Embodied Leadership with Lori Lennon

Lori's Pathway to Success

Lori Lennon is a modern trailblazer in her own right. Upon meeting her, she was a woman who could see the true potential in a person. Now, she is an award-winning member of the 2025 Northeastern Women Who Empower cohort. Having graduated from the University in 2004 with her Bachelor's in Journalism, she spent nearly a decade in television news. Furthermore, Lori also joined Northeastern’s College of Science, where she served as the Director of Communications. 

    After making the transition to become a full-time entrepreneur, Lori established the science communications firm, Thinkubator Media, in 2019. She brings her dynamic personality along with 20+ years of expertise to budding brands and innovators. Lori’s specialty is synthesizing unique, complex, and important information to help people better understand and appreciate the hidden gems in STEM. From the early stages of Thinkubator Media, Lori and her growing team have supported several brands and thought leaders across STEM industries as they develop their output.

    Her hand-selected team brings a plethora of experiences and personalities to draw from, giving Thinkubator Media its cutting edge. She has traveled internationally to provide hands-on training in communications and brand development. Her most recent venture brought her all the way to China! Lori continues to collaborate internationally with several notable women across various sectors, from astrophysics to medical innovation. 

The newest addition to Lori's family and the Thinkubator Media team, Sadie!

Looking Forward

    Lori is on a continuous quest to create her own path and support others who are doing the same in the name of a better world. Her open heart and mind have made it possible to make and facilitate lasting connections through Thinkubator Media and beyond. As a woman who manages so much, it is no wonder that Lori is truly an inspiration, an adored friend, and a trusted mother. Now, she is also a recipient of the 2025 Northeastern Women Who Empower Innovator Award!

    Although the judges mainly considered specific industries, they made a special place for Lori for her commitment to “empowering women in STEM through branding and coaching.” Along with 30 other winners, Lori has been selected for a unique fellowship opportunity in honor of the Innovator Awards’ fifth year running. Thereupon, each recipient receives funding along with global networking and training opportunities to support further development and programming. After 9 months, the program will conclude with the 2026 Northeastern Global Leadership Summit in London. 

Congratulations, Lori! Here’s to a fruitful experience with your fellow recipients of the 2025 Northeastern Women Who Empower Innovator Award.

Shaping the Future: Black Women Innovating for Equity in STEM

Innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about creating equity and access. Despite fervent efforts to dismantle the policies that made it possible to scrape that glass ceiling, women, people of color, and Black women, in particular, are making strides in STEM and tech. Not only do these women advance STEM by simply showing up with confidence and expertise, but they readily reach back and extend their access and influence to help others. In every sector, we have seen exponential growth in the representation and success of Black women in science and tech. These same women are also spearheading the efforts that extend true equity, access, and enjoyment of STEM activities and programs. 

Black Women Leading STEM for Social Change

Dr. Ruha Benjamin courtesy of Muhlenberg College.

There are several Black women who are actively reshaping the social landscape of the STEM sectors. Today we will feature three women who are making pivotal changes with positive and lasting implications for the greater good.

 Dr. Ruha Benjamin and her team research and advocate for inclusive policies in tech and accountability in AI. Her work will lead to more efficient and fair use and distribution of data. Jewel Burks Solomon is the co-founder of Partpic an AI-driven manufacturing tech) which has since been acquired by corporate giant, Amazon. She has since become the leader of Google for Startups to help Black entrepreneurs secure funding.

Dr. Adrienne Hollis is an environmental scientist with a passion for climate justice. Dr. Hollis

Dr. Adrienne Hollis, courtesy of Twin Cities PBS.

advocates for actionable change in marginalized communities that are disproportionately affected by climate change. These include people in cities and areas near local waste management and processing plants. From air, water, and soil pollution, there are endless factors to address that affect American citizen’s quality of life. Dr. Hollis’ work not only highlights direct problem areas of the climate crisis, but she is also readily equipped with actionable insights. 

Jewel Burks Solomon, courtesy of 21 Ninety.

Addressing Barriers to Success

Despite major strides by Black women across STEM sectors, Black women-led startups receive less than 1% of venture capital funding. Systemic challenges limit leadership opportunities and access to STEM education. With the current president of the United States undoing legislation that honors diversity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at breakneck speed, the socioeconomic pressures that women, people of color, and disabled citizens face may be felt tenfold.

Fortunately, we are simultaneously getting a glimpse at the social resistance that has so often resulted in lasting and sustainable change for all. In the words of Gil Scott Heron, “The revolution will not be televised…the first change that takes place is in your mind.” While we cannot wait for our peers to wake up to a different way of thinking and living, we see the power in people becoming the change they wish to see. The scientists above saw problems in their personal lives and created solutions that could benefit all who encounter similar challenges. 

As history shows, Black women continue to rise up and use their unique experiences and knowledge to overcome daunting tasks across all fields. Defying odds comes naturally to women who were born into castes assigned by archaic attempts to understand humankind. By developing and utilizing strong networks, establishing and strengthening their expertise, and outshining expectations regularly, Black women continue to warrant that there is more than enough space for themselves and all other marginalized people to have a seat at the table. 

Join Our Thinkubator Media Live Course!

Thinkubator Media is spearheading a fundamental communications course to help innovators promote their companies and ideas. In small groups, the team works with entrepreneurs and startups to improve their pitching and media expertise.  Founder and entrepreneur, Lori Lennon leads the course, working closely with clients to bolster their long-term success. 

In our digital age, having and maintaining a healthy online presence is essential to the success of most brands. While Thinkubator Media has offered a virtual version of the course, we are now launching live, in-person sessions. The Thinkubator Media communications course offers clients a chance to access our unique expertise. The course makes it easier to understand and navigate the reality of pitching, high-stakes interviews, and media training for a well-rounded brand.

After receiving feedback, our previous clients shared how impactful the low-cost course has been. We also found a common desire to create in-person sessions, offering hands-on support from our team and our ambitious clientele. 

While hiring a dedicated communications team can be costly, our course gives clients a strong foundation for media success. By the end of our time together, clients feel confident about mastering their online presence and overall presentation of their company’s efforts. 

Clients consider questions like the ones below: 

 

Together, Thinkubator Media’s team will help participants hone in their overall message, storytelling, public speaking, networking, and media management.  After taking this deep dive, clients have left the course feeling inspired and ready to begin strengthening their brand’s foundation. 

Ready to get started? Email us at team@thinkubatormedia.com for more information. We look forward to meeting you!

Beets, Sutures, and a New Generation of Medicine

Dasia Taylor is a young woman who began to define her career in STEM just shy of her senior graduation. Back in 2019, Dasia spent months developing a “novel suture additive” to help doctors and patients detect infection sooner. As she perfected the sutures, Dasia’s invention catapulted her across several regional and national competitions. In 2020, she landed among the top 40 finalists of the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest, most notable science competition. The next stop on her journey is obtaining a patent for her novel work.

So, How Did She Do It? 

Dasia spent several months testing her sutures in beet juice. She noted that the liquid would change from bright red to dark purple, indicating a change in patient pH and likely an infection.  

But, why beet juice?  

There have been recent efforts to produce biotech sutures with a similar purpose. But with features like pairing up to smartphones, these high-tech sutures would be intricate and costly to produce. Beets are naturally more accessible and cost-effective. 

Considering healthcare needs on a global scale, biotech sutures that connect to smartphones would likely be a challenge for most people to obtain. 

With infections developing at much higher rates in countries outside of the U.S., Dasia’s invention can bring the benefits of high-tech sutures to a much wider range of people. In doing so, countless lives and billions of dollars can be saved annually by using Dasia’s beet juice and cotton blend sutures. 

 

All Of This at 17? What’s Next?

Since her debut in the science world, Dasia has created a local kids' science program in her home state of Iowa, inspiring younger generations of problem solvers. Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood and navigating a predominantly white field have empowered Dasia to continue to be seen and heard. Along the way, she carefully weaves important narratives about Black history and culture into local spaces and dialogues. In her quest for knowledge, she informs others through thoughtful work and storytelling. 

In her preliminary studies, Dasia’s passion for accessible healthcare was born from her concern for the life-threatening socioeconomic and healthcare challenges facing women throughout Africa, in particular. Naturally, her equitable nature is intended to improve healthcare globally, for all people.   

Education and equitability are at the heart of her passionate strides toward accessible healthcare for those who need it most. Dasia is nothing short of phenomenal, as she works toward getting a patent, she continues to bring her community along with her. We look forward to seeing more of Dasia Taylor’s journey as she breaks barriers in STEM.