Let’s build a world
where all thrive.

Joanne received her PhD in genetics from Harvard Medical School and has had a varied and prestigious career in academia, pharma/biotech, and nonprofit organizations. While Executive Director of Addgene, a biotech nonprofit, she maintained single digit employee turnover for almost a decade and collaborated with dozens of inclusion organizations to help her company become a Best Place to Work in Boston for 6 years running.

Joanne founded the Boston chapter of the Association for Women in Science (MASS AWIS) and has been nominated for the Presidential Medal of Honor in STEM Mentoring.

“Seven years into my pharma career I saw virtually no other women who had made it to my fairly junior level. This awakening led me on a journey as a scientist to understand the inequities that cause this disparity. I’m very happy to now have a new way to apply my knowledge and experience at The Impact Seat.”

Najean brings a strong commitment to helping organizations and individuals embark upon and advance their DEI journeys toward creating more inclusive and equitable spaces to The Impact Seat. She has extensive experience facilitating learning sessions and discussion groups on a wide range of topics in academic, community, and nonprofit settings.

For more than a decade, she has been working in nonprofit arts, with a primary focus on federal policy and a growing emphasis on advancing inclusive principles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and a Master of Arts from Indiana University.

“Helping people to realize that change is possible, motivates my work every day.”

Jasmine’s role at The Impact Seat focuses on supporting organizations across sectors in understanding, embracing and implementing a science-based, social justice, and strategic perspective of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is expert in project design, facilitation, and coaching and she is committed to building inclusive, anti-racist organizations.

Jasmine brings a decade of experience serving youth and workforce development organizations in People & Culture (HR), Finance, and corporate engagement to her consulting work. She holds an MBA from Simmons University and a SHRM-CP (Strategic Human Resources Management -Professional) certification.

“The racial reckoning that has shaken the U.S. in recent years has motivated me to provide the very best practices and ideas to organizations that want to contribute to a more just and equitable world.”

Teresa is committed to bridging science-based knowledge about innovation, diversity, and performance to organizational practice. She is a strategic thinker/designer and data collection and analysis expert who works to contribute to building more inclusive workplaces.

She holds a PhD in strategic management from the University of Illinois.

Teresa serves on the Boston Biotech Working Group, as Senior Director of Research and Policy for Astia, and as a global scholar for the University of Quebec, at Montreal, among other positions. She is a professor at Simmons University in Boston. Her scholarly work on gender, diversity, and inclusion is recognized internationally.

“I founded The Impact Seat because I saw that all we were learning and theorizing in academia about diversity and inclusion was not ‘making it over the bridge’ to practice. That’s a role I can play in designing work that brings new ideas, attitudes, words and aspirations to nonprofit and for profit organizations.”

Areen Shahbari has over 15 years of corporate, business training, and consulting experience, working with local and international companies, governments, and NGOs.

Areen speaks at regional and global conferences and in addition to her work at The Impact Seat, has led training programs in the United States, Chile, Jordan, Palestine, Morocco, Turkey, Mexico, Bahrain, and Qatar. She is particularly interested in the intersection between psychology and business and how this allows for organizational change around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Shahbari worked for ten years in the media industry as a journalist, programming director, a TV producer, and a TV host before moving the U.S. from the Middle East. She holds a BA in psychology and communication and an MBA from Simmons University School of Business, where she was a Fulbright scholar.

“My heart has always drawn me to work that recognizes others, includes them, values them. Change comes with a cost, but so does inertia.”

Lealah comes to The Impact Seat with 5 years of communications, marketing, development, and nonprofit management experience. As an organizational communications expert, she uses her interpersonal, writing, and storytelling skills to increase organizations’ visibility, reach, and brand.

In 2021, Lealah received the Light of Dawnn Award in recognition of her creation of far-reaching and positive community impact (sponsor: the Highland Street Foundation, the West End House Boys and Girls Club, The Kraft Family, and the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network).

“My work experience has created in me a deep love for opening eyes, ears, and changing narratives. I’m excited to find new ways to connect with people and audiences at The Impact Seat. I look forward to discovering how my experiences can help to educate and transform individuals and organizations toward equity and inclusion.

Aliya Yabekova grew up in Kazakhstan and came to the U.S. in 2019 to obtain her Masters degree in Project Management at Boston University. She is also certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP)® and a Scrum Master PSM 1 (Agile).

Aliya brings her organizational talents to The Impact Seat in service of the diversity and inclusion goals she values.

“I am glad to see the diligence that U.S. companies are placing on improving their workplace inclusion and equity practices. As a global Millennial myself, I know how important these values are to employees and how they are becoming a necessity for tenure and commitment.”