Debra A. Woog (pronounced like “Vogue” magazine), Connect2 Corporation founder and CEO, is a Crisis Navigation Partner® with 30+ years of experience as a leadership researcher, executive and advisor. Debra provides highly competent women with expertise, structure and empathy so that they can process difficult situations, connect with necessary resources, communicate effectively, and lead with a clear mind and a solid strategy.

Having experienced her own crises and crossroads, Debra realizes the importance of an outside resource to provide perspective while navigating difficult circumstances, decisions, and conversations.

Debra’s career has included conducting primary research at Harvard Business School for an award-winning book, directing admissions and career development for the MIT dual-degree MBA program Leaders for Global Operations, and advising nine technology start-ups as Director of People Strategy for Cambridge Incubator. The Boston Globe profiled Debra for her outstanding abilities to select talented candidates, motivate and develop employees, and resolve conflicts between people as well as between organizations. Her work has also been featured in Forbes, Inc., US News & World Report and more.

Debra earned her B.A. in Psychology and American Studies from Wellesley College and an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management. Upon graduation, MIT Sloan recognized her leadership abilities and contributions to the community by awarding her the Miriam Sherburne Scholarship. She trained further as a mediator, an ombudsman, and a Brené Brown Dare to Lead™ Professional.

Maria Yunis, CPCC, is an Associate Crisis Navigation Partner® with 20+ years experience as a coach and advisor, following 15 years in corporate visual marketing and communications. As she consults, Maria’s extensive experience, broad perspective, and ongoing training enable her to balance skillful inquiry and care with her deep curiosity and intuitive abilities. She is known for her warmth as well as her clear, authentic communication.

Having experienced divorce, co-parenting, empty nesting, the loss of a parent, the loss of a sibling to cancer, and serving as primary support to an aging parent, Maria is uniquely positioned to offer support, perspective, and hope to women managing crisis while juggling multiple priorities. She knows the value of having the right support to embrace what’s possible through life’s transitions and challenges.

Maria lives in Natick, Massachusetts with her partner Don. She is a proud mother of her PhD-candidate son and devoted to her extended family, community, and clients.

She loves being in the woods, studying Jung, and being creative with her hands, music, and people.

Maria is a graduate of Wellesley College and certified by The Coaches Training Institute. She trained as a Brené Brown Dare to Lead™ Professional and as a Positive Intelligence Mental Fitness Coach.

Cindy Nacson-Schechter joined Connect2 Corporation as an Associate Crisis Navigation Partner® after 15+ years working with parents and young children. Her professional experience includes leading an infant-and-toddler-classroom teaching team and working one-on-one with children with special needs. Attending to the needs of children and their parents, as well as fellow teachers, earned her a reputation as outstanding at juggling rapidly changing priorities as well as helping people feel both seen and heard. Able to hold multiple perspectives, she naturally connects people to what they need.

Cindy’s own family has dealt with many mental and physical health crises over the years, which has helped her develop strategies for navigating crises with empathy and compassion. Her personal experience with clinical depression enables her to understand the importance of therapy and finding the right medication. Beyond her work with Connect2, Cindy serves as a brand ambassador for her current antidepressant, speaking with practitioners around the country.

In addition to writing, crocheting, playing word games, and devoting herself to her book club, Cindy enjoys spending time at home in Stamford, CT with her husband, a clinical and school psychologist, as well as their adult children, their partners, and an adorable toddler grandson. They are making the best of their empty nest by traveling, hiking, and enjoying their two energetic and vocal huskies who try to escape but have yet to fly the nest.

Cindy earned her B.A. in English at Tufts University and MA in Cinema Studies at New York University.