The Intersect is guided by a distinguished advisory board whose insight strengthens our mission to explore complex systems, civic ethics, and interdisciplinary problem-solving with clarity and rigor. Our advisors bring deep experience in storytelling, knowledge design, and cross-sector impact.
Ben Brashares
Author
Simon & Schuster Author Page →
Ben Brashares lives with his wife and three children in Montclair, New Jersey. He is the author of two children’s books—Being Edie Is Hard Today and The Great Whipplethorp Bug Collection—and co-author, alongside his sister Ann Brashares, of the novels Westfallen and Westfallen: Into the Fire. He holds an MFA in creative writing and has written for magazines including Rolling Stone and Men’s Journal.
Much of Ben’s childhood was spent wading through heaps of clothes in his sister’s room, searching for the family’s elusive pet tarantula, Fredricka—who may or may not have made a surprise appearance atop her sleeping head. At The Intersect, Ben brings a commitment to curiosity, literary precision, and the kind of storytelling that invites both laughter and reflection.
Sasha Bühler
Director of International Original Film, Netflix
LinkedIn →
Sasha Bühler is Director of Film at Netflix for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Raised in the United States, she has lived in Germany for over 30 years. Sasha is known for films with a distinctive creative voice, international relevance and deep emotional resonance—both with audiences and within the industry. She acquired ALL QUIET AT THE WESTERN FRONT for Netflix and served as Executive Lead on the critically acclaimed masterpiece, which made German film history with 4 Oscar wins and a total of 9 Academy Award nominations.
Other highlights under her creative leadership include BLOOD RED SKY, ARMY OF THIEVES, FARAWAY, BLOOD & GOLD, PARADISE, 60 MINUTES, BLAME THE GAME, as well as EXTERRITORIAL. Many of the titles she oversaw reached the #1 spot on Netflix’s global charts, with several more landing in the Top 10.
Sasha is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and is a regular panelist and juror at major film & TV festivals and awards.
She has been committed for many years to diversity and equal opportunity. She is an active member of several women’s and industry initiatives and has herself launched various projects—most recently, in collaboration with the MaLisa Foundation, a program to promote diversity at film schools. As a board member of the American Council on Germany, she fosters transatlantic cultural exchange and advocates there as well for inclusive perspectives in the film industry.
Sasha brings to Intersect a deep understanding of what it takes to make stories matter—helping young writers think not just about what they want to say, but how to shape it so it resonates across boundaries.
Jennifer Emmett
President & Chief Content Officer, WonderLab Group, LLC
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Jennifer is the Founder and Co-Proprietor of WonderLab Group, LLC, a custom content and editorial services firm specializing in children’s nonfiction and STEM media. WonderLab develops programmatic, 360° content across publishing, audio, and digital platforms to build engaging nonfiction brands and franchises for kids and families—“mixing science & imagination to spark curiosity.”
Previously, Jennifer served as Senior Vice President of Kids Media at National Geographic, where she led a high-impact portfolio that included a book program publishing over 100 titles annually, two award-winning magazines for tween and preschool audiences, digital and social media channels, and short-form video content.
She also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program at George Washington University’s College of Professional Studies, where she mentors the next generation of publishing professionals.