Building Compassionate Leadership
02/27/2026 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM ET
Description
Building Compassionate Leadership for Connection and Belonging in the Workplace:
Discover the neural foundations of empathy and compassion to foster trust, connection, and belonging at work
Part of the Neural Well-being and Performance Series
Friday, February 27
12 - 1 PM via Teams
Effective leadership today requires not only vision but also the ability to foster connection and trust. In the final session of the Neural Well-being and Performance series, we’ll explore the neural foundations of empathy and compassion, and how they strengthen psychological safety in teams. You’ll practice cultivating social awareness and compassionate presence to enhance collaboration, belonging, and well-being at work.
The Boston Club is excited to offer a three-part series, Neural Well-being and Performance, presented by TBC Board member Åsa Fanelli in partnership with the Institute for Organizational Science and Mindfulness (IOSM). This series is designed to help you develop resilience, sharpen your focus, and lead with compassion through neuroscience-based practices. Grounded in neuroscience and mindfulness-based neural training, these interactive, one-hour workshops provide practical tools to manage stress, reclaim attention, and foster connection, leading to greater well-being and performance.
About the Presenter
Åsa Fanelli – Founder, IdeaLift Group & Chief Education Officer, IOSM
Åsa Fanelli is the Founder of IdeaLift Group, a boutique consulting firm that empowers leaders and teams to unlock their potential through leadership development and mindfulness-based emotional intelligence programs. She is passionate about cultivating resilience, emotional agility, and collaboration helping organizations thrive in complexity while enhancing performance and well-being to enhance performance and well-being. As Chief Education Officer of the Institute for Organizational Science and Mindfulness (IOSM), she designs and delivers neuroscience-based programs that develop mental and emotional skills to improve stress management, prevent burnout, and elevate peak performance.
With over 25 years of executive leadership experience across corporate and nonprofit sectors, Åsa has led diverse teams in 35 countries and guided organizations through growth, transformation, and change. She previously served as President and CEO of Horizons for Homeless Children and held senior leadership roles at EF Education First, including President of EF High School Exchange Year and Head of North American HR & Talent Management, where she oversaw global leadership development initiatives. She has also led successful board governance and strategic planning projects for nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts.
Drawing on cutting-edge research in neuroscience and mindfulness, Åsa delivers transformative trainings, keynotes, and consulting engagements to help leaders navigate change and complexity, develop self-awareness, and foster psychologically safe, resilient, and collaborative teams.
She serves on the boards of the Epiphany School, The Boston Club, and The New London Barn Playhouse. Originally from Sweden, Åsa holds a degree in Human Resources Management and Economics from the University of Stockholm and has lived across Europe, Africa, and Asia. She resides in Newton, MA.