The Gifts of Connection Speaker Series
Presenters
Romi Elan
Founder of SoulPlay
Romi Elan is Founder and CEO of SoulPlay, a values-based brand of festivals and events focused on creating more connections in the world. Operating since 2015, SoulPlay holds 3 multi-day festivals and 5-10 single day events per year in Northern California. Romi also currently serves as Head of Operations & Strategy for Rising Team, a technology startup building solutions that revolutionize Leadership Development and Team building.
Romi holds an MBA from UC Berkeley-Haas, and a BA in Economics from Ben Gurion University in Israel. Prior to his MBA studies, Romi worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Co, led real estate investments in Russia and Sri Lanka, and served as a platoon Sergeant in the IDF (Israel Defense Force).
Bringing people together in community has always been his passion from when he was 15 years old. He aspires to create a future world that both he and his kids will thrive in.
Join Romi!
Brian Sabo
Olympic Level Horse Trainer
Brian Sabo is an Olympic level horse trainer and volunteer enthusiast. He's invested the majority of his life as a leader in the equestrian world, holding a plethora of positions along the way. Notably as the President of the United States Eventing Association, Coach for the Mexican National Eventing Team and Coach of Gina Miles, Olympic Silver Medalist.
With a history in the Eventing, Vaulting and equestrian leadership worlds, Brian’s list of accomplishments goes on. Among his incredible personal achievements, was named leading rider in USEA Area VI in 1969 and 1981, was a founding member of what is now The Horsepark in Woodside, and was Eventing Show Jumping Course Designer at the 1984 Olympics. Brian's also proud to have coached the Hidden Hills Horsemen Vaulters to an unprecedented three national "A" Championships and served as Chief Liaison at the 1984 Olympics for the sport of Eventing.
After serving 17 years Brian retired as a faculty member of the USEA Instructor Certification Program. Brian is still focused on helping others become the best trainers, mentors and volunteers they can be.
Join Brian!
Tim West
Venture Philanthropist
Tim West is a Slow Food chef turned Social Entrepreneur and Social Capitalist, Co-Founder of Sundial Ventures, which work to solve some of the toughest Social and Environmental challenges, by creating a space where makers and entrepreneurs can work together for change.
Tim has also been recognized as one of Zagat's 30 under 30 Food World up and Comers for his work producing Food Hackathons, and has served as a Fellow4Good at the Institute for the Future in 2015. He has designed learning journeys, spoken on panels, advised startups, placed executives and worked with clients including Facebook, Verizon Media, Burning Man, Tesla, and many more notable names.
Tim currently serves as the Global Ambassador of the Future Food Institute supporting community events, Summer Schools and corporate innovation strategy.
Join Tim!
Stell Bahrami
Founder RE-Kinnect
Stell Bahrami(They/Them) is the founder of RE-Kinnect, Liquid Presence Aquatic Dance and an Empowerment Coach. Stell’s work focuses on connection, empowerment, authenticity and embodiment to guide you into deeper connection with yourself and others as your means for creating a more purpose filled and meaningful life. Whether it is on horseback, in the water, in community, in relation, at work or in your personal life Stell’s focus is in helping you reignite connection and act from your authentic empowerment and inner guidance systems.
Stell integrantes their experience with various conscious communication forms, leadership, team building, cultural anthropology, energetic and physical healing, kundalini yoga, meditation, contact improv, work with animals, and many, many other physical, mental and spiritual modalities to complement their offerings. In their work with RE-Kinnect, which focuses on team building, community and transformational personal development, Stell helps you rediscover meaningful connection with your team, organization and Self.
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Tiffany Persons
Multi-Talented Connection Creator
Tiffany Persons is a true multi-hyphenate with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Tiffany Persons is a creator known for her compelling and innovative approach to her diverse body of work.
Tiffany began her career in music video production at the height of the artform where she worked with popular artists such as Missy Elliott and Beyonce. After venturing into documentary filmmaking, she was inspired to launch the award-winning educational organization Shine On Sierra Leone which holistically supports over 500 children. During this time, Tiffany also created Tiffany Company Casting where she discovered her gift as a casting director in sourcing the stories of real people for commercials.
In 2020, she launched a production company with partners Lilakoi Moon and Rebecca Rogers to create content committed to storytelling capturing the raw truth of the human experience.
Tiffany is the founder of Tiffany Company Casting in Shine on Sierra Leone and she is also the director of Empathy at the advertising agency, David and Goliath
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Trish Doolan
Film Maker & Founder of BRCAAware
Trish Doolan is a versatile, accomplished storyteller, and an acclaimed screenwriter, playwright, director and actor. She wrote, directed, produced and starred in the film April's Shower, which was released by Regent Films and promptly won four best picture awards. The New York Times called April’s Shower highly “enjoyable” and “refreshingly volatile.” The San Francisco Chronicle deemed it “expansive, talky and zany,” and called Trish’s storytelling “impressive.”
Trish also leads 'Dish with Trish', a food channel that makes cooking a joy and as Trish says teaches viewers the most important ingredient is 'love'. A recent cancer survivor, Trish and BRCAAware are currently working on passing legislation centered on women's health rights. An inspiration and a joy to be around we are thrilled to have Trish join us on The Gifts of Connection Series.
Join Trish!
Eldra Jackson III
CO-Executive Director of Inside Circle
Eldra Jackson III, Co-Executive Director of Inside Circle, is a writer and sought after public speaker on the topics of at-risk youth advocacy, effective criminal justice rehabilitation, authentic leadership, diversity and inclusion and turning around 'toxic' masculinity.
Eldra brings clarity of purpose, mission focus and inspiration to his role at Inside Circle. He was an inmate at New Folsom when he was adopted by Inside Circle and began the inner personal journey that eventually led to his release in 2014 and his current leadership role. A living example of successful re-entry, Eldra has dedicated his free time to serving at-risk youth and acting as a facilitator, trainer, mentor and coach.
Join Eldra!
joe tabanella
Trainer of Hypnosis, NLP & MER
Joe is an Instructor at Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI), the first accredited college for hypnotherapy as well as an trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Mental and Emotional Release (MER).
Joe teaches and mentors students on how to incorporate biofeedback, MER and NLP into hypnosis, highlighting the importance of self-regulation and mental rehearsal in order to build emotional resilience. Joe is also a group facilitator and hypnotherapist at Milestones ranch Malibu, and Connect Wellness.
Joe has been featured on BRAVO and LIFETIME. He is also the co-creator of POSSIBLE, an app designed to help release negative emotions, reprogram limiting beliefs and construct a positive future version of oneself. He is also the co-author of several children’s books designed to help children access the resources they need to overcome common developmental challenges.
Joe focuses on educating and empowering his clients to develop rapport with their subconscious mind, helping them to achieve their goals and live the life they desire.
Join Joe!
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Antoinette Peragine
Comedian & Host of Antoinette & Friends
Antoinette Peragine is a mother, actress and comedian who pivoted to talk show host.
Antoinette’s gift is to have deeper conversations than people are accustomed to. She surprises many of her guests with how she quickly gets to someone’s authenticity by providing a safe space for them to share and reveal hard lessons that have made them the success that they are now.
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A true connection catalyst Antoinette is fun, lovable and knows how to get guests and viewers in the same energy. Come join her for a good laugh and a deep conversation!
Join Antoinette!
Leyna Topete
Founder of Her Too Organization
Leyna Topete is the founder of Her Too, an organization which raises funds to help women afford cancer treatment and whose mission is to bring greater awareness of the cost of fighting breast cancer. Of mixed descent Puerto Rican/ Mexican, Leyna is also the founder and CEO of IMPROMPTU, a luxurious lifestyle brand & beauty brand.
IMPROMPTU's premiere line "The Lola Collection" was inspired by Leyna's mother, who developed an allergic reaction to her favorite cosmetic product: lipstick. Because of this, The Lola Collection utilizes a thoughtfully developed list of ingredients, keeping in mind those with rare allergies.
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Leyna is also committed to making a positive difference in the world "beyond beauty" by supporting the United States armed forces. Leyna has visited military bases both on the East Coast and West Coast to show support to Women in Uniform.
Join Leyna!
NORMAN SEEFF
Iconic Photographer & Creative
Norman Seeff is the most iconic rock and roll photographer, a creative and a filmmaker. Born in South Africa, Norman’s first two careers were as a professional soccer player and a medical doctor. Since moving to the United States in 1969, his work has been focused on the exploration of human creativity and the inner dynamics of the creative process.
To date Norman has documented over 500 sessions with artists of all disciplines including musicians, actors, writers, directors, scientists, entrepreneurs, politicians and more. Norman’s creative interaction with renowned creators and innovators includes such luminaries as Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell, Steve Jobs, Steve Martin, John Huston, Martin Scorsese, Billy Wilder, Bob Fosse, wil.i.am, Tina Turner, Alicia Keys, Sir Francis Crick, Nobel winners and hundreds of others. He has worked in creative collaborations with institutions such as: The California Technology Institute, The Experience Museum, Rockitdyne, Jet Propulsion Lab, Glaxo Wellcome, Paramount TV, Motorola, General Motors, Apple, Mitsubishi, Toyota, TED, The Annenberg Foundation, Lexus, YPO, GM., Nissan, and many more.
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Norman views himself as a conduit for the voices of the hundreds of creative and innovative individuals working at the higher reaches of human potential he has interacted with over many decades.
Join Norman!
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