Think Outside the Box of Mental Health

She has delivered over 150 keynotes and produced 100+ short films for clients including Stanford Medicine, Columbia Psychiatry, and Sutter Health -- helping audiences and organizations reimagine mental health education through human-centered design.

Amanda is passionate about connecting the art and science of mental health. Her films have been featured in stigma reduction research studies and national advertising campaigns as tools for education and behavior change. She has co-authored peer-reviewed publications on online peer support and stigma reduction, in collaboration with Harvard and Columbia. Her work spans complex topics such as crisis response, youth psychosis, peer support, and natural disaster trauma.

A passionate advocate, Amanda began serving on national boards in her early 20s -- including Google’s Mental Health Advisory Panel — and was the youngest board member of the nation’s largest grassroots mental health nonprofit, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She is a co-founder and executive of three social enterprises -- neuroHealth, LaughMD, and The Giving Gallery -- spanning neurodiversity, digital health, and creative philanthropy.

Her signature keynote — “Think Outside the Crayon Box” draws from her own recovery journey after psychiatric hospitalization in college, elevating the power of empathy and small acts of kindness. She weaves together film, metaphor, and humor to create a dynamic and deeply engaging experience. Amanda is partnered with major speaker bureaus and regularly works across healthcare, education, philanthropy, and corporate sectors.

Amanda holds a B.S. in Human Development from UC Davis. Outside of work, she’s an avid rock climber and mountain biker, holds a black belt in Kung Fu, and DIY-built her #vanlife home in 2023 -- embracing an alternative and adventurous lifestyle as she travels the country.