European Peace University

Mamaroneck High School

Georgetown University

SFEJ

Co-founder & CEO @bebevoyage, experts in creating community among parents traveling w small children & relevant brands

Argentina

Bébé Voyage LLC is an aspirational lifestyle brand which helps parents who travel connect with each other so that they can trade resources, tips and (mis)adventures to ease their travel experience. We also connect these families with brands that matter to them. As a company founder, I am in charge of: - establishing the strategic direction and focus of the company- developing and testing various business models and income generating streams- implementing B2B strategy- handling legal, fiscal and administrative issues (incorporation, tax status, bank accounts etc)

Bébé Voyage

Co-Founder, CEO

- ThagaConnect is a UK-registered global network of professionals with diverse and complementary skill sets which offers training to development organisations and to the private sector.- Developed and offered courses in written communications for local and expatriate staff of embassies and international organizations. Participants improved their report writing, email etiquette and English language skills. Some course participants followed up with one-on-one mentoring to deepen their skills. - Developed a bespoke course on PR for the International Growth Centre. Analyzed their starting point and designed focused modules on identifying and building relationships with relevant journalists, creating an engaging newsletter and optimizing social media engagement.

Thagaconnect

Trainer

Offer language training courses via Skype in French, English, and Portuguese. In addition to traditional language curriculum (grammar, vocabulary, idiomatic expressions etc), courses include cross-cultural communications training and professional development. Topics include business skills, written communications, interview preparation and management.

L.O.S. Language Online Services

Language Consultant

As the first video game studio exclusively devoted to making peace fun, Sipala Labs is on the leading edge of peace praxis by adopting a systemic vision for addressing violence. These techniques are sometimes referred to as social-emotional learning, character building, empathy, conflict resolution, anger management, inter-personal communications, community empowerment, sustainable development, inclusive governance, social justice, amongst other names. Co-founders, Marianne and Sabrina's holistic approach involves addressing conflicts at all levels, from the internal to the international and proposing peaceful, nonviolent strategies. These alternate responses have been tested and proven to be effective, when appropriately adapted, in various situations and contexts. By seeking out the latest research in the interdisciplinary field of peace studies, Sipala Labs draws from such varied sectors as education, psychology, sociology, communications, foreign relations, and human rights. In using gaming technology, SL is charting the way for making urgently needed peacebuilding and conflict transformation skills accessible to a mass audience. A self-funded organization, Sipala Labs has achieved impressive results in 2 years: winning the UN Development Programme and UN Alliance of Civilization's PEACEapp competition for games for intercultural dialogue and conflict prevention; receiving mentorship from Games for Change; collaborating with 3 pro bono game dev teams resulting in 2 rapid prototypes; being mentioned in Foreign Policy Magazine; and being invited to present at various global conferences. All of this is underpinned by the organizational groundwork the founders have laid in developing a strategic plan, budget and projections, board of advisors, strong network of support and collaborators, peace superheroes character book (including spec art), and self-produced marketing videos not to mention establishing the organization's vision, mission and purpose.

Sipala Labs

Co-Founder

- Conceived of Peace Is Sexy which shifts the definition of peace from dull, idealistic, costly and boring to sexy, possible, profitable and fun by highlighting stories of individuals, organizations, companies and entertainment. Hired web designer and recruited Peace Is Profitable contributor. • Notable interviewees include Nobel Peace Prize Winner Jody Williams, Global Peace Index Founder Steve Killelea as well as peacebuilders from around the world. • Developing series of workbooks aimed at making peace available and accessible in our daily lives. First in the series is "Participate in Dreaded Conversations with Ease." • Creating a digital game which fictionalizes stories from Peace is Sexy and turns them into the Peace Superheroes. Currently seeking funding and game designers. • Write, research, interview for, and edit weekly articles. • Update website, Twitter feed and Facebook pages. • Offer social networking for conscious change services to The Shift Network’s Summer of Peace program. Create video tutorials on how to use Facebook and Twitter.AVAILABLE TO GIVE:- Courses in Peace Media and Peace Journalism- Workshops for peace studies students, activists, journalists and other media professionals- Presentations at conferences

Peace is Sexy

Founder

The work we do has made a huge difference in the private sector, specifically with organizations like: IBM, Dynasea, Crown Architectural, MDI, EMC, The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, and many others.  The fundamental benefits of what we do include:an expanded ability to engage and influence others, a grace and peace that is present even under pressure, collaboration with colleagues in an environment of teamwork and easeand, most importantly, the accomplishment of outcomes that have, for one reason or another, eluded organizations in the past.Through this work, our clients have produced these results:Amicable resolution of all budgetary conflicts in a $30MM annual NGO within 30 days (the process had been going on for 6 months with no progress), Creation and implementation of a training and development curriculum for a US-based not-for-profit with 1000 members, 260% increase in productivity for a software development department in a Fortune 500 company (over two years), 75% reduction in turnover rate among engineers for a major (multi billion $) technology firm (one year, sustained over 5), 400% increase in sales for an internet retail firm (one year), 100% increase in sales for an established gourmet foods manufacturer (18 months). Our unique approach works to produce shifts in the paradigm of leadership that are at the root of organizational performance. Our experience is that these shifts:enable key decision-makers to follow through on their vision, train those decision-makers to empower their team to build on that vision, create a system to identify performance breakdowns before they impact bottom line results, and successfully resolve those breakdowns so that the vision can be realized.

International Leadership Development Group

Founding partner

Dialogue facilitation training for New Israel Fund Staff• Full-day workshop for NIF East Coast staff.   • Introduced staff members to JDG’s core facilitation concepts and skills, JDG’s format for one-time dialogue sessions. Gave staff members an opportunity to practice facilitation tools and explore emotional preparation for difficult conversations.    Facilitator Training• Trained 20 BBYO staff members to facilitate conversations for 200 participants aged 15-18 years old. Introduced BBYO staff members to key concepts related to dialogue, provided staff members with step-by-step instructions for leading small group dialogues, enabled staff members to practice key facilitation tasks, encouraged staff members to prepare emotionally for facilitation. • Led introductory session with 200 campers. Used interactive exercises to prime them for dialogue. Facilitated closing group harvest session. Conflict Mapping• Full-day workshop for Jewish Dialogue Group interns and leaders.   • Members created a conflict map of the the Israeli-Palestinian conflict identifying actors, needs, goals and relationships. In order to accomplish this, took participants through experiential exercises including social barometer, Circle of Truths (empathy-building exercise), and discussions around defining terms.

Jewish Dialogue Group

Facilitator and Trainer

- Interpreted in French and English for U.S. Federal Immigration Court hearings. • Specialized in legal terminology and cross-cultural communication with francophone Africans. • Passed interpreter qualification exam and obtained Department of Justice Public Trust security clearance.

Lionbridge

French-English Interpreter

- Compiled glossary of key terms in peace and conflict resolution for Department of Peace Campaign activists to support their lobbying efforts. Glossary to be published by the Peace Alliance and distributed to network of activists (currently 50,000).  	Organized an academic conference, “Strategies for Creating Peace Roundtable,” in conjunction with Georgetown University. Identified and invited experts, coordinated travel arrangements, negotiated with hotel, prepared conference materials, supervised catering, and tracked logistics. Took notes at roundtable, transformed them into public materials, disseminated them to activists and Members of Congress.  	Wrote, edited and prepared for publication a position paper, “Making Cents of Peacebuilding,” published by the Peace Alliance Foundation. In preparation for publication, researched data on violence, violence prevention and violence reduction in the United States.  Paper cited in at least 50 meetings with Members of Congress.	Conducted training on nonviolent communication and peace journalism at Youth for Positive Change Romania 2006 summer program.  	Prepared modules on peace journalism for replication in the United States.

THE PEACE ALLIANCE

Consultant

- Design and implement organizational strategic planning using logistical frameworks.  	Managed “Choose Peace!”, a peacebuilding event to reframe September 11 as a date for hope and healing and to raise awareness for the campaign to establish U.S. Department of Peace (DOP). Oversaw team of 20 people involved in fundraising, event content, press relations and outreach. Cultivated relationships with politicians, musicians and peacebuilders. 	Organized international campaign, “100 Years of Nonviolence: Gandhi and September 11, 1906-2006” which took place in at least 65 venues and 5 countries. Wrote mission statement, press releases, copy for website. Approved all outgoing communications for consistency in messaging. Coordinated press conference and panel discussion. Designed press kits and promotional materials. Established feedback process and compiled lessons learned. Generated at least 15 items of press coverage.	Developed media and public education strategies to raise awareness about the campaign to establish a DOP. Pitched and prepared stories for news outlets, interviewed by 12 print and broadcast journalists including WNYC’s Brian Lehrer.

New Yorkers for a Department of Peace

Project Manager

Director, Bespoke Homeschooling (2008-2012)• Coordinated home schooling program by interfacing with families, tutors, school board and distance learning administrators. Prepared written materials to promote the program. Researched homeschooling market in New York. Developed marketing and promotional materials.    • Homeschooled high school students in English/Language Arts, History, Economics, Spanish and French.  Director, Bespoke Westchester (2008-2011)• Managed Irvington, NY office. Oversaw expansion up to 15 employees. Ran mock testing program. Hired and trained proctors. Ran study hall for middle school and high school students. Developed client base and increased Westchester revenues by 150%.Tutor (2007-2012)• Teach SAT, ACT, ISEE preparation and writing classes. • Tutor in French, Spanish, History, Economics, Literature and homework skills for middle school and high school students.  • Prepare students for standardized exams, including SAT 2 and Advanced Placement.

Bespoke Education

Director

- Conducted field research for post-tsunami conflict sensitive reconstruction project in Eastern Sri Lanka. • Designed interview questionnaire. Interviewed households in tsunami-affected areas to assess their basic needs. • Compiled information in Access database. • Collected and edited stories of tsunami experiences to help generate a collective healing process and inter-communal understanding across Tamil, Sinhalese and Muslim villages. • Photographed and edited photos for website and project catalogue. • Participated in “People’s Forums”, a community-based approach to project development. • Wrote project descriptions, website updates, and project reports.  • Aided in grant applications and project proposals.

Integrative Institute for Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding

Assistant Field Researcher

- Conducted research on the relationship between media and conflict.  • Met with professionals in the media and peacebuilding fields, as well as government officials in Nairobi, Kenya and Kigali, Rwanda.  • Translated and edited articles and administrative documents in French and English.  • Conducted research at International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda center in Kigali.  • Prepared, ran and presented a seminar on the relationship between media and conflict for peace workers, local and international media.    • Researched and wrote articles for Mediator Magazine. • Edited and advised on PHARP publications including Mediator Magazine and peace-building work books. • Aided in grant applications and project proposals.

Marianne de Fransius