Elise helps shape how teams will experience the accelerator and provides direct support in the form of webinars and coaching, drawing on their knowledge and experience of building an innovation. Elise is adept at bridging the worlds of traditional teen pregnancy prevention and innovation, tech, and startups, frequently providing coaching and training to sexual and reproductive health experts looking to expand their innovation work. Elise has over 15 years of experience in the field and is an expert in youth development and sexuality education. They believe we grow as humans only when we have a space where we can be vulnerable yet safe.
Elise is the co-founder and executive director of OkaySo. OkaySo started as an innovative teen pregnancy prevention intervention that used technology to provide accurate information and build self-efficacy skills with young people. OkaySo has since pivoted to an online, on-demand training program to improve the ability for youth workers to be safe spaces for young people. They hold a Master of Public Health with a focus on Sexuality and Health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. When not working, Elise is happiest reading a book outside or hanging out with their kiddo.