Our Team: Guided by Wisdom, Driven by Purpose
Rise 2 Realize is led by a dedicated team of educators, coaches, and visionaries committed to one mission: helping people awaken to their authentic selves and raise collective consciousness through personal transformation.
Our board members bring decades of combined experience in coaching, spiritual mentorship, organizational leadership, and community building. But more importantly, they embody the principles we teach. They've done their own deep inner work, questioned their conditioning, and committed themselves to living authentically and purposefully.
What unites our team isn't just professional expertise—it's a shared belief that personal growth creates collective healing. Every decision we make, every program we offer, every interaction we have is guided by this conviction.
We're here to build a movement toward greater consciousness, authenticity, and less suffering in the world.
Our Experienced Team
Elizabeth Ouellette, President and Chair of the Board
Elizabeth provides coaching for individuals and couples, helping them navigate and regulate intense emotional reactions through self-awareness, emotional mastery, and effective communication strategies. Utilizing the transformative Power Method, Elizabeth equips her clients with practical tools and techniques to thrive in every phase of life. Whether overcoming personal barriers, fostering stronger relationships, or managing chronic pain to enhance quality of life, Elizabeth’s coaching empowers her clients to achieve lasting growth and fulfillment.
With a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Sophia University and 20 years as board member and non-profit patient advocate for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA). Elizabeth is a trusted ally, guiding her clients toward balance, growth and fulfillment.
Yao Zou, Secretary
As a lifelong explorer, Yao is inspired to seek the truth and beauty of life and the world. Her journey started with pursing her Ph.D. in Physics to understand the external world. Motherhood brought her to the internal world of ourselves and intricate interactions of mind, body, and spirit. Through the practice of life coaching, Yao expanded her awareness of the connection of our inner and outer world. She has found alignment, integration and wholeness, bringing her to the path of wellbeing and self-actualization.
As a Certified Professional Coach by the International Coaching Federation, She feels humbled to have guided many of her clients through their journey of self-discovery to their path of healing, growth and transformation. Yao resonates with the vision of Rise 2 Realize Institute and is honored to serve as the Secretary on the board.
Arda Ozdemir, CFO and Treasurer
As a former finance executive in Silicon Valley, Arda embarked on his own personal transformation journey when he was looking to heal his chronic health issues, including depression and anxiety. His quest for personal healing led him to a series of explorations in wellness practices and ancient studies. This journey awakened him to his calling to guide others out of their mental and emotional suffering toward a life full of joy, fulfillment and meaning.
After 15 years of coaching over 6,000 clients, Arda has decided to share his tools and techniques that he developed over the years with public, and offer his teachings free-of-charge at group workshops. Arda’s mission in founding Rise 2 Realize Institute is to solve the mental and emotional suffering in the world and work together toward advancement of the collective consciousness to create better, healthier and happier lives.
Our Commitment to You
The people on this page aren't distant leaders. They're practitioners of the work they teach. They've walked the journey inward. They've faced their own conditioning, discovered their Real Selves, mastered their emotions, and explored the meaning of their existence.
That lived experience infuses everything we do. When Arda teaches emotional mastery, she's drawing from 15 years of helping thousands navigate the same struggles. When our team designs workshops, they're creating containers they would want to be in themselves.
We remain small and intentional by design. We'd rather deeply serve a committed community than scale beyond our capacity to show up authentically. We'd rather maintain the integrity of our work than chase growth at the expense of quality.
This is why people trust Rise 2 Realize. Not because we have all the answers, but because we're genuinely committed to walking this path alongside you—with honesty, wisdom, and care.
Questions About Our Team or Organization?
We're always happy to connect. Contact Us if you'd like to learn more about our leadership or how we operate.
