Aide then moved on to the WME Agency , where he worked on a team that led the company ’ s global corporate social responsibility efforts and provided philanthropic consulting to clients , including Charlize Theron , Matt Damon and Lady Gaga — which is how Aide first met the BTWF team .
“ I remember watching the launch of Born This Way Foundation live online in 2011 in my apartment in Morgantown when I was in the middle of law school . If you asked me then if I thought I ’ d end up actually working for Lady Gaga , I would have told you to stop being ridiculous ,” Aide says .
In his role today , Aide leads the strategic planning , development , launch , operations and scale of research-driven , multiplatform global programs at the forefront of mental health awareness and advocacy .
“ My favorite thing about this position is working with my team and getting to make a positive change together . Our programs give young people a platform to share their stories and inspire others , they educate and equip young people with the tools they need to better support their friends and themselves when it comes to their mental health , and they help cultivate and create kindness in schools , workplaces and communities everywhere ,” Aide says . “ The world can be a tough and scary place , so the challenge is never losing hope . There is so much good in the world , too , and we can ’ t ever lose sight of that or give up on it .”
Through Aide ’ s previous positions , he learned the importance of cultivating supportive , equitable and kind work environments , saying , “ If you can help someone , help them .”
“ I know how lifesaving kindness can be when it ’ s included in the mix of mental health care ,” Aide says . “ I ’ m someone who has openly struggled with depression and anxiety , and it ’ s the kindness of people — their support , their simple words , their love and their friendship — that have kept me afloat .”
Aide takes that passion for spreading kindness into the world through mentoring his team , members of the foundation ’ s global Youth Advisory Board and all of the young people who are part of the programs , story and ongoing impact . He is a member of the Mental Health Storytelling Initiative , a coalition of more than 60 entertainment industry partners and mental health expert organizations designed to revolutionize the narrative on mental health and extend its programming and research on mental health media representation . He is also a member of the Mental Health Youth Action Forum and participated in the first-ever forum at the White House alongside MTV , the Biden-Harris administration and 18 leading mental
health nonprofits to drive culture from awareness to action on mental health storytelling and media .
“ Diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords for me ; they are principles that shape my worldview . I firmly believe that a diverse and inclusive society fosters innovation , empathy and understanding ,” Aide says .
Aide and his team at BTWF have been recognized with the Social Impact Summit Innovator of the Year award and Webby honors and received a Shorty Award .
“ I have lived dreams of mine , and I have lived through nightmares I didn ’ t see coming . What I ’ ve learned is , no matter what , life is full of highs and lows . When you ’ re in the low , know it ’ s not forever . And when you ’ re in the high , enjoy it because it ’ s not going to last forever , either ,” Aide says . “ That ’ s what makes life interesting and exciting and , at the end of the day , a much better story .” •
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