Who We Are
Paul J. Zak, PhD
Paul J. Zak is a Distinguished University Professor at Claremont Graduate University and a pioneer in the interdisciplinary field of neuroeconomics. He is known for discovering the role of the neuropeptide oxytocin in mediating trust and altruism, and for his book The Moral Molecule. Zak holds a PhD in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and has founded and directed the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies. He is also the founder of Immersion Neuroscience, a company that creates platforms to measure brain responses, and has authored multiple books and given numerous TED talks on topics including happiness, morality, and the neuroscience of storytelling.
Amrita Subramanian, PhD
Amrita Subramanian is a leadership scholar-practitioner with 22+ years of executive experience across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. A Wharton-affiliated educator, she teaches in Penn’s Organizational Dynamics program as lead faculty for the Leadership Coaching Certificate. An author, speaker, and advisor, she helps boards and executive teams thrive amid turbulence by creating psychologically safe environments for dialogue and courageous action. Her courses on Organizational Paradoxes and Post-Disruptive Growth examine patterns of chaos, adaptable networks, relational equity, and decision-making in complex conditions. Amrita previously held leadership roles across industries, directing operations, banking services, strategy, and regional talent management. She is president and founder of a global firm advancing post-disruptive growth and was nominated for distinguished teaching in Penn’s Liberal and Professional Studies. Clients include Fortune 500 enterprises. Beyond work, she travels and writes, collecting spices, stories, and connections; she also loves astronomy and mythology, inspired by Carl Sagan and Joseph Campbell.
Jacqueline Grace, MSOD
Brings decades of private and public sector executive leadership, organizational consulting, and leadership coaching experience, as the founder of the Global Transformation Initiative. She integrates neuroscience, trauma research, and relationship science to advance trust, decency, dignity, and resilience. Her frameworks, I.A.M.™ and R-360-5™, equip leaders, educators, and communities for transformative impact. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a Division I athlete in both basketball and crew, Jacqueline brings the discipline and resilience of athletics into her professional practice. She has held senior roles across nonprofit, corporate, and international organizations, and is recognized for her ability to mobilize systems change while keeping relational decency at the center. Her mission is to empower leaders, families, and communities to build stronger bonds and healthier societies.
Isabelle Melone, BS
Isabelle Melone is an emerging leader in education and community health with a passion for advancing mental well-being and holistic, community-based approaches to public health. A summa cum laude graduate of Colgate University with a B.A. in Psychological Sciences and a minor in Global Public and Environmental Health, she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa for her academic excellence. Isabelle currently serves as a third-grade integrated co-teacher with Success Academy Charter Schools in Manhattan, where she blends evidence-based teaching with a commitment to social-emotional growth. Her prior experience includes workplace experience coordination at AlphaSights, a global leader in knowledge on demand. She brings strong interpersonal skills, creativity, and a deep commitment to expanding access to mental health
Chris Rose, PhD
Chris Rose is a bioengineer, journalist, and author with 25 years of experience in wellness and health communication. He earned his PhD in Bioengineering and pursued postgraduate studies at Harvard, focusing on the biology of aging. Over the past 13 years, he has studied mechanisms of longevity and developed a 3D cell model to investigate how senescent cells contribute to fibrosis. His current research explores how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) accelerate biological aging and what interventions can mitigate these effects. He is also the author of I’m Sorry Your Warranty Has Expired and Crossing the Rubicon, works that bring complex science to general audiences.