Disability scholar and entrepreneur.

Since 2014, I have been running Live & Learn, Inc., a research consultancy that works with academic institutions, governments, and community organizations to improve mental health, economic empowerment, and social connectedness through community-based participatory action. My projects center small business development, nonprofit sustainability, and workforce wellness.

As the project director on six federal R&D grants, and author of numerous professional and peer-reviewed publications, I have 20 years’ experience with program and policy implementation, grant management, and organizational development. I am passionate about working with colleagues and stakeholders on diverse multi-generational teams, and forming lasting, reciprocal, and mutual relationships. Over the course of my career, I have relied on these types of relationships to sustain my business, offer mentorship opportunities for junior colleagues, and to improve not just public policy but the wellness and effectiveness of all involved.

As a certified SCORE small business mentor and ESL tutor, I am dedicated to helping individuals identify and strategically achieve their goals. I love working with emerging leaders who are making a positive impact on their communities by facing their fears and chasing their dreams.

headshot of Laysha Ostrow, a 40-something white female with long brown hair, wearing a denim jacket and smiling

Education

  • PhD, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health (2014)

  • Master of Public Policy, Brandeis University Heller School for Social Policy and Management (2010)

  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Lesley University (2006)

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