About Us
Catherine Connors
I’ve always believed that stories have the power to shape the world, and my journey has been dedicated to exploring just how far that power can go. I wrote my first novel in fourth grade (published by the esteemed house of Mom & Dad) and only got more serious from there. I’ve followed the thread of narrative from academia to non-profits, startups, and global entertainment companies, constantly seeking new ways to harness the art of storytelling for change. As an innovator in digital and social media, I’ve had the privilege of building platforms and strategies that help others tell their stories—whether that’s been girls learning to find their voice or global brands multiplying their audiences of millions. At Disney, where I served as Head of Content and Editor-in-Chief for the interactive media division, I led teams that crafted narratives to capture imaginations across the world. Throughout my career, I’ve collaborated with creatives and innovators—from mom bloggers to Yo-Yo Ma—and each partnership has reaffirmed what I’ve always known: the best stories are the ones that move us, challenge us, and push us toward something bigger.
Julissa Contreras
I carry the conventional titles that signal my validity to the world: cofounder, creative director, writer, performer, podcaster, producer, educator, social impact consultant, community strategist, operations manager, social advocate, and spiritualist, and ancestral medium, among other things. I created spaces like Ladies Who Bronché, SPIRA, and stories like Vámonos and Sh*t Spanish Girls Say. I've helped develop start-ups through WeWork, Donorly, and NAYAH. I affirm artists and create art within spaces like INTAR, Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, MCC Theater, People’s Theater, Latinx Playwrights Circle, Dominican Artists Collective, SOL Project, Rattlestick Theater, Atlantic Theater, to name a few. Absolutely; I have served and healed my community through organizations and spaces like Lighthouse Writer's Workshop, The Writer's Hood, Children’s Aid, Garden of Dreams, NYC DYCD, Hunter College, Kripalu Sacred Artists, and The Almighty Pineapple. So what’s the story here? In all of the spaces and beyond I’ve answered the same call: to hold sacred reverence for truth and the modalities that act as conduits for its impact. Truth holds a sacred story whose deferral causes deep cyclical harm. We have to reckon with the truth at some point and while it may challenge us, I am a container to facilitate us through the reckoning.
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Dr. Astrid J. Scholz
Dr. Astrid J. Scholz is a serial systems change entrepreneur and innovator: she is the co-founder of Armillaria, a tech-for-good company that creates infrastructure for more effectively and equitably mobilizing data, people, and capital towards addressing the most urgent challenges of our time. She also co-founded Game The System, a company that uses the power of story to reimagine the world, and Zebras Unite, a global movement for and by founders and investors who are building the businesses that are better for the world. Astrid was previously President of Ecotrust, a bioregional, conservation-based innovation and development organization with more than $250M in assets under management. She holds degrees from the Universities of St. Andrews, Bristol, and California at Berkeley, and serves on the boards of Living Oceans Society, Habitat Media, and the nonprofit arm of Zebras Unite. Astrid is a frequent advisor and speaker on the nexus of technology, capital, innovation and business strategy.
Michael Streefland
Michael Streefland helps companies tell the stories that change what’s possible. Michael partners with CEOs and leadership teams at defining moments when the stakes are high and the path forward isn’t yet clear, to turn complexity into clarity and vision into momentum. Working at the intersection of data, culture, and emerging technology, he uses storytelling as a strategic force to align organizations, unlock growth, and drive transformation. Over 15+ years, he has shaped narratives behind some of the world’s most influential brands, including Meta, TikTok, Oracle, and The Walt Disney Company - fueling multi-billion-dollar growth, $500M+ acquisitions, and category-defining shifts. His belief is simple: the right story doesn’t just reflect change… it creates it.