Shelly Tygielski is the co-founder of Partners in Kind, a media and production company and equity fund that focuses on funding, developing, and producing social impact entertainment, as well as the Partners in Kind Foundation, its corresponding 501(c)(3). She is a grassroots organizer, activist, and philanthropist whose vast experience in building social movements brings a refreshing take to how PIK evaluates projects and attaches robust impact campaigns to each entity. To truly leverage entertainment as a tool for social impact PIK has built a model that democratizes investment opportunities, empowers storytellers, and prioritizes projects with significant social value.

Shelly, a former Fortune 1000 executive, left corporate life in 2016 to focus on mindfulness and community organizing, dedicating her efforts to social justice and equitable access to wellbeing. Named one of the “12 most powerful women in mindfulness” by mindful.org and featured on the cover of Mindful magazine, she grew her South Florida meditation community to 15,000 members. In response to COVID-19, she founded the global mutual aid organization, Pandemic of Love, which has facilitated over $150 million in aid worldwide.

Shelly was recognized by CNN Heroes in 2020.

She authored Sit Down to Rise Up (2021), a Nautilus Book Award Gold winner, and How We Ended Racism (2023), co-authored with Justin Michael Williams. Shelly holds degrees from the University of Miami and Columbia University and is pursuing a doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership at Indiana University, focusing on mutual aid and democratizing philanthropy.