An accomplished and dynamic leader, Kitty is a strategist who partners with social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders to optimize their business practices and bring their big ideas to life. After a successful early career as an Executive Producer of film, television and commercials, Rothschild transitioned her focus to social impact, where she has brought her operations expertise to numerous verticals, including the areas of early childhood, education, social and emotional learning, and the performing arts. She recently served for six years as Chief Operating Officer at the Collaborative for Social, Emotional and Academic Learning (CASEL). Other key roles include Executive Director of Integrity Media Group, Rush Hour Concerts and Managing Director of ROI Ventures, a social purpose branding and strategy firm. Her clients have included Jennifer and Peter Buffet’s NoVo Foundation, The Ounce of Prevention, The Muhammad Ali Center, 1871 Innovation Hub and the New Options learning lab – a $30 million initiative for the WK Kellogg Foundation. She has stewarded funding relationships with Mackenzie Scott, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, New Options Initiative, and many others.

Rothschild has served on numerous boards and advisory committees, including Aspen Music Festival, Perspectives Charter Schools, Andrew Levitt Center for Social Emergency Medicine, the Francis W. Parker School, and ParenTeach Institute. She resides in Chicago, IL.

With over 20 years in the social impact sector, spanning non-profits, startups, and digital and creative agencies, Stephanie’s expertise encompasses all facets of operational strategy and implementation, change management, systems, project and program management, and organizational development. Most recently, she served in a Customer Success role at Microsoft, following her role as Chief Operating Officer at Bonfire, a Chicago-based leadership accelerator focused on women’s talent development. Throughout her career, Stephanie has been dedicated to helping individuals and teams achieve greater operational excellence, workflow efficiency, and meaningful impact, and has held leadership positions at other organizations such as the Collaborative for Social, Emotional and Academic Learning (CASEL), the New Options Project at Frequency540 fka ROI Ventures, and Civitas, an early childhood communications organization.

As Chief of Staff to Goldie Hawn at MindUP™, Iris brings over 10 years of experience in executive support. She joined MindUP I The Goldie Hawn Foundation in 2007, where she currently oversees the social media and communications strategy for the organization. Iris serves as the primary point of contact for all business matters pertaining to the Founder, and as a liaison to the executive team. Leveraging her expertise in the entertainment industry, Iris supports the initiatives of the Foundation and the Founder’s work, specifically in the areas of communications, media relations and event coordination.

Iris graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational and Corporate Communication. Born and raised in France, she is fluent in French and has a strong understanding of global perspective. An accomplished equestrian and animal lover, Iris currently lives in Santa Monica, CA where she enjoys the diversity of her community.

Joelle Schonberg is the Operations Manager at MindUP™ | The Goldie Hawn Foundation. Joelle graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Master’s of Industrial Relations from Queen’s University. Joelle has a passion for youth development and spent many years working at Muskoka Woods, a summer camp with the mission for youth to reflect and draw deeper meaning from fun experiences, giving them the confidence to shape their world. Joelle was previously the Business Manager of WE Schools Program, an innovative experiential service-learning program that engages educators around the world to empower youth with the skills, knowledge and motivation to bring positive change in themselves and the world.

Suzanne Lemberg is the Education Program Manager at MindUP™ | The Goldie Hawn Foundation. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Emory University and her Master of Arts in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. Driven by a belief in the ability of all students to succeed, Suzanne is passionate about equipping students and educators with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive. Previously, Suzanne spent years as a K-2 educator holding various teacher and teacher-leader roles in Brooklyn. Most recently, she served as a program manager at an education non-profit, working to ensure strong literacy outcomes in NYC schools. During the current unprecedented times in education, Suzanne is thrilled to support schools and educators in creating positive, compassionate, and productive environments through the MindUP program. 

Dorie Schwartz is the Manager of Training at MindUP | The Goldie Hawn Foundation. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Child Study and Human Development and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Tufts University. Upon completing her master’s, she worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the education sector in Guyana. Most recently, she was a program manager at a nonprofit in New York City where she trained and coached educators in implementing an early literacy intervention. Dorie is guided by a deep respect and appreciation for educators, and is excited to bring her experience collaborating with and supporting them to MindUP’s training team.

Sera Anello serves as the Manager, Curriculum and Educational Content at MindUP | The Goldie Hawn Foundation. She is a passionate advocate for holistic education, drawing upon her background as a former elementary school teacher and a leader in social-emotional learning (SEL) within the School District of Philadelphia. Sera earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialized focus in SEL from the University of Virginia, paving the way for her career as a social-emotional learning consultant and professional development facilitator. Her expertise lies in the integration of curriculum development, SEL, and mindfulness education.

She is committed to crafting educational experiences that empower students academically, emotionally, and socially. She is on a mission to equip educators with the knowledge, tools, and resources necessary to enhance student outcomes and promote the overall well-being of entire school communities. Sera Anello is thrilled about supporting schools and educators in creating resilient, empathetic, and inclusive environments through the MindUP program.

Jess is the Customer Experience and Membership Manager at MindUP™ | The Goldie Hawn Foundation. Jess brings with her 20+ years of experience in the PreK-12 Educational Publishing space. She started her career working for a children’s book publisher and then moved on to working within global content service organizations. There she partnered and supported the worlds largest educational publishers to concept, develop, and deploy educational content. At MindUP™ Jess will serve the member community. She looks forward to connecting with the members of MindUP™ to learn and provide a best in class experience.

She studied communications and feels listening is the most crucial part of building partnerships. As a mother of two young children, she sees the impact world events have on our kids. She is passionate about mental and physical wellness for all.

Maizie Hamilton is the Administrative Coordinator at MindUP™ | The Goldie Hawn Foundation. Maizie received her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Health Studies and Mental Health & Addictions from McMaster University and a Master’s of Design with a specialization in Healthcare from OCAD University. Maizie is passionate about exploring how health experiences can be improved by design. She is also passionate about mental and physical health & wellness, inclusion, and community well-being. Maizie was previously the Inclusive Program Development Manager at a non-profit. She designed workshops to be offered to community organizations to provide training on accessibility, inclusivity, and key considerations when working with and alongside youth with exceptionalities.

Prior to joining MindUP, Melissa served for ten years as the Vice President of Practice, Innovations, and Partnerships at the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). In this role, she led CASEL’s efforts to advance new initiatives and collaborations that promote understanding and implementation of systemic Social and Emotional Learning. Melissa has also served as an executive at education publishers including ScholarCentric and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt where she led innovation and growth through strategic partnerships. Melissa started her career as an educator in Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia and resides with her husband and teenage twins in the Chicagoland area.