Vanessa Ferlaino is the two-time award-winning author of "human", distinguished podcaster of "The Human Challenge", recognized as an “Indie Podcast Amplifier” in December 2023 by Amazon Music and ACAST, and President of The Being Human Foundation, an international non-profit contributing to re-worlding through Engaged Mindfulness and Engaged Community. Vanessa is also a 200hr Certified Mindfulness Teacher, Professional Level (CMT-P), from The Lab of Meditation, recognized by The International Mindfulness Teacher’s Association. Her training specialized in Social Justice and Trauma-Informed offerings. She offers free mindfulness practices on the Insight Timer app and through The Being Human Foundation. Vanessa has ten years of experience as an award-winning corporate innovator, venture-builder, and investor. Career highlights include launching an award-winning enterprise investment platform to raise 775K in 36 hours and raising 200K in 2 months for social ventures. Vanessa earned her Honours Bachelor of Science from The University of Toronto, specializing in Neuroscience, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Immunology; and her Masters of Business, Education, and Technology from The University of Waterloo. She offers free business support and mentorship for returning citizens through various organizations. Vanessa is honoured to hold numerous board and advisory positions for community and socially-minded organizations. She is also a Sessional Lecturer at Algoma University, located on the former site of the Shingwauk Indian Residential School. The provincial Shingwauk Education Trust (SET) gives ownership of a portion of the site to Anishinaabek people. Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig (SKG), one of nine provincially recognized Indigenous institutes of higher learning, is located on the property, providing academic programs, workshops and seminars on the site, reflecting the Anishinaabe worldview, ways of learning, and knowing. Vanessa is humbled by the recognition from national and international news outlets, including CTV, CityNews, Canvas Rebel, and BoldJourney.