Our team
The Yoga Girl Foundation was founded in September 2018. Although we are a new foundation, our team is relatively large and skilled in many different fields. Are you interested in becoming part of our team? Contact us here!
Rachel Brathen
Founder
Rachel is the heart and voice of the Yoga Girl Foundation. A New York Times best selling author, public speaker and the founder of Yoga Girl®, Yoga Girl Foundation and Sgt Peppers Friends, Rachel has dedicated her entire life to help people heal and grow. Rachel has always had a big heart for rescuing animals and caring for children since she was young. This foundation is how we turn her mission into a reality.
SHAMA PERSSON
Founder and COB
Shama is the backbone of the Yoga Girl Foundation. Founding this mission with her daughter Rachel, Shama is a certified fundraiser with a background as an entrepreneur and inventor. She is based in Stockholm, but is a frequent traveler to Aruba. As a mother of four, she has a big heart and passion to support women and children in need. Her main focus in the foundation is fundraising and relationship building.
LUZMAR IZEBELLE
PROJECT MANAGER
Luz studied Social Work in Amsterdam and is specialized in International Social Work & Community Development. Her additional background involves nutrition, coaching, fitness, marketing and management. Her responsibilities on the Yoga Girl Foundation team include the coordination and completion of projects; balancing time, budget and scope. Whenever not in the office, she’s in the studio taking or teaching yoga or ballet.
COURTNEY BETTS
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Courtney Betts is the Executive Assistant on the Yoga Girl team and a strategist for Yoga Girl Foundation. Originally, from Toronto, Canada, Courtney has an MSc in health science with a focus on social determinants of health in youth and a background in program evaluation. On the side from her role with Yoga Girl and Yoga Girl Foundation, Courtney teaches SUP yoga, creates art, and has a strong love for cats and math.
ANGELA RYDEN
board member
Angela is a member of the board, but also the COO of Yoga Girl. She has for over two decades held a variety of Sr. roles for mid-sized and global companies such as Microsoft Corporation and others. Her true calling lies in service and humanity where the real measurements are found in the heart. She oversees the global day-to-day operations at Yoga Girl® while balancing motherhood to two amazing children, being a wife, and finding time to roll out her yoga mat.
MICHAEL Niklasson
board member
Michael is our in-house compliance and legal adviser. He lives and works as an attorney in Sweden. He has a passion for justice and equality and works with many partners to add love and soft values into law. He’s new to yoga and is happy to be a part of the global community of Yoga Girl® and the Yoga Girl® Foundation.
Robert ikenberg
IT support
Robert Ikenberg is the IT and security consultant for Yoga Girl and Yoga Girl Foundation. Born and raised in Sweden, Robert was interested in computers and programming at a young age. Robert has now been working with IT security at large companies as well as performing IT security audits for Swedish nuclear facilities. Robert is a very friendly person that likes to help others and share his knowledge.
Ninni nyström
accountant manager
Ninni is an accounting consultant for the Yoga Girl® Foundation with more than twenty years experience in finance. She’s based in Sweden and is passionate in offering her services to causes that make a difference. She knows it is her life purpose to help others - both to heal the world and for her to grow as a human being. When she’s not working, you find her in the yoga studio or together with her two children.
johan ander
creative
Johan has a strong passion for making art - from producing films, taking stunning photos to creating that perfect web experience. He has an Art Degree, is tech savvy and is also a music producer. Born in Sweden he now lives on the beautiful island Öland, where he enjoys nature and sunsets while SUPing with his Peruvian dog.