From the Board of Directors
We live in a world where the media we consume shapes how we think, how we feel, and how we relate to one another. That has always been true. What’s different now is the speed, the scale, and the stakes.
Digital platforms have transformed not just how information travels, but how people form beliefs, make decisions, and experience their own mental health. Misinformation spreads faster than correction. Algorithms reward outrage over accuracy. And too many people — across every age group and community — are navigating this environment without the tools to critically evaluate what they’re seeing.
That’s why Living in Synergy exists.
As a board, we are committed to advancing media literacy and digital scholarship as essential components of public health. We believe that understanding media — how it’s made, how it works, and how it affects us — is not a luxury skill. It is a public health imperative.
Living in Synergy sits at a unique intersection: media innovation, technology, and digital platforms on one side, and critical thinking, decision-making, relationships, and mental well-being on the other. Our work bridges those worlds. We support research, education, and community engagement that empowers people to engage with media thoughtfully and with confidence.
We are proud to govern an organization doing work that is both timely and necessary. And we are grateful to the researchers, educators, partners, and community members who make this mission possible every day.
If you share our belief that a more media-literate society is a healthier one, we invite you to join us — as a partner, a supporter, or simply as someone committed to the same future we are working toward.
René Estes | Founder, Executive Director
René Estes is the Executive Director of Living in Synergy, a nonprofit initiative advancing media literacy and digital scholarship as a public health priority. A media expert and innovation strategist whose expertise spans STEM, media, and culture, René leads the organization’s mission to equip individuals, educators, and communities with the critical tools to navigate a media-saturated world. She brings together scholars, thought leaders, and everyday listeners to make evidence-based research feel immediate and actionable — bridging the gap between the academy and real life.
Under René’s leadership, Living in Synergy explores the forces shaping how we think, relate, and see ourselves — from algorithmic manipulation and misinformation to the psychology of identity in the digital age. Her work is rooted in the belief that media literacy isn’t a niche academic concern; it’s a public health issue that touches every corner of daily life. By grounding every conversation in peer-reviewed and NIH-funded research while keeping it accessible to anyone who shows up, René is building something rare: a movement that is both rigorously evidence-based and genuinely human.
Featured on the Cover of Top 100 Innovators and Entrepreneurs in 2026.
Nikita "Nik" M. Weinberg Board Director | People, Organizational Strategy & AI Ethics
Nikita M. Weinberg is a human resources executive and transformation leader with more than 22 years of experience helping organizations rethink how work gets done. She has led HR functions from within the business and advised Fortune 500 companies on modernizing their people strategies, operating models, technology, and employee experiences.
Nikita currently leads People Digital Transformation and Strategy at Zoom, where she guides the modernization of HR service delivery, employee experience, knowledge management, AI enablement, and operating-model design. Previously, she served as an Executive Partner at IBM, advising senior leaders on workforce transformation, digital HR, skills-based talent strategies, and AI-enabled ways of working. Her career also includes leadership roles at Eightfold AI, HireVue, Young’s Market Company, WellCare Health Plans, McKesson, and Levi Strauss & Co.
Known for connecting people strategy with business priorities, Nikita brings deep expertise in organizational design, workforce strategy, HR operations, employee and labor relations, enterprise technology, and large-scale change. Her work is grounded in a simple idea: technology should not merely make outdated processes faster—it should help organizations redesign work to be simpler, smarter, and more effective.
Nikita holds a master’s degree in organizational development and change and bachelor’s degrees in human resources management and business management. Her professional credentials include Certified AI for Digital Transformation from Cornell University, Certified AI Ethics Officer, Registered Organization Development Consultant, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and Certified Associate in Project Management.
As a member of our Board of Directors, Nikita brings a practical, people-centered perspective on AI, organizational transformation, and the future of work.
Shri Shetty, Board Director | Finance, Technology and Governance
Shri Shetty is a finance and technology leader with a strong track record of building modern treasury systems, platform‑driven financial workflows, and governance frameworks that scale. Her experience blends operational rigor with product‑oriented thinking, enabling organizations to adopt emerging technologies responsibly while strengthening liquidity, forecasting precision, funding strategies, and enterprise controls. She’s led programs that improve financial accuracy, streamline multi‑rail payments, and elevate risk management across global teams. As co-founder of a liquidity intelligence platform, she understands how data, automation, and user-centric design shape the next generation of financial infrastructure. She brings to board service a commitment to innovation, operational resilience, and principled governance that supports long‑term organizational stability and transformation.
