Lena DiGenti
Lead Facilitator
Lena is a coach, a relentless innovator, and an entrepreneur. The bulk of her career has been as a consultant helping everyone from solopreneurs to Fortune 100 companies. Her work spans organizational development, effective leadership, branding, strategy, marketing, and operations. Before leaping into business, she worked as a teacher from preschool to at-risk inner-city youth, to special needs high schoolers, and everything in between. Her work, as a coach, a consultant, and an entrepreneur, is grounded in her lifelong meditation practice, deep curiosity and understanding of how people learn, and 25 years in business. She holds degrees in Education, Math, and Psychology.
Core Team
Jonathan Dariyanani
Founder
Jonathan has been a corporate lawyer, entrepreneur, innovator in healthcare technology, patent holder and filmmaker. Previously a lawyer at the Silicon Valley law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati, Jonathan has worked with governments, Fortune 500 corporations, and start-ups, on innovative educational and health care technologies. For the last decade, he has worked within the healthcare system on innovative, neuroscience based models to increase resilience and alleviate psychological pain. His most recent start-up developed the most widely used Certified Nurse Aide Training program in the United States, which used an innovative approach to address dementia, depression, and end-of-life care. He has advised the World Economic Forum and the United Nations on educational technology interventions and co-built a program to assist the Veterans Administration with the COVID-19 crisis. In addition to his work at WiderPath, Jonathan is currently completing his Masters in Public Health at Yale University. Jonathan has a law degree from Duke University.
James Babcock
Co-Founder, Business Development
James is passionate about invention, development, and commercialization of new modalities within the current mental health care system. He is aligned with Cthulhu Ventures, a closely-held venture-capitalfirm specializing in early-stage niche companies who share Cthulhu`s focus onquality of performance, integrity of attitude and behavior, concern for the environment in which we all live, and a high regard for each other as individuals. James holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Jo Schneier
Chairman
Joseph Schneier is a serial entrepreneur who with his co-founder, founded and exited two companies in the educational technology space. Following that, Mr. Schneier worked with behavioral research scientists productizing their research with technology-based solutions for patient behavioral change with a focus on HIV drug adherence, health literacy and addiction. In 2013, he co-founded Cognotion–a company focused on solving the talent shortage of healthcare workers in Skilled Nursing Facilities and home health care. In 2018, Mr. Schneier founded Trusty.care, an insurtech company for the retiree population, whose mission it is to make sure no retiree goes through bankruptcy because of out-of-pocket healthcare costs. In 2020, with James Firman, the former CEO of the National Council on Aging, Mr. Schneier founded Bellage, a public health company focused on senior care. Mr. Schneier has spoken at TedMed, Lake Nona, JP Morgan Healthcare and is a mentor at New York University, Wharton, Cornell, Techstars, and is a Columbia University Fellow. Mr. Schneier sits on the board of The Sam and Devorah Foundation for Transgender youth, Superbia Credit Union, a LGBTQ credit union, and the board of Stonewall Community Development Corporation, a non-profit focused on LGBTQ senior housing and is a member of the LGBTQ+ Biden Council, the LGBTQ+ District Attorney Queens Council and the Queens Pride Council.
Jessica Mand
Human Resources & Communications Director
Jessica is an award-winning, results-driven communications leader and Founder of INDEMAND Communications, who helps companies engage,inspire, and activate employees, organizations, and teams. She works with Fortune 500 companies as well as small businesses on communications strategy,content creation, and creative communications projects, personalizing each client’s message to their chosen audience in a way that is memorable and meaningful. A creative storyteller who simplifies complex business scenarios,Jessica delivers innovative and engaging communications programs with real,positive impact. Jessica is also a co-founder of and practitioner in Purpose Practiced, where she works with individuals to help them realize their life’s purpose, and bring their desired future into reality.
