Merideth Bogard is a Partner at SYLVAIN. With a passion for patterns and decoding complex problems, Merideth has applied her natural strategic tendencies to transform brands at SYLVAIN for nearly a decade. Here, Merideth has led key brand and innovation development across a range of clients and industries including Chobani, PepsiCo, Google, Credit Suisse, Colgate Palmolive, Hilton and Airbnb. From managing global research that crosses multiple continents to building innovation pipelines that span 5-10 years, Merideth is constantly in pursuit of solutions to the dynamic challenges brands face today. Her Myers Briggs is an INTP - which definitely puts her on par with either Einstein or Ben Stein (both famous INTPs) so take your pick.

Joey is a Co-Chief Strategy Officer at SYLVAIN. After escaping from the world of neuroscience and psychology, Joey became part of the founding team at SYLVAIN in 2010. Here, he’s led innovation and brand strategy work for clients including Google, GM, Afterpay, Waze, VF Corp, Bloomberg and many more. Joey is, unavoidably, a systems thinker— assessing problems in context, making creative leaps, and intuitively connecting far flung dots. He approaches the gnarliest of challenges with a preternatural calm and focuses on the big picture. In addition, Joey serves as the host of SYLVAIN’s podcast, Critical Nonsense, and Editor in Chief of Progress Report, the non-traditional business intelligence platform created by SYLVAIN. He also spearheaded the production of our book The Dots, an in-depth study deconstructing influence for brands and institutions in contemporary culture, and our documentary Instafame, an exploration into the psychological impact of digital fame on young people.

Ben Cheney is a Partner at SYLVAIN. As part of the founding team, Ben has led long-term strategic engagements across a variety of clients and challenges—from future-focused product and service innovation, to brand strategy and design, to nebulous cultural explorations. Some clients include GM, American Express, Spotify, AB InBev, Google, and more. In every challenge, Ben strives for essentialism; identifying the elements that really matter and making them actionable and applicable for companies and their stakeholders. In his free time, Ben is tireless in his pursuit of CrossFit, and playing with his three kids. He’s also a dedicated denim enthusiast.

As Chief Design Officer and Principal, Michael drives bold ideas with meticulous craft. He provides clear direction, ambitious vision and the cultural insights that drive teams and processes. He’s worked with brands across categories, including Target, Microsoft, Marriott, AB inBev/Stella Artois, Diageo, Oscar, IBM, Wired, Calvin Klein, IMG New York, Fashion Week and American Express. Michael specializes in culturally insightful strategies, dynamic marketing platforms and innovative creative executions that ground brands in culture and move them forward. He is most well-known for his iconic designs for Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point and Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club, which have left an indelible impression on American culture.

Chris Konya is a Co-Chief Strategy Officer at SYLVAIN. By applying a deep curiosity about human behavior and a desire to create surprising offerings, Chris helps brands envision their futures through innovation, brand and consumer-led strategy. At SYLVAIN, Chris leads key relationships with clients including Diageo, MoMa, Amazon, Pepsico, Chanel, Dr. Jart and more. Beyond in-market growth, she also grows innovation talent – whether for a client company or for her own team, building tightly knit groups with strong innovation capability. In her spare time, Chris loves to experiment. Her favorites have been her ramen pop-ups and in the pottery studio.

Aaron Powers is a Partner at SYLVAIN, and leads the company’s business growth in the United States. With a background spanning business strategy, innovation, brand strategy, design and advertising, Aaron specializes in business transformation and bringing consumer-facing brands fully to life. At SYLVAIN, he’s guided the evolution of a diverse slate of key clients, including Spotify, Viacom, Diageo, American Express, BlackRock, L’Oreal and more. Aaron is also the host of SYLVAIN’s weekly podcast, Critical Nonsense. He brings a personal passion for the culinary, music, gaming and pop culture worlds to every project (whether you ask him to or not).

Sherry (Sherzad) Rahmatian is a Partner at SYLVAIN. Based in Amsterdam, though a California native, she leads SYLVAIN’s business growth across Europe. Sherry has built her career client-side in the tech industry, most recently with Uber where she led marketing strategy across Europe, Middle East and Africa. At SYLVAIN, she leads key clients including Nike, Uber, WhatsApp and Spotify. Coupled with her background in psychology and a passion for global cultures, Sherry brings a wealth of knowledge on agile thinking, experimentation and fast-growing brands from the tech industry. And when she’s not working, she’s traveling as much as she possibly can, and has touched down in nearly 50 countries.

Alain Sylvain founded SYLVAIN in 2010 and served as CEO until 2023. His most visionary client work includes projects for the likes of the WNBA, The New York Times, ESPN, Hilton, BlackRock, MoMA, and the ACLU.

Alain was unbending in his convictions and unafraid of calling out the world of business to do better. This remains integral to SYLVAIN’s ethos today.

System thinker. Design-driven. Mama bear. These traits along with over 10 years of program management experience, Tony has built his career by tackling a diverse range of projects and initiatives—all at different scales, challenges, and locations around the world. Tony lives for designing organizational systems and processes to help teams work smarter and better. His previous roles in Business Operations and Program Management have strengthened his ability to marry creativity, strategy, and culture to launch new practices and tools.

Prior to joining Sylvain Labs, Tony was Global Program Manager at SYPartners. There, he worked alongside company leaders and projects teams at IBM, Amex, Huawei, OWN, UnitedHealth Group, Campbell’s and AARP in the planning and scaling of various global initiatives. As a fiercely competitive child, Tony dreamt of being a top-level pianist on the pro circuit scene. Yes, this does exist. This passion led him to Syracuse University, where he earned a B.M in Music Industry and Piano Performance.