There’s no shortage of content out there. What’s real? What’s researched? What’s a single opinion? Who to trust?
We have invested hundreds of hours interviewing well over 100 women and men who have had robust careers, extracting their insights, wisdom and ‘wish I would have knowns.’ We integrate that wisdom with the work done by our researchers, including social scientists and psychologists who do the heavy lifting to identify the real from the not so real and unlock brilliant wisdom stuck in academic literature, research studies, books, journals and people’s brains.
Our Team
Janet Winkler
Janet started Hacking Sophia as a passion project, out of a desire to help working parents not only survive, but thrive. With a 35+ year career as an entrepreneur, executive, consultant, mentor, and most importantly to her, a mom of 3 adult children, Janet was deeply committed to cracking a way to help other moms and dads. After completing dozens of interviews with working moms, working dads, their partners, and employers, Janet was struck by how much valuable wisdom is out there, tacit and learned through experience, but locked up and too hard to access. She assembled a team to harvest the wisdom, curate it compulsively and turn it into tight bites so they could be edible and internalized for working parents who have no time.
Sal Zerilli
Sal is a Social Psychologist and Psychotherapist with 15 years of professional experience in academic, corporate, and mental health settings. The son of a single working mother and the working father of two daughters, Sal has a keen personal interest in helping to alleviate the pains and burdens of working parents, especially through the application of social science-derived wisdom and insights gleaned from ongoing ethnographic and therapeutic observations. Sal holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and master’s degrees from Boston College and the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Currently working as an outpatient therapist and research consultant, Sal lives with his wife Beth, a teacher, on the North Shore of Massachusetts.
Joshua Stern, Ph.D.
Educational Specialist with 25 years of professional experience in a variety of academic and corporate settings. After receiving his B.A. from the University of California Berkeley, he completed his M.A. and Ph.D. in Education at UCLA. His research focused on adult learning, specifically online program design and development. Joshua’s passion for education, and belief in the transformative power of online learning, has led him to dedicate his career to creating unique and engaging learning experiences for audiences around the globe. Joshua, his wife Sarah, along with their two young sons, three cats, and a tortoise live near the beach in Torrance, California.
Subject Matter Expert Contributors
We thank the following experts who have contributed to Hacking Sophia and The Sophia Project:
Lainie Goldwert, Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializes in the intersection of culture and mental health. In her therapy practice, Lainie integrates a psychodynamic lens with mindfulness to facilitate relief from anxiety, depression, trauma, loss and relationship struggles. She regularly consults and teaches in NYC, and holds a PhD from the University of Chicago in Clinical Psychology and Psychological Anthropology.
Karen Shanahan, Psychotherapist and Founder, Coastal Therapy Service. With over 20 years in education and counselling psychology, Karen has a specialization supporting individuals dealing with postpartum depression, infertility and coping with the birth of a premature infant. She offers needed support to women navigating the challenges of being a mother.
Heather Stark, Executive Coach, Leadership Development Specialist and Culture Architect. Heather helps leaders and organizations unlock their maximum potential, break through roadblocks and achieve their own vision and goals. This results in stronger teams that are more agile and work together more effectively. Heather’s focus on change management and organizational culture has allowed her to help her clients grow as leaders and drive business transformation. Heather can be reached through her website.
Deborah Mecklinger, LL.B., M.S.W, Certified Coach and Mediator, Founder, Walk the Talk Coaching. Deborah developed walkthetalk, a program specifically designed to champion executives in todays competitive marketplace.
Tanya Cotler, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, trained and certified as both a child and adult psychologist. Tanya’s particular interest is in parent-child attachment, hosting workshops on mindful parenting and attachment in addition to her individual and family therapy. Tanya can be reached through her website.
Jordyn Benattar Menkes, J.D. Law, M.B.A., Executive Coach, President at Speakwell. Jordyn is a lawyer and an award-winning public speaker who dedicates her career to helping others succeed by learning to speak well. Speakwell offers private coaching as well as group workshops designed to help professionals excel.
Sophias
Special thanks to Ingrid Skogan, Emineh Babayon, Greta Epstein and Katie Diamond, and all of the women and men who took precious time out of their day to contribute wisdom and help our community succeed:
Colleen J., Gale P., Sandra H., Joanna B., Peggy H., Deborah M., Sharon P., Sharon M., Ewelina G., Kim W., Linda S., Marcia T., Jen P., Kelly F., Ilze F., Sherry B., Anne W., Alex VP, Celeste G., Robin T., Pam B., Geline M., Rose K., Zabrina H., Sarah F., Noreen M., Alison F., Shibanee V., Salima L., Jackie H., Cindy T., Eliza K., Miranda G., Katie L., Rebecca M., Leah W., Elana C., Kate M., Jennifer L., Christine D., Heather B., Jeanne L., Dess W., Lisa K., Barb B., Nicki W., Beth H., Elena D., Lisa M., Louise A., Howard W., Brian G., Marla G., Shelley F., Patrizia P., Amanda H., Lisa S., Shannon B., Alli W., Amy R., Hilary M., Raymonde L., Jenni B., Madison I., Sunny M., Ashley W., Alexandra S., Sarah S., Tali D., Emily P., Sue VDH., Remi K., Frances F., Rebecca H., Leanne G., Zoja P., Kathryn A., Alice B., Lisa M., Shelley D., Megan S., Victoria H., Jessica S., Amanda H., Nina J, Ashley M., Jamie G., Ioanna R., Shannon L., Al F., John W., Jordy W., Tim F., Anna K., Nick C., Kathy D., Jeremy W., Mitchell H., Liz J., Rosanna A., Gillian E., Carly D., Susan A., Adrianna C., Anne M., Lisa M., Cindy R., Karen M., Grail M., Elizabeth F., Sam W., Chinkal P., Ryan F., Alexa N., Sarah K., Karen H., Amanda R., Karen VDH, Emily BH., Nadia S., Mark D., Alec A., Jen W., Melissa B., Jeff W., Alana K., Joy C., Lindsay WR., Jacey D., Lauren L., Aleksandra J., Nikita S., Erin K., Candace A., Mali, S., Victoria S., Ali B., Lori S., Karen B., Jillian G., Rebecca D., Chelsea N., Nathalie R., Amy B., Ariel O., Yannick S., Deborah M., Tia S., Alyssa C., Emily P., Amanda J., Daniel G., Arin K., Robin C., Michelle E., Lesley G., Becky K., Mary H., Christine C., Elisabeth A., Jess U., Merilee M., Laura D., Liz C., Jenna K., Casey E., Yael B., Lindsay B., Raakhee T., Lindsey T., Sara L., Mark H., Meegan G., Jessica G., Muriam D., Jeannine P., Heather R., Heather S., Tanya C., Divya S., Austin S., Judy N., Elisa P., Tara G., Jennifer G., Kate W., Leanna F., Shannon H., Vikki L., Marème T., Mike K., Sarah G., Aaron C., Ruchi V., Anne M., Kerry S., Wendy L., Arif V., Zubair T., Julie C., Laura F., Loren C., Laura H., and we’re hoping you, soon.
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