Alem Makonnen (she|her|we) is an international educator, thought leader, insightful coach and engaged consultant. She is dedicated to the practice of compassion in her life, work with individuals, leaders, institutions and systems. She began meditating more than 40 years ago and has sat hundreds of hours of silent meditation retreat.

Alem is dual certified by the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University and the Compassion Institute. Her experience and formal study include Vipassanā, Theravāda, Sōtō Zen, and indigenous traditions. She was trained by Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli at the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society in Mind-Body Medicine and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR); Harvard Medical School Postgraduate Medical Education in Mind Body Medicine; and Trauma-Informed Mindfulness.

She delights in offering individualized mindfulness coaching to private clients, leaders and mindfulness-based teachers. She loves helping others cultivate a personal practice and serves as a mentor in year-long mindfulness training programs. Alem served as faculty, leadership advisor, and Director of Global Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, School of Medicine.

Alem works locally and globally to fulfill her childhood wish that freedom, peace, and well-being live in our hearts, communities, and world. She embodies an enduring belief in our common humanity and serves as a board director of the Compassion Institute.