Our Team

The NaliniKIDS team is made of up innovative thinkers and exceptional doers. We ensure that intention matches implementation, and pride ourselves on our ability to design custom programming that fits our partners like a glove.

Rupa Mehta

Founder & Executive Director

Rupa Mehta’s entire life is dedicated to wellness and education. She brings 25+ years of teaching experience and expertise in adapting physical and emotional workouts to various ages, audiences and settings. She has a relentless and contagious commitment to the mission of NaliniKIDS. With a tireless quest to connect with, learn from and support as many educators and students worldwide as possible, she is the heartbeat of NaliniKIDS.

Jamie Hurwitz

Co-Executive Director

A lifelong athlete and learner, Jamie Hurwitz fell in love with the mission of NaliniKIDS and began volunteering at NaliniKIDS in 2015. Today she oversees day-to-day operations, special projects, and is the bedrock of all NaliniKIDS content and strategy. With thought-provoking and inspiring curiosity, she encourages the team to dream big yet be practical, to scale yet stay true to our roots and nurture individual relationships, and believes that everyone, of any age, is a teacher and has something valuable to share.

Our Leadership

ONE WORD: CONNECT

ONE WORD: CURIOUS

Rupa Mehta

President

Rupa Mehta’s entire life is dedicated to wellness and education. She brings 25+ years of teaching experience and expertise in adapting physical and emotional workouts to various ages, audiences and settings. She has a relentless and contagious commitment to the mission of NaliniKIDS. With a tireless quest to connect with, learn from and support as many educators and students worldwide as possible, she is the heartbeat of NaliniKIDS.

Samuel Goldberg

Vice President & Co-Treasurer

Sam Goldberg started as a volunteer with NaliniKIDS in 2010 and has since helped spearhead fundraising and content strategies. He brings his storytelling expertise as a film, television, theatre and live events producer to NaliniKIDS. With great passion, he challenges the team, educators and students alike to show up and be the change they want to see in the world and be part of the stories they want to hear and see around them.

Scott Tooter

Co-Treasurer

Scott Tooter’s journey with NaliniKIDS dates back to adult fitness days with Nalini Method. His steady hand has helped NaliniKIDS grow from its tactile infancy to its digital nationwide footprint. He brings his strategy and development expertise as a systems and operations leader to NaliniKIDS. He encourages the team to grow and think outside the box - whatever it takes to empower students both inside and outside the classroom.

Operational Board

ONE WORD: CONNECT

ONE WORD: PASSION

ONE WORD: GROW

Marni Shapiro

Director

Since 2003, Marni Shapiro has directly experienced the impact of Nalini Method and NaliniKIDS’ signature physical and emotional workouts. Her history as a client and supporter alongside her expertise in research and optimization as an industry strategist, has paved the way for strategic partnerships and new audiences for NaliniKIDS. She encourages the team to dig deeper and understand the macro, societal trends that impact our classrooms and children everyday.

ONE WORD: UNDERSTAND

Julian Tepper

Secretary

Julian Tepper can be seen running all 5 NYC boroughs by day and writing novels by night. As an artist who embodies and appreciates the power of physical wellness to unlock creative potential, he has found a great home with NaliniKIDS. As a novelist and art curator, Julian inspires the team to remember childhood, empathize with educators and students, and stay true to building simple, lasting habits that can change one’s life.

ONE WORD: CREATE