Riane Eisler, JD, PhD (hon) President and Co-Founder
is a social systems scientist, cultural historian, futurist, and attorney whose research, writing, and speaking have transformed the lives of people worldwide. She is internationally known for her bestseller The Chalice and The Blade: Our History, Our Future, now in 57 U.S. printings and 27 foreign editions. Her newest work, Nurturing Our Humanity: How Domination and Partnership Shape Our Brains, Lives, and Future, co-authored with anthropologist Douglas Fry (Oxford University Press, 2019), shows how to construct a more equitable, sustainable, and less violent world based on Partnership rather than Domination.
Dr. Eisler pioneered the extension of human rights theory and action to the majority of humanity: women and children. Eisler is the recipient of the Distinguished Peace Leadership Award, earlier given to the Dalai Lama, and other national and international awards for her ground-breaking contributions as a systems scientist. She is president of the Center for Partnership Systems (CPS), dedicated to research and education, Editor-in-Chief of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies, an online peer-reviewed journal at the University of Minnesota that was inspired by her work, keynotes conferences nationally and internationally, has addressed the United Nations General Assembly, the U.S. Department of State, and Congressional briefings, has spoken at corporations and universities worldwide on applications of the Partnership model introduced in her work, and is Distinguished Professor at Meridian University, which offers PhD and Masters degrees based on Eisler's Partnership-domination social scale.
Dr. Eisler can be contacted at center@partnershipway.org.
To learn more about Riane's work, see www.rianeeisler.com
View Riane's Curriculum Vitae here.
Board of Directors
David Loye, PhD, Vice President & Co-Founder
A systems scientist and futurist, Loye is a former faculty member of Princeton University and the UCLA School of Medicine. He is the author of many books and scholarly articles, including the award-winning The Healing of a Nation (Norton, 1971) on race relations, The Leadership Passion (Jossey-Bass, 1977) on politics, The Sphinx and the Rainbow (Bantam Books, 1984) on how we predict and affect the future, and Darwin's Lost Theory (Benjamin Franklin Press, 2008) on a holistic evolutionary perspective. He is an authority and pioneer on Darwin’s writings supporting Partnership and on Partnership moral sensitivity. See davidloye.com.
Galia Benartzi
Galia is the co-founder of Bancor, the world’s first open-source protocol ensuring on-chain liquidity between any blockchain-based asset.
Billions in token conversions have been processed via the Bancor Network since its launch in 2017, as the protocol impacts organizations and people across the globe, from blockchain teams to real-world communities.
Galia was recognized by Forbes and Glamour Magazine as a leading woman in crypto; she has been featured on BloombergTV and CNBC, and she has a spoken at the United Nations, TEDx and the Oslo Freedom Forum on topics ranging from global monetary design to blockchain-based sustainable development.
She is passionate about Partnership Systems, especially in new economic paradigms made possible by modern technology and ethics.
Gaylen Curtis
Gaylen graduated from the University of Michigan in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a major in Sociology. She graduated from Wayne State University Law School in 1983. Throughout her 40-year career as an attorney, she had a diverse practice for the first 20 years and focused the latter half of her career primarily in the area of family law. She has always been interested in the rights of children and how we raise children, and she believes she remains so despite the challenges divorce presents. She is transitioning towards retirement, and reducing her law practice significantly to support the next phase of her life.
John Havens
John C. Havens is the Regenerative Sustainability Practice Lead of the IEEE Standards Association where he drives the strategy, coordination, and vision for The IEEE SA Planet Positive 2030 Program that produced the
Compendium document, Strong Sustainability by Design: Prioritizing Ecosystem and Human Flourishing with Technology-Based Solutions (“SSbD”) that also inspired the creation of the IEEE 7800 Standards Series
focused on sustainability.
He is also the Founding Executive Director of The IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems which was responsible for creating Ethically Aligned Design: A Vision for Prioritizing Human Well-being with Autonomous and Intelligent Systems (“EAD”) that was utilized by the United Nations, the OECD, IBM and dozens of organizations to create their AI principles, policies, and technology. John helped create the IEEE 7000 Standards Series, the largest suite of international standards focused on
Artificial Intelligence and ethical / societal issues to date.
Previously, John was an EVP of Social Media at Porter Novelli and was a professional actor for over 15 years. John has written for Mashable and The Guardian and is author of the books, Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Our Humanity To Maximize Machines and Hacking Happiness: Why Your Personal Data Counts and How Tracking it Can Change the World.
Gina Miltiadou
Co-founder and Managing Director of Zahra Media Group, Gina is a dynamic force in Ireland’s media landscape recognized for her innovative content creation and storytelling. Born in South Africa, Gina’s career began in market research, evolved through TV audience analysis and marketing, and flourished in Australia within Custom Publishing. Her journey led her to Ireland, where she and her husband launched Zahra Media Group in 2003. Their inaugural project, Easy Food, quickly became Ireland's leading food magazine, setting the stage for Zahra to grow into a multi-award-winning agency, notable for developing influential media brands like everymum.ie, recently acquired by the Daily Mail Group.
Gina’s expertise in connecting brands with audiences through compelling content has solidified her reputation as a visionary in media and business. Her commitment extends beyond professional achievements to significant contributions to social responsibility.
As Chairperson of Zahra Helps, she's played a crucial role in supporting communities in South Africa and Zambia. Notably, her work with Givefinder helped secure a significant grant for RFHA (Rotarians for Family Health & AIDS Prevention), enabling the expansion of health services to five additional countries in Africa. Beyond her professional life, Gina is a passionate family woman, an avid traveler, and a wellness enthusiast, continually seeking new adventures.
Joe Rando
Founder & CEO at LifeStarr, an ecosystem for solopreneurs. Former President at Trade Area Systems, Manager at Taunton Depot LLC, President at Land Development - Northeast. Developer and owner of a software business and several shopping centers; Joe is a well-known business leader in Northampton, MA.
Belvie Rooks
A co-founder of the Growing a Global Heart project, she is a writer, educator, and human rights and social justice advocate whose work weaves the worlds of spirituality, feminism, cosmology, and ecology. As an educator, Belvie was invited to be part of the founding faculty of the College of Social Justice at the State University of New York (SUNY) Old Westbury. She has served as Visiting Faculty at Naropa University's Graduate Program in Environmental Studies, core faculty at Holy Names University's Sophia Center Program in Culture and Spirituality, and as a lecturer at UC Santa Cruz.
Heidi Sieck, MA
An award-winning, C-level civic entrepreneur with a lifetime commitment to political organizing and foundational systems intervention - particularly elevating women to positions of leadership.
She is the founder and Chief Empowerment Officer (CEO) of #VOTEPROCHOICE, the most widely used progressive pro-choice voter guide program in the country, engaging over 90 million voters since March 2016. Heidi was the founding Chief Operating Officer of Civic Hall and Democracy.com in New York City and interim Chief Operating Officer of Rock the Vote in Washington, D.C. She serves on the Boards of Rock the Vote Action Fund, Men4Choice, Vote Run Lead Action Fund, and the New Majority NYC (formerly the NYC 21 in 21 Project).
Heidi established herself as a civic technologist and government transformer when she led Mayor Gavin Newsom’s award-winning 311 Customer Service Center project, a $20 million construction, technology, and transformational government service establishing the foundation of the open government movement in the U.S.
When she is not generating systemic innovations, mentoring a young woman, or giving a speech about political transformation, you will find Heidi playing in the sandbox of democracy. Heidi has worked on eight presidential campaigns and countless state and local races from New York City to Nebraska. She served as President of the nonpartisan San Francisco Women's Political Committee, the largest women's organization in the City.
She co-founded the San Francisco Women’s Policy Summit with her former mentor Vice President Kamala Harris. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Business from the University of Nebraska and a Masters in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, where she was awarded the Holly Taylor Sargent Award for Advancement of Women in Leadership.
Team
Robyn Baker
Research and Education Associate
Robyn holds a Bachelor in Political Science from Sciences Po Paris and is pursuing a Master in Economics at Sciences Po Paris’ Graduate School of Research. Building upon her background in sustainable development and gender, Robyn intends to research alternative econometrics to facilitate more inclusive and caring capital flows and circular socio-economic systems. She is an avid collector of old books and has a strong interest in fine arts. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and French. Robyn writes and hosts Forward Thinking Fridays: Snapshots of a Partnership World in Practice, and contributes regularly to educational materials, subject-specific resources, and Community Voices blog.
Leah Gowron, MPA
Operations Manager
As one of the longest-term consultants with CPS, Leah Gowron oversees the back-end support of the organization, including donor management, email engagement, grant assistance, support to Dr. Riane Eisler and general office services. Previously Leah has led the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey's alumni relations efforts, including alumni engagement, oversight on the website, and fundraising. Leah holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in history from the University of Manitoba, as well as a Master of Public Administration degree from the Middlebury Institute. She has an extensive public speaking background, including annual presentations with the JET Programme in Tokyo, and has conducted cross-cultural trainings and career development sessions with a range of organizations in the U.S. and Canada. A transplanted Canadian, she resides in Hawai'i.
Ian Hunter
Administrator, Data and Outreach
Ian Hunter has been a Developer, Consultant and Project Manager "mainly in Information Technology" since the 1960s. He is South African by birth but has worked there, in the United Kingdom, and the USA. In the 1980s he was a Management Consultant and Partner with Touche Ross & Co. in Cape Town and Johannesburg. During his 12 years in Dallas, Texas, he was active in the work of the Dallas Peace Center and in the Social Action team of the First Unitarian Church. His main work role there was as a Program Manager for the International Expansion division of Mannatech, Inc. He and his wife, Jenni, are now US citizens ' retired and living in the Monterey Bay area.
Teddie M. Potter, PhD, MS, RN
Executive Editor, Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies
Teddie Potter has a rich practice history including over thirty years in home care. Dr. Potter has often been at the heart of paradigm shifts, including being one of the first home care nurses in her state, starting a specialized home care program for people living with HIV/AIDS, and helping start one of the first palliative care programs in the nation. Dr. Potter has been a nurse educator for over sixteen years. She has also shown a long-term commitment to diversity and inclusivity, studying factors that help diverse students succeed in nursing school and teaching healing traditions of our diverse community. Her current positions in the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota are a natural extension of her interests and passions. She is Coordinator of the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Health Innovation and Leadership and Director of Inclusivity and Diversity. In 2015, she received the distinguished Josie R. Johnson Human Rights and Social Justice Award. Dr. Potter is Executive Editor for the Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies; a peer-reviewed, open-access, online journal promoting interdisciplinary collaboration as a solution for solving society's grand challenges.
Dr. Potter has spoken nationally and internationally about Partnership-based health care and The BASE of Nursing, new theories to guide nursing practice, education, and research. She co-authored with Riane Eisler, Transforming Interprofessional Partnerships: A New Framework for Nursing and Partnership-Based Health Care, which received a 2014 AJN Book of the Year award and the 2015 Capstone International Nursing Book Award. This book equips nurses to be full partners, ready to lead necessary change to advance the health of all nations.
Cherri Jacobs Pruitt
Podcast Producer and Editor
Cherri Jacobs Pruitt has spent the majority of her professional life working in maternal and child health policy and systems work at the local, county, state, and federal levels. Cherri holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado. She has been an advocate for Riane’s cultural transformation work since becoming a CPS Caring Economics Leader in 2013. Cherri is the coordinator for the Power of Partnership podcast series, launching April 2023. Cherri is the founder of CJ Connections, catalyzing systemic change through education, empowerment, and helping businesses and organizations thrive by applying partnership principles.
Sara Saltee, MA
Lead, Organizational Partnerships
Sara has been supporting the Center for Partnership Studies' Leadership and Learning Programs since early 2009, when she joined the team that developed the initial Caring Economy Program pilot project. As the programs evolved, Sara has taken a lead role in program development as a curriculum designer, facilitator, and managing director. With 15 years' experience in adult education, five years as an organization development consultant, and broad expertise in the fields of communication, adult learning, and creativity, Sara specializes in the articulation and display of complex concepts, and design and facilitation of high-engagement learning experiences for adult learners.
Quincey Tickner
Communications Lead & Social Media Co-Lead
Quincey brings a strong background in journalism and social media and works with young social justice organizations and leaders in rethinking what a just society looks like in today's modern world. Quincey holds a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from American University in Washington D.C. and is a passionate advocate for safe and fair elections. Over the 2020 election, Quincey helped launch SeeSay2020, a crowdsourced map of voter suppression across the country, that not only brought attention to voter suppression, but helped solve and fix most of the instances so that everyone was able to carry out their right to vote. Quincey is passionate about teaching young organizers about the benefits of a Partnership/caring economy as many communities are starting to have the conversations about moving away from Domination based systems.
Valerie Young
Social Media Co-Lead
Valerie carries the message and mission of the Caring Economy framework to advocates and policy makers in Washington DC and throughout the country. Immersed in public policy as it pertains to women's status, especially the impact of family care on women's economic status, Valerie is committed to social justice, family economic security, and income equality. Her work appears extensively in social media, @WomanInDC on Twitter, Your (Wo)Man in Washington and on Facebook. She also has written for The Shriver Report, Brain/Child Magazine, and is frequently featured on BlogHer.com as well as the CPS blog.
Kaia Maeve Tingley
Web Lead
Kaia is a technologist, a systems scientist, and a mother with deep interest in resourcing the partnership paradigm and spreading knowledge of partnership further into modern culture. She graduated with a degree in Kinesiology and Physiology from USC in Los Angeles, CA. After 25 years spent working simultaneously in corporate IT and holistic wellness, she is a fanatic about cultivating the smooth sustainable flow of energy through systems. She is an author and public speaker with a presence on Medium.com - with dreams of creating a world where her children can thrive.
