Creating the space
for change

Our mission

Humanava is a leadership development platform dedicated to fostering leaders who build diverse, mindful, and impactful communities. Our mission is to empower individuals and teams to initiate and embrace change within a supportive environment. We believe in creating the space for intentional development, knowing it leads to meaningful transformation.

Seeds of a Purposeful Community

Before Humanava, there was Stand Up For Passion, a storytelling series founded in New York City in 2014. The concept? Seven inspiring and diverse speakers, each with seven minutes to share their story of transformation. These stories — so real, so personal — inspired honesty and genuine connection. At the end of every event, instead of rushing out into the night, people stayed. They had meaningful conversations. They left with the glow of found community and shared experience. They felt part of something special, something magic.

And the magic didn’t stop there.

Those events sparked change. Participants transformed their careers, pursued new passions, and made significant life changes. Speakers found the confidence to step into leadership or write books. Stand Up For Passion became a conscious community across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The format broadened. We offered team-building workshops and collaboration with leaders from well-known organizations. Each event was still based on the belief that all humans desire and deserve authenticity and positive change.

Then, Covid hit. Events around the world got canceled, and spaces fell silent. In this global pause, Humanava was born.

Rekindling the Magic

Today, we continue to carry forward the spirit of Stand Up For Passion through Humanava, adapting to new ways of connecting and growing. We are back to creating impactful events and offering leadership training, with the same intention of fostering meaningful change. Our commitment to building diverse, mindful, and impactful communities remains stronger than ever. We invite you to join us on this journey.

Meet the Founders

Arnaud Collery

Co-Founder and CEO

With over a decade of experience as a global keynote speaker, coach, and trainer, Arnaud Collery shares his expertise on wellbeing at work, inclusion, and storytelling. He has delivered talks in more than 32 countries at prestigious venues and events such as Harvard, the United Nations, Google, the World Happiness Summit, and TEDx. As the CEO of Humanava, Arnaud’s work has been instrumental in helping organizations foster positive workplace cultures and develop effective leaders. His lifelong passion has been in connecting people through community and inspiring them to pursue life’s adventures.

Janet Nakano

Co-Founder and COO

Born and raised in Los Angeles to parents of Japanese immigrants, Janet grew up with a multi-cultural mindset from the beginning. Her early passion for culture sent her to 30+ countries far and wide evolving into a career as a documentary filmmaker, video producer and photographer. A significant part of her career was with IBM in New York City working as a senior video producer and director for nearly 10 years. Her other passion is deeply rooted in a yoga and meditation practice that started 20 years ago. This has led her to delve deep into understanding her own self and the human condition - all of which is the inspiration behind Humanava.