Our Beginning
The Awaken Collaborative was founded in 2025 by educator, researcher, and mindfulness practitioner Dr. Stephanie Romero, Ed.D., following two transformative moments that shaped her vision for bringing mindfulness into organizational life.
Her first awakening came in 2013, when she learned that her mentor, Dr. Adam Lobel, had participated in a peace conference in Chicago where mindfulness and meditation were used to help young people move away from violence. This powerful example revealed how contemplative practice could serve as a pathway to healing and transformation—an insight that deeply influenced Dr. Romero’s academic work at the University of Pittsburgh, where she shifted her doctoral research to focus on mindfulness in education.
Over time, her work expanded beyond schools to support first responders, corporate teams, and organizational leaders, especially during the 2020 pandemic, when stress and burnout reached critical levels.
Today, The Awaken Collaborative partners with organizations nationwide, helping them cultivate resilience, clarity, and connection through evidence-based programs and mindful leadership training. Dr. Romero continues to share her expertise through national conferences, media appearances, and The Ripple Effect with Dr. Stephanie Romero, Ed.D., one of the industry’s leading podcasts on mental health and mindfulness at work.
The PerformWell Approach
The Awaken Collaborative partners with third-party researchers to ensure every program delivers clear, credible results for your organization.
Evidence-Based.
Independently Verified.
Measurable Impact.
At The Awaken Collaborative, our PerformWell™ curricula are built on the latest scientific research in mindfulness and meditation training. Every program we deliver is designed to deliver measurable outcomes—not just for individuals but for the teams and communities they serve. By continually assessing impact and refining our approach, we offer organizations a practical, evidence-based way to reduce stress, boost resilience, and improve overall performance.
"We take care of the future best by taking care of the present now."
Jon Kabat-Zinn
Mindfulness in the Workplace
Mindfulness at work is the skill of noticing your thoughts, feelings, and reactions in real time, especially in high-pressure or complex situations. It means bringing curiosity, openness, and acceptance to your moment-to-moment experience so you can respond thoughtfully rather than react automatically. Practiced regularly, workplace mindfulness strengthens focus, reduces stress, and fosters healthier, more effective teams.
