Elyssa Dimant will lead a discussion on innovating for women with women’s health and wellness founders Kate Brashares, Lisa Lundy, and Nyeesha Williams.
This event is centered around a woman-focused perspective, emphasizing an inclusive definition of women. We extend a warm and expansive invitation to all women, encompassing trans women and individuals who identify as nonbinary, gender non-conforming, or as a woman in a way that holds personal significance to them. We also extend a friendly welcome to allies who are dedicated to fostering supportive environments for those often underrepresented in both workplace and broader contexts.
Café Co-Lab's are small networking groups focused on specific topics. They are an opportunity for co-lab members to connect, share resources, and engage with other members.
Elyssa Dimant is an expert brand strategist with 15+ years leading full stack marketing and creative teams, both in-house and agency-side, yielding proven successes driving awareness and customer base growth for companies established at global scale ($2B+: J.Crew, Net-A-Porter) and in early-stage high-growth environments ($10M-$200M: HATCH, ByHeart, goTenna).
Elyssa’s leadership has spanned sectors, from Fashion and Luxury to CPG and Tech, as she puts brand story and product proposition at the heart of any company’s success. She has a passion for partnerships, policy & corporate affairs, and has engineered ESG frameworks to set long-term goals and drive foundational impact for global brands and startups alike. Elyssa started her career as an historian and, as a BA Summa Cum Laude from University of Massachusetts with an MA from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Elyssa has served as an adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design, the Cooper Hewitt Masters Program, and has authored five books for Harper Collins on fashion, sociology and art history. Elyssa lives in Montclair, New Jersey with her husband and two sons, and her German Shepherd, Boomerang.
Kate Brashares (she/her) is the co-Founder and CEO of Hello Therapeutics, a digital healthcare company developing evidence-based products for women in perimenopause, menopause and beyond. She is an experienced leader dedicated to building and growing organizations that drive societal change and improve health outcomes.
For nine years Kate was the Executive Director of Edible Schoolyard NYC, an award-winning nonprofit whose mission is to support nutrition education and health for underserved New York City schoolchildren. Previously Kate worked in financial services at Merrill Lynch and at Credit Suisse First Boston in Moscow, and in brand marketing at Avon, Symrise and Peet’s Coffee and Tea.
Kate has a B.A in Classics from Cambridge University and an M.B.A. from Columbia University, where she was an R.C Kopf Fellow. She is a dual English/American citizen, and lives in Montclair, New Jersey with her husband and three children, who enjoy making fun of her British accent.
Lisa Lundy is the founder and CEO of Complex Creatures, a disruptive personal care brand dedicated to making breast wellness mainstream. Through products, education, and community, Complex Creatures is changing the conversation around breast health across all life stages. Prior to Complex Creatures, Lisa built a successful 20-year brand marketing career working with top retailers and emerging e-commerce startups in the fashion/beauty industry. She continues to run her consultancy, Firstborn, to partner with other founders and executives to develop brand voice and strategy for a range of brands across fashion, beauty, and lifestyle industries.
Nyeesha D. Williams is a mental well-being expert, adjunct professor, humanitarian, author, life coach, NAMI board member and Founder/CEO of Serenity For Mothers. She has worked in healthcare for twenty years, specializing in trauma survivors and women's health. As a mental health expert, she helps others cope with anxiety, depression, creative block, and artistic stagnation through her deep understanding of mental health.
Nyeesha, a graduate of Renaissance Life Therapies and Harvard Business School, touts professional certifications from the National Institute for Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine, Mental Health First Aid from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and Question, Persuade & Refer which drives to decrease suicidal behavior. Her prowess has gained several awards such as "2018 Best Business Influencer”, “2022 Maternal Health Maverick”, “2022 Best SEL Coach”, "2023 Woman of Inspiration" and "Women Leader of the Year" Honorary Award. Moreover she was awarded The City of Long Beach Certificate of Recognition. Nyeesha persists in devoting her capacities to aiding women, men, and children.
In addition to her work with Serenity For Mothers, Nyeesha volunteers as a NAMI Helpline Specialist, providing support services, resource referrals, and support to countless individuals with mental health conditions, their families, caregivers, mental health providers, and the public.
As a mental health and healing advocate, Nyeesha travels nationally and internationally, presenting workshops and encouraging others in similar situations. She has won standing ovations at Harvard University, Rutgers University, Barnard College, UMDNJ, University of Ghana, and hundreds of middle and high schools nationwide for her remarkable ability to connect and shift the perspective of connectedness and healing.
Nyeesha aims to create interactive and guided books to help people in her community, especially women, find their way and thrive.
All co-lab events are free to members. Zoom details will be posted on the day of the event in our private community Slack in the #cafe-co-lab channel. All questions can be directed to info@jointhecolab.com. To become a member and receive access to these exciting events, join us here.