Our Story

We are passionate about assisting individuals to develop emotional wellbeing, positive relationships and communication skills to create success

Origin Story

Drawing on extensive experience after working with thousands of children and young adults aged 5 to 25 with the Tomorrow Trust, Kim Normand Dobrin and Brent H. Feinberg founded Free The Mind Co. In 2005, Kim founded The Tomorrow Trust, an organization dedicated to supporting orphans and vulnerable youth through holistic approaches, with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering these individuals to lead self-sufficient lives. Over 15 years in South Africa, under her leadership, more than 700 Tomorrow Trust graduates became professionals—lawyers, doctors, engineers, plumbers, and more—each with their own story of triumph. It was apparent that when emotional competency and awareness were nurtured, success followed in academics and in building positive relationships.

Free The Mind Co was founded, inspired by Brent’s compelling and impactful stories, written to impart life lessons that had profoundly transformed his own life. The programs, skills, and tools provided by Free The Mind Co were instrumental in the success, emotional well-being, and personal development of Tomorrow Trust students, empowering them to build fulfilling and successful lives. Today, Free The Mind Co continues to create a significant impact, delivering research-based programs supported by robust data that demonstrate measurable and sustainable outcomes.

Meet our Team

Kim Normand Dobrin

Co-Founder/CEO

Kim Normand Dobrin is a visionary leader in education, social-emotional learning, and human rights, with over 30 years of international experience. Her journey began with overcoming childhood challenges and trauma, leading her to commit to self-discovery and personal growth. Driven by a deep desire to provide her children with a life of meaning and fulfillment, Kim has dedicated her life to making a positive impact on the world, changing thousands of lives across the globe.

Recognized as an Ashoka Fellow and having studied at the Harvard Kennedy School of International Studies, Kim has also authored three best-selling books in South Africa: Tomorrow, Raising Wisdom, and A Mother’s Legacy.

Kim’s remarkable achievements include leading the largest oral history project in South Africa and Zimbabwe for 18 years and serving as a Founding Director of the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. Her commitment to human rights is further demonstrated through her role as a Board Member of the Human Rights Commission for Education. As the Founder and CEO of the Tolerance Foundation and the Founder of Tomorrow Trust, she has spearheaded educational initiatives that empower and uplift communities.

Known for her passion and unwavering commitment, Kim is a sought-after speaker, workshop facilitator, and coach. She believes in the transformative power of education to unlock the potential within every individual, both young and old. Her work continues to touch lives worldwide as she remains dedicated to fostering a more compassionate and informed global community.

KIM NORMAND DOBRIN’S AWARDS

Brent Feinberg

Co-Founder/Creative Director

Brent H. Feinberg is a distinguished author, integrative healer, and child wellness advocate whose journey has been profoundly shaped by his experiences living and traveling in diverse countries. Through these global interactions, he discovered that equipping children and youth with the right skills and tools, they can empowered to build positive and impactful lives.

As the creator of the beloved “Freeing Freddie” series, Brent masterfully blends magical storytelling with essential life lessons in emotional intelligence and mindfulness for all ages. Born and raised in South Africa, he began his career in health and wellness at a young age.

Driven by a deep passion for empowering children and helping them navigate the complexities of their emotions, Brent authored a series of books designed to provide readers with the tools to overcome fears and anxiety, build inner resilience, and develop a strong sense of self-awareness. His stories impart a deeper understanding of the unique gifts each individual brings to the world, impacting thousands of lives for the better.

In addition to his literary achievements, Brent is a highly sought-after speaker and workshop leader, engaging with audiences around the globe on topics such as personal growth, mindfulness, and the power of imagination. His work continues to inspire both children and adults, encouraging them to live with greater awareness, compassion, and joy.

Chief Experience Officer

Nancy is an instructional strategist and life-long champion of personal and process improvement.

Starting her career in the Management Development and Training Department at Goldman, Sachs & Co., Nancy was on the frontline of a changing view about how organizations set employees up for success. This started her on a career path rooted in improving people’s lives by expanding and deepening skills and expertise, aligning passions with organizational needs, and developing leaders with strong emotional intelligence. An alum of Emory’s Goizueta Business School, Nancy spent over 20 years consulting with Fortune 500 organizations across all industries and around the world.

Becoming a parent in 2005 gave Nancy a front-row seat to the changing needs of our new generations. The technological revolution leaves them with the entire world at their fingertips, but far fewer social and emotional skills to navigate it. Realizing that we cannot wait until people become leaders to give them the critical skills needed to understand their own and others’ emotions, communicate those emotions in healthy ways and build loving relationships, Nancy joined Free the Mind Co as a consultant in 2018 and as a partner in 2022.

Nancy continues to work with leaders as an instructor with Emory University’s Continuing Education Department and as a volunteer in her community.

K-2 Teacher

Laura comes from a long line of teachers- her mother, aunts, uncles, and even a few cousins are all educators. When she was given the opportunity to teach in China, after completing her undergraduate degree, she had to say yes. This is where Laura fell in love with the profession. Coming home from teaching abroad, Laura earned a Masters in the Art of Teaching from the University of Georgia and went on to teach in New Zealand and just outside of Atlanta, GA. She has taught in multiple grade levels and really enjoys being a small part of each student’s educational journey.

Laura is excited to be a part of Freddie’s adventure and looks forward to the impact these skills will have on students everywhere!

Mark Sparvell

SEL and Education Marketing Consultant

Mark has been working in the education space for over three decades and he has found one thing is clear from his experience working with children, families and educators… learning is a social process and accordingly, emotions are fundamental and not ornamental to how we navigate ourselves and the social world around us.

Mark spent many years in teacher, deputy and principal roles in large and small, urban and rural settings before taking on larger roles as regional-wide leadership positions. He designed and taught course materials in universities for pre-service teachers for a number of years before taking on a role with a professional association which designed and delivered capacity building for leadership across Australia and SE Asia. Along the way Mark received awards for leadership and teaching… culminating in the Microsoft Global Innovation Award for Collaboration and not long after, a role in Microsoft designing and implementing a global school leader audience strategy.

As a parent and grandparent, his driver is to ensure that, through his work, we are all reminded of the power of schools. Schools are places where society is created and re-created and we collectively need to support educators, students and families with high quality programs which nurture kindness, empathy and spark creativity and curiosity

Supporting the Free the Mind Co team fills Mark with optimism and the hope that we can make a difference and shape a preferred future for all.