TV actor, writer, director, and producer who maintains a healthy coaching practice focusing on widening empathy and team-building.

Born in Miami and based in New York, his long-time side hustle as “the Zen professional organizer” helped the great and near-great draw clarity from chaos with the most irreverent humor. 

Learn more about Erik.

“I believe everyone deserves a life where they don’t have to choose between being successful and being themselves—bonus points if they can dance through it."

Gabriella is a Career and Personal Development Coach who’s supported hundreds of humans (and possibly a few confused house pets) in finding alignment in work and life.

She founded Re-Ellignment Coaching, blending sharp career strategy with soulful personal growth. Gabriella also consults with top companies on HR and facilitates training with past clients like HUGO BOSS, State Farm, and Dale Carnegie. A Professional Certified Coach and certified HR pro, she’s got credentials in psychology, DEI, and dance and probably gives the best pep talks this side of LinkedIn.

Learn more about Gabriella.

“Life is creative. Discovering the creativity inside you and giving space to express it makes transformation inevitable.”

Abby is a certified Teaching Artist, filmmaker, activist, and storyteller who creates spaces for people to explore their authentic selves and bring that power into their communities, work, and families.

She works with professionals to cultivate confidence and leadership, and with incarcerated youth at Rikers Island and other NYC jails, where she’s taught improvisation and life skills for the past nine years.

Originally from Chicago, Abby is based in Gowanus, Brooklyn, and goes for a midnight swim in the canal every night so that one day she may become 'Mosquito Woman'.

Learn more about Abby.

"My mission is simple—help women take up space, speak their truth, and stop shrinking for anyone."

Shacottha is a boundaries coach and improviser who empowers individuals and teams to be bold, communicative, and self-expressed. She works with businesses to build high-performing teams through public speaking training, executive coaching, and improv-based workshops.

Originally from Texas and based in Manhattan, she’s also a trained actress and a passionate advocate for personal growth and authenticity.

Learn more about Shacottha.

"When you slow down and observe, miracles abound."

Andrea is a communications specialist with expertise in human relations and intergroup conflict resolution. She is a quietly vocal champion of the power of introverts to move mountains.

A journalist and author, she is dedicated to overthinking the symbolism of cupcakes. A practicing cupcakologist, she is writing a book on the cultural history of cupcakes as popularized by Sex and the City.

Following childhood in the Washington, DC, area, she lived in Los Angeles for 20 years and now resides in NYC.

Learn more about Andrea.