Hi, I’m Allaya — writer, researcher, retreat leader, and recovering perfectionist.
I’ve spent the last decade asking one question across multiple industries: What makes us thrive? Whether I’m facilitating a yoga and mindfulness retreat, leading a content strategy for a decentralized science collective, or researching how workplace dynamics affect our sense of self, I’m always circling the same themes — well-being, identity, visibility, and voice.
My work sits at the intersection of psychology, systems change, and narrative design. I hold a BA in Psychology and am currently completing my MA in Applied & Evaluative Psychology at Hunter College, where I also serve as a research assistant across multiple projects.
I’ve ghostwritten and edited hundreds of articles for leaders across health, education, tech, and workplace well-being — most notably for BetterUp, where my writing on perfectionism, thriving at work, and psychological safety has been cited in academic literature, peer-reviewed journals, dissertations, social neuroscience publications, and used in corporate learning programs.
But here’s the part that didn’t fit cleanly into a LinkedIn title:
I’m also building a personal body of work around transformational rest, workplace visibility, and rethinking the assumptions baked into nine-to-five culture — from both a behavioral science lens and an embodied, lived one.
What I’m Working On Now
- Rethinking Nine-to-Five — A book, a podcast, and a public scholarship project exploring the future of work and wellness. Chapter One is now available to download for free (and I’d love your feedback!).
- The Workplace Visibility Index — A theory paper and eventual scale measuring identity, power, and psychological safety at work.
- The Scholar-Practitioner Bridge — My growing archive of blog posts, preprints, student publications, and academic side quests as I pursue a PhD and build my own research footprint.
- Retreats — I design and co-lead immersive wellness retreats rooted in mindfulness, community, and nervous system repair. These are joyful, intentional experiences with just enough structure to support transformation — and just enough softness to remind you what rest feels like.
What I Believe
I believe academic knowledge shouldn’t live in paywalled PDFs.
I believe your story is data.
I believe in preprints, peer support, and permission slips.
And I believe that being a whole human — complex, self-reflective, occasionally exhausted — is not a liability in professional or academic spaces. It’s a qualification.
How to Work With Me
Right now, I’m selectively available for:
- Thought partnership & ghostwriting in psychology, wellness, and organizational behavior
- Guest teaching & lectures, podcast interviews, and speaker panels
- Co-authoring or collaborating on theory development or scale design
- Consulting for retreat leaders and program designers looking to turn insight into impact
Feel free to explore the site, follow me on socials, or just shoot me a note. I’m always curious what brings people here.