Positive Psychology Leader Series

 Jenny C. Brennan, MAPP, is a research-practitioner, nonprofit consultant and strategist, whose work advances the application of positive psychology at both the individual and systems levels to support human well-being and social good.

Currently, Ms. Brennan serves as Director of Year-Round Programming to the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) where she oversees the Divisions Program and Learning Library, contributes to numerous capacity-building and communication initiatives, and produces the Positive Psychology Leader Series.

For 15 years prior, Ms. Brennan managed award-winning integrated marketing and public education campaigns for organizations such as the American Red Cross, University of Pennsylvania, and Lifetime Television’s Stop Violence Against Women initiative. Her work helped to inspire measurable action on the part of consumers, and impact public policy. She earned a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2012.

Caroline is one of the world’s leading experts on the science behind successful goal setting and the use of ‘good grit’ to achieve hard things. Caroline used grit to help overcome her personal battle with bulimia, and today she has more than three decades of unbroken recovery. Caroline has a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, graduated magna cum laude from Harvard, and teaches at Wharton Business School’s Executive Education program. Caroline is the author of six books, including Positively Caroline (Cogent 2013), Getting Grit (Sounds True 2017) and Creating Your Best Life (Sterling 2009).

Sydney Rubin is a graduate student in the Interactive Media and Games Division at the University of Southern California. In Spring 2019, she will become the second person to ever graduate with an MA in Games & Health. Sydney brings her experience in applied positive psychology to the design of interactive entertainment including video games to bring positive interventions to more people.

Sydney has been providing technical and promotional support for the Positive Psychology Leader Series since 2014.

As a current M.A. Student at Claremont Graduate University, I am working on a dual degree in Positive Psychology and Public Health. I have an applied focus on health promotion and mass communications/media with the goal of evidence-based, macro-level dissemination to workplaces, schools, and other communities/institutions. This mission starts with making sure that those of us in the field of positive psychology are all working together effectively and communicating frequently, which is why I love being a part of the IPPA community and serving as an Associate Producer for the Positive Psychology Leader Series.

Jodi Wellman is a co-founder of the coaching firm Happy Work Spectacular Life, where she helps individuals and companies create stunningly spectacular success through their work. Jodi is a leadership coach and consultant with 17 years of corporate experience spanning executive roles in operations, sales and customer retention.

Prior to starting Happy Spectacular, Jodi was Senior Vice President of Operations at a leading health and lifestyle organization. Jodi was also a Chair at Vistage International, where she led a private CEO advisory board and coached executives to improve bottom-line results, execution and leadership performance. She has successfully led strategic initiatives focused on culture development, growth/new business development, organizational change and restructuring, and has general management/P&L accountability.

Jodi is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach with CTI and a Professional Certified Coach with ICF. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Athabasca University. Jodi and her firm work with Reebok, HCSC Blue Cross Blue Shield, Payday Loans, and a host of privately held financial services, REITs, and professional services firms.

Jodi brings to clients a corporate executive’s perspective and understanding of their issues, along with the coaching expertise that challenges clients out of their comfort zones in order to grow, think differently, get out of their own way, solve their issues, and win.

David J. Pollay is committed to helping people live fulfilling lives every day at work and at home. He is the author and creator of the international blockbuster, The Law of the Garbage Truck®, now translated into twelve languages. His latest book, The 3 Promises: Find Joy Every Day. Do What You Love. Make a Difference, has been selling out across the country in stores and online.

David is a leader in the science of Positive Psychology. He has spoken to audiences around the world, and he was a featured TEDx speaker. David served as the co-founding associate executive director of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been featured on ABC, NPR, Univision, and in BusinessWeek SmallBiz Magazine, the Baltimore Sun, Business Digest, Florida’s Sun Sentinel, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, and media worldwide. His new book, The 3 Promises was just recommended by Live Happy Magazine.

David holds a master’s degree of applied positive psychology (M.A.P.P.) from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University. He has held leadership positions at Yahoo!, MasterCard, Global Payments, and AIESEC. He is also a former college football running back, coming to Yale after breaking Shorewood High School’s all-time career rushing and scoring records and serving as Team Captain.

For more information, visit his website: http://www.davidpollay.com/