Laena is a multidisciplinary entrepreneur and educator, dubbed "extraordinary" by the New York Times. After launching Anarchy in a Jar in 2009, she helped launch over a dozen startups and non-profits as a leader, instructional designer, growth strategist, advisor, and consultant. She remains an unwavering optimist dedicated to helping people live their best lives through essential skills and sustainable ecosystems.

As a true believer in the power of innovation to make the world a better place, Laena is passionate about creating opportunities for adults and children to learn the tangible skills of equitable entrepreneurship and sustainable network building. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Martha Stewart Show, New York Magazine, Food & Wine, and more. Her cookbook, Jam On: The Craft of Canning Fruit, was published by Penguin Random House in 2012.

Laena graduated magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke College, received an MS in Information Science from Pratt Institute, and was awarded the United States Antarctica Service Medal by the Department of Defense for her work with the National Science Foundation.

Laena teaches and consults through a number of platforms, both in-person and virtually, with an array of fantastic companies, from Meta, Deloitte, Google, and Hinge to K-12 schools and adult teaching spaces like the Brooklyn Brainery. See notable success stories and testimonials on our homepage and in the press.

Let’s Talk About….

🍽️  Food

I have cooked professionally all over the world, from galleys of sailboats and science stations in Antarctica to kitchens in NYC. I built a food business from the ground up and have helped advise over a dozen food startups. I continue to teach people to grow, cook, ferment, and preserve food. You can find some of my recipes and musings on my blog.

🏫 Teaching Creatives

I'm passionate about design education and mentorship, as you can see from my work teaching at Pratt Institute and Thinkful. Reach out to me if you're looking for someone to teach a workshop or give a talk! 

❄️ The Art Gallery and Library in Antarctica

I cataloged and revamped the community library and opened an art gallery with monthly shows at McMurdo, the main US research station.

📚 Reading Books

I'm a certified book nerd with an MS in information science. I often reference and gift Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and love any story by Karen Russell.

🎈  Creating Piñata Sculptures

What?! Performative piñata art is a thing? YES, and it's amazing. If you're new to it, you should checkout Justin Favela’s sculptures.

🌶️ Transforming A Tennis Court Into A Farm

Some people have a green thumb, but I definitely think mine is red. As in, red hot spicy peppers. Checkout Pepper Court, my Hudson Valley Farm project I started in 2020.

💃🏻The Nitty-Gritty of Organizational Strategy

I love talking about how to build, grow, and revitalize organizations and make work better! You can hear some of my musings on podcasts and in print via my press page.