Dr. Baruch “B”
Our Meaning Team
Dr. Baruch HaLevi, aka “B," comes to this work as a Logotherapist, Enneagram teacher, rabbi, and entrepreneur, having co-founded seven startups. He has spent over twenty years guiding people of all faith traditions, backgrounds, and beliefs through “Life’s T’s:” transitions, tests, trials, traumas, and tragedies. He is the founder of Defiant Spirit Counseling & Coaching, where he works with individuals as a logotherapist, and trains businesses and organizations utilizing The Defy Your Number Enneagram System, his signature program synthesizing the work of Viktor Frankl together with the Enneagram, an ancient, psychological assessment system. Baruch earned a Doctoral Degree in Ministry, Diplomate in Logotherapy, a Master's Degree in Judaic Studies, and an honorary Doctorate in Divinity. He is an ordained Conservative rabbi, certified Enneagram coach, prolific author, and podcaster on all things Viktor Frankl and Enneagram. You can learn more about him at: defiantspirit.org
Dr. Dan
Dr. Dan has been a psychotherapist and organizational health consultant for over 25 years. His perspective comes from years of experience actively listening to people talk about the struggles in their lives, work, relationships, habits, and decisions; and then collaborating with them to craft and implement a plan for optimal healthy change.
Whether working with an individual, a family, or an organizational management team, the principles of good health and positive communication are the same. But it’s in the differences in each situation that Dr. Dan works to help the client discover opportunities for meaningful growth and to achieve alignment – individually and organizationally.
He brings to The Viktor Frankl Meaning Academy his experience, training, and passion for guiding others to growth, with the intention that each participant walks away with actionable ideas, and a desire to improve their own life, as well as the lives of those they impact.
In the past decade, he has worked with international corporations like 3M and Trelleborg Manufacturing, small businesses, school corporations, multiple colleges and universities, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy. You can learn more about Dan at: Danielafranz.com
Dr. Alise
Dr. Alise Cortez is the chief purpose officer at Alise Cortez and Associates, a management consulting firm specializing in the activation of meaning and purpose. She is also an inspirational speaker, social scientist, author, and host of the Working on Purpose radio show.
Having developed her expertise within the human capital / organizational excellence industry over the last 25 years, she is focused on helping companies, leaders, and individuals across the globe to live with “gusto” and make the most of their one, precious life. Today Dr. Cortez is focused on enabling organizations to lead from purpose and create cultures that inspire impassioned performance, meaningful engagement and fulfillment, while encouraging a devoted stay within the organization. For individuals, Dr. Cortez facilitates an online global community and various retreats to enable people hungry for a more meaningful and purposeful life to create it for themselves. www.alisecortez.com
Our Values
“[T]here are two races of men in this world, but only these two — the “race” of the decent man and the “race” of the indecent man. Both are found everywhere; they penetrate into all groups of society. No group consists entirely of decent or indecent people.”
The Meaning Academy is devoted to sharing the work, life, and legacy of Dr. Viktor Frankl as a source of inspiration and illumination for anyone seeking to discover deeper meaning and greater purpose in their lives. Above all, we are committed to embodying this man’s teachings and example through our commitment to the following core values:
All Religions & No Religion
We are a community grounded in what Dr. Frankl called No’os, a spirituality inclusive of all religions, faith traditions, agnostics, and atheists, valuing behavior over faith beliefs.
Conscious Community
We are committed to fostering a conscious community, or as we call it, a “meaning tribe,” grounded within the core values and tenets found throughout the work of Dr. Frankl.
Inclusivity
We recognize and respect the uniqueness of every individual and strive to create a world, as Dr. Frankl taught, of only two types of people: the decent and the indecent.
Human Spirit
We aspire towards an elevated way of being in the world through discovering and living what Dr. Frankl called “the defiant power of the human spirit.”
Differing Opinions
We welcome questioning, disagreements, and differing opinions and beliefs as long as they are made in the spirit of fellowship and offered in the quest for knowledge and truth.
Reductionism
We will never intentionally reduce one another through limiting or demeaning labels, speech, or actions, treating one another as unique and irreplaceable human beings.
Holistic Approach
We believe in a holistic approach to (body, mind, and spirit) providing opportunities around each of these to discover meaning within our lives.
Dignified Diversity
We do not demand our community conform to political correctness, nor do we expect our members to think, speak or act in the same way, as long as one another’s dignity is considered and everyone is treated with respect.
Brave Space
We are committed not merely to “safe space” but “brave space;” one in which we lovingly and thoughtfully debate, challenge, and venture beyond our comfort zones with respect, forgiveness, and resilience.