Who We Are

We help people move from keeping up to getting ahead: to feel in control, reclaim their attention, and become capable of even more—so they can do their best work and live their fullest lives.

What We Value

Four values guide everything we do:

Autonomy — We design our work and lives on our own terms
Service — We succeed by helping others succeed
Effectiveness — We build systems that produce real results
Enjoyment — We find meaning and pleasure in the journey

How We Work

These principles translate our values into daily decisions:

We protect our independence and help others do the same. We don’t trade control for scale—and we teach others to do the same.
We maintain profitability and return on investment. Financial health gives us the freedom to stay true to our values.
We build community into all our programs. Learning is relational. We design for connection, not just content.
We pursue curiosity, excitement, and personal growth as part of our work. If we’re not learning and energized, something’s wrong.
We preserve the human element—emotions, psychology, relationships, perspective. Technology should amplify what’s human, not replace it.
We create evergreen work that stands the test of time. We favor depth over trends, principles over tactics.
We decide autonomously and default to transparency. We trust each other to act, and we share what we’re doing.

Our Work Has Been Featured In

Meet the Team

Tiago Forte

Founder of Forte Labs and Creator of Building a Second Brain

Tiago Forte is one of the world’s foremost experts on productivity. He has taught more than 20,000 people worldwide through his programs and writes and speaks on how technology can help knowledge workers revolutionize their personal effectiveness.

Tiago’s online course, Building a Second Brain, has produced more than 5,000 graduates from over 70 countries. The course draws on his experience in academic disciplines such as information science, practical fields such as user experience design, and his work with top organizations and leaders in Silicon Valley. Tiago believes knowledge management is one of the most impactful skills in the world today, and his work is dedicated to making it accessible to individuals for the first time.

In a previous life, he worked in microfinance in Latin America, served in the Peace Corps in Ukraine, and consulted for large companies on product development in San Francisco. He lives in Long Beach, California, with his wife Lauren, son Caio, and dog Ximena.

Lauren Valdez

Co-Founder of Forte Labs

Lauren leads Forte Labs’ training, coaching, and consulting services, using her extensive facilitation and events experience to create immersive learning experiences designed to inspire sustainable behavior change.

Lauren has a nonprofit background in urban planning and public health. She believes that the world of entrepreneurship and business has a lot to learn from social justice, and vice versa, and is dedicated to bridging them.

She translates Forte Labs productivity methods for nonprofits, government agencies, social justice leaders, and young people.

Julia Saxena

General Manager

Julia’s mission is to reach more people worldwide with our message of personal productivity and knowledge management.

In her role, Julia draws from her extensive experience as a freelance copywriter and as a project manager in several multinational organizations. She has a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, a BBA, and an MBA degree.

Julia regularly publishes what she’s learning about launching, running, and scaling online courses on her website Course Creator Lab and in her weekly newsletter.

Originally from Germany, Julia loves to travel. She has visited over 45 countries and lived and worked in 8. Currently, she spends most of her time in Toronto, Canada.

Rebecca Spencer

Customer Service Representative

Rebecca aims to deliver exceptional customer experiences by providing prompt and comprehensive support.

She holds a BA in History from the University of Delaware and an MS in Forensic Psychology from Purdue University Global, which she completed in May 2023. Before pursuing her MS, she dedicated her time to working in the public education system, primarily assisting students with special needs and ensuring they received the necessary accommodations to thrive in the classroom. This experience allowed her to collaborate with students and their families to identify the most effective strategies for achieving success.

During her leisure time, Rebecca can often be found cherishing moments with her family in Delaware or indulging in a book from her ever-growing “to read” list.

Olesya Sergeeva

Video Editor

Olesya began her journey in Siberia, where she earned her Master’s degree in English and French linguistics. Following her move to Berlin in 2013, she immersed herself in online marketing before discovering her true passion: video-making. After several years in marketing, Olesya joined a self-organized film school in Berlin, leading her to her current roles as a content freelance editor and colorist.

Her creative eye and expertise in storytelling through video have been instrumental to the Forte Labs team. A lover of personal growth, she also devotes her time to yoga, vipassana meditation, and embodiment practices.

NIKOLAY OFITSEROV

Video Editor

Nikolay began his journey in a small town in Siberia, migrating to London to study sound engineering. His creativity found expression as one of the organizers of a national comedy show before moving to Berlin to earn a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, specializing in Media Communication Design.

Along with working as a Technical Director for a television channel, Nikolay has found his niche as a freelancer in post-production, bringing his unique blend of skills to the Forte Labs team. Beyond his professional life, he is keen on philosophy, poetry, and electronic music, adding layers to his vibrant contributions.