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Valerie René Sheppard, PhD
Founder, Executive Director & Board Chair Dr. Valerie René Sheppard is a catastrophic-stroke survivor, inspirational keynote speaker, workshop and retreat facilitator and CEO of The Heartly Center for Mindfulness and Self-Mastery™. Dr. Valerie uses the principles and practices in her multi award-winning, #1 international best-seller, "Living Happy to Be ME!©" as the centerpiece of her transformational coaching practice, which is helping young people and adults, executives and entrepreneurs experience more happiness, success and fulfillment. The book is the centerpiece of her much-loved personal development curriculum that was successfully piloted at the University of California, Irvine from 2015-2019.
Dr. Valerie is on the Board of the Evolutionary Business Council™. She is a certified Master Trainer, a certified Sacred Contracts coach, and has been trained in compassionate communication, spiritual direction and HeartMath. As a professional improv comedienne, Valerie’s specialty is finding ways to keep transformational work light, and she often incorporates improv tips and games, and Laughter Yoga into her workshops and keynote addresses. Dr. Valerie was featured on the August 2016 cover of My Authentic Life Magazine, has been published in award-winning 11:11™ Magazine, and is a Featured Luminary on InspireMeToday.com™. She has also been featured contributor to numerous leadership and heart-centered living radio shows, podcasts and tele-summits. Dr. Valerie received her PhD in Consciousness and Human Potential in 2021. She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and a recipient of its Excellence in Service Award. Other recognition includes the 2021 Barbara Marx Hubbard Outstanding Evolutionary Leader Award and the 2020 Platinum Mentorship Award. |
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Sherri Richards
Chief Financial Officer Sherri Richards is a Business Consultant, leveraging experience working with best practices taking companies from worst to first as a “money therapist” and CFO. Sherri has held leadership positions at companies including DTNA. As Founder of Rise Consulting since 2009, she provides CFO services to small businesses to get started, find funding and/or helping them grow to the next level. In 2018 she launched Good Fat Life, a lifestyle magazine and health and wellness company. Sherri is an Adjunct Professor at Cleary University. She also gives back by serving in the world of non-profits.
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Michael Lara
Torch Bearer Michael Lara is an operational mission-oriented individual empowering tomorrow’s leaders. Michael passionately works to help make the world a better place, motivating and inspiring others, globally and locally, to take the same challenge. As a leader, providing professional and personal development is a deliverable that he highly values. Michael aspires to be a positive role model and a helping hand to others in need. He strongly believes in Mister Rogers’s philosophy, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Heart Awakening is important to him in being that transformational leader for the community to change lives.
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Athena Papasodero
Torch Bearer Athena Papasodero is a Scientist who is passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She earned her Maters in Biomedical Science at the University of California-Irvine and her Bachelors in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology at the University of California-Santa Cruz. Athena aims to enact meaningful change in the lives of underrepresented minority youth by contributing to and organizing outreach efforts. These efforts are designed to empower young people and their total well-being, including their physical, mental, emotional, and financial health. Thus allowing them to thrive and bring their unique background and ideas into the world to promote innovation.
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Zahra (Zara) Dabzadeh
Torch Bearer Zahra (Zara) Dabzadeh is a project manager, organizational strategist, and conversational leader for collective empowerment and social impact. She currently serves in data programs at the University of California, Irvine, where she first met Dr. Sheppard in 2014. Through applying the principles of sacred self-mastery, as taught by Dr. Sheppard at Hearts Awakening, Zara has leaned into her story, and fearlessly and beautifully navigated a long-term immigration to the United States since 2012. She has joined the Torchbearers to give back to communities and social causes that are close to her heart, including support and healing for survivors of violence against women, and she believes these principles are essential to successfully navigating any level of shared responsibility as a collective. When she is not doing this work in the world, Zara is drinking classical works of literature, scribbling down poems, and practicing Persian calligraphy.
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Maricel Villanueva
Acting Secretary Maricel Villanueva holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and has been serving as Secretary and Assistant to Dr. Valerie Sheppard since June 2021. As Acting Secretary of The Hearts Awakening Board of Directors, she supports with communications, organization, and administrative coordination, contributing her skills to advance the organization’s heart-centered mission. She values being of service behind the scenes and finds fulfillment in applying her strengths to meaningful work that uplifts others.
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