About Us
NSLI founders Megan and Braden Penhoet appreciate the power of American innovation and industry, as well as rising concerns regarding growing income inequality, sustainability and community economic development.
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The Nordic Scholars Leadership Institute arises from the Penhoets' Nordic family roots, starting with Swedish Finns’ immigration to the Pacific Northwest at the beginning of the 20th Century.
The Penhoets' professional work in university innovation at U.C. Berkeley, international educational programs at Stanford University, and leadership for sustainability research at Malmö University drives the NSLI mission. Academic research, professional expertise in innovation and higher education combined with their family summers in Sweden form a strong appreciation for Nordic models.
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Meet the Team
Director and Founder
Megan Penhoet
Educator, Speaker, Researcher Global Leadership, Sustainability & Ecopreneurship
Global Swede Award, 2021 Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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BA International Relations, Stanford University
MA Leadership for Sustainability​, Malmö University
PhD Global Leadership, Indiana Tech University (2029)
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Co-Director
Madeleine Shachat
Specialises in sustainability-focused business analysis, corporate responsibility, and business ethics.
Lived and studied in Denmark, Sweden and Finland (current).
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BA Social Sciences, The Evergreen State College​
MSc Corporate Environmental Management,
University of Jyväskylä, Finland​
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Co-Founder
Braden Penhoet
Academic innovation
Corporate Law
Startup accelerator Advisor
Social Venture Partner
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BA International Relations, Stanford University
Doctor of Law (JD), University of California Los Angeles
MBA, Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley
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Research Intern
Rowan Penhoet
Specializes in qualitative data analysis, applied research, marketing strategy and communications . Rowan brings his past project management, editorial and writing experience to support NSLI's research and evaluation, and communications projects.
BA History, minors in Economics and Philosophy
Pitzer College (2029)​​
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