Meet Samara Zelniker

An expert in mindset coaching, leadership development and curated retreats.

Your Coach

Samara Zelniker

Hi, I'm Samara Zelniker and I believe in the power of mindfulness to change lives and businesses - a path that I have been actively pursuing in my own life for over a decade.

Let’s start from the beginning. I was always fascinated by people. Our similarities, our differences and essentially what makes us tick. Why certain people thrive while others remain stuck.

More specifically, what makes us the way we are, and is it possible to evolve?

Armed with a BA in psychology and nutrition, I honed my business acumen in the fast-paced world of fashion. From sales to marketing, shipping to budgeting, I absorbed every facet of running a business. Growing up with entrepreneurial parents, my brother and I often joke that growing up in our household was similar to receiving an MBA!

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Real Talk

My upbringing came with its set of benefits and disadvantages. While it instilled the belief in my ability to be an independent woman chasing her dreams, it also left me with a sense of loneliness. I was constantly searching for a sense of belonging and fulfillment.

Oddly breaking my foot returning from an overseas sales trip became a pivotal moment. Despite the outer success in my career, the lack of purpose and impact led me to a crucial realization.

I was miserable.

My new found immobility helped me recognize the importance that personal growth, impact, connection and movement played in my life.

Serendipitously, a post-injury opportunity arose to enroll in a yoga teacher training and I thought, “What the hell, why not get better at yoga?”

Although I did improve my practice, the experience was incredibly more impactful than I could have imagined because

I connected to my own truth and let go of who I thought I needed to be and for the first time, I felt free.

Shortly after I went to Nairobi, Kenya as a part of the teaching team for a non-profit that trains global well-being leaders in and from Africa.

This further developed my obsession with authentic connection and sparked the desire to build a platform for optimizing leadership

This is how Mindfulness Matters began.

I have journeyed around the world creating an international community of seekers.

Through coaching, corporate training, and retreats, it is my purpose to help you create a life of impact.

I believe that as you rise, we all rise collectively.

I invite you to come along for the journey.

Professional Experience

Samara has been teaching and sharing the power of mindfulness in organizational, community and non-profit settings for over a decade.

She completed rigorous training in neuroscience, mindfulness and emotional intelligence from the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute, the leadership development program born at Google. Samara is also trained as a holistic health coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and is a certified yoga and breath-work teacher.

Samara has been featured as an expert in Forbes, Business Insider, and Focus TV, and has served as a panelist and speaker at several conferences and podcasts.

Samara is a partner at Evolution, a coaching, consulting, and investment firm that partners with start-up and high-growth companies to drive long-term, holistic success through developing leadership, alignment and culture.