DISCOVERY: Flourishing and the Founder's Journey

Hosted by Rugged Elegance Foundation Founders, Jennifer Carolyn King and Timothy Fredel, as we explore what it means to truly flourish, especially for those navigating the often unseen and rugged path of the founder’s journey.

Through storytelling, shared wisdom, and current mental health data, we’ll examine well-being and resilience not as a straight line, but as a labyrinth of growth, setbacks, and transformation.

As we reflect on the challenges that lead to purpose, we are reminded of the words of Thích Nhất Hạnh, beloved Vietnamese Zen master, peace activist, and teacher of engaged Buddhism:

“No mud, no lotus.”

Featured Speakers

Dr. Sará King
CEO & Founder/Healer, MindHeart AI | Neuroscientist & Social Justice Visionary

We are deeply honored to welcome Dr. Sará King, CEO & Founder/Healer of MindHeart AI and creator of the Science of Social Justice framework, to our stage. Dr. King is a mother, neuroscientist, political and learning scientist, medical anthropologist, social entrepreneur, and visionary speaker. Her groundbreaking work bridges neuroscience, mindfulness, and social justice, offering transformative insights into individual and collective healing.

As the first Liberatory Tech Fellow of Mobius and a resident expert with Google’s Vitality Lab, Dr. King is reshaping how we understand well-being in the modern world. Her “Systems-Based Awareness Map” and community healing practices have guided institutions like Nike, MoMA, Harvard Medical School, and the Ford Foundation.

Named one of Mindful Magazine’s “Ten Most Powerful Women in Mindfulness,” Dr. King is internationally recognized for exploring how contemplative practices support resilience, liberation, and human flourishing.

Brad Baum
Venture Capitalist | Co-Founder, Founder Mental Health Pledge

As both a VC and founder, Brad has witnessed firsthand the hidden struggles of startup culture: the stress, the isolation, and the toll behind the mask of constant hustle. Through the Founder Mental Health Pledge, Brad is reframing mental health care as a vital business priority, encouraging founders and investors to treat well-being expenses as legitimate business costs. The pledge strengthens trust between entrepreneurs and backers while making mental health a standard part of company building. Passionate about reshaping entrepreneurial culture, Brad amplifies a message of compassion, sustainability, and systemic change. Learn more at FounderPledge.com.

Anna Gudmundson
CEO & Co-Founder, Sensate | International Technology Leader

Anna is an international entrepreneur and transformation strategist with more than 15 years of experience in high-growth companies. She has served as CEO, VP of Product, and advisor across health, wellness, and AI sectors. Today, as co-founder of Sensate, she pioneers groundbreaking technology that uses infrasonic resonance and audio to calm the nervous system and build stress resilience. Guided by her passion for the intersection of human potential, science, and technology, Anna is bringing accessible, science-backed stress relief to people worldwide.

Sean Wheelock
Co-Founder & CEO, Inner Peak | Mental Health Entrepreneur

Sean’s journey bridges brilliance and bravery. With a background in Applied Math and Psychology from Harvard and experience at Bain & Company, he left the traditional path to pursue his calling in mental health entrepreneurship. After roles in four mental health and wellness startups and completing his MBA at Stanford GSB, Sean co-founded Inner Peak, a mission-driven company devoted to strengthening resilience and human flourishing. A marathon runner, golfer, and avid reader, Sean brings discipline, curiosity, and deep commitment to his life’s work.

Jessica King Fredel
Co-Founder & CEO, Continuum | Architect of The Soulful Network

Jessica King Fredel is the Co-Founder and CEO of Continuum, the ethical bridge between human authenticity and AI’s scaling power. Continuum builds secure cognitive profiles that capture knowledge, values, and decision-making patterns—empowering individuals to scale their expertise through digital twins, match with aligned collaborators, and deploy intelligence across platforms while maintaining full control of their data.

Alongside her Co-Founder and CTO, Amrita, Jessica is building the back-end platform for RE…the Soulful Network, a trusted global ecosystem of social impact leaders. RE: soul activates regenerative financial capital, as well as cultural, experiential, intellectual, political, social, and soulful capital, weaving collective wisdom and authentic human connection into a new model for founders and funders to flourish at scale.

Dr. Richard J. Davidson
Founder & Director, Center for Healthy Minds | Neuroscientist & Pioneer in Well-Being

Dr. Richard J. Davidson is the Founder & Director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and has been recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. His groundbreaking research bridges neuroscience, mindfulness, and human flourishing—transforming how we understand the mind and cultivate resilience, compassion, and emotional balance.

At DISCOVERY, Dr. Davidson will join us in two unique ways: first, by introducing Dr. Sará King via a special pre-recorded message, and second, through an interview with his RE: soul essence (digital twin)—one of the very first members of RE…the Soulful Network.

Dr. JD Schramm
Founder, JD Schramm Communications | Keynote Speaker, Author & Educator

JD is a passionate advocate for courageous communication and mental health awareness. His TED Talk, Break the Silence for Suicide Attempt Survivors, has touched millions, opening space for healing conversations around stigma, vulnerability, and resilience. A former Stanford GSB faculty member and author of Communicate with Mastery, JD has coached thousands of leaders to communicate with empathy, clarity, and purpose. His work bridges the deeply personal and the powerfully professional, inspiring others to speak bravely, listen deeply, and lead with authenticity.

Rugged Elegance Initiatives

This event will also introduce three Rugged Elegance initiatives designed to equip and uplift impact leaders:

• The Butterfly Effect Fund: Surrounding founders with evergreen, catalytic funding, deep community, and inner capacity-building tools to scale impact sustainably.
• Day to Breathe Incubator/Decelerator: Supporting 218 founders across 26 countries, offering time and space for renewal, reflection, and realignment.
• The Soulful Network of Social Impact Leaders: A growing community of changemakers committed to deep connection, mutual support, and amplifying one another’s impact.