Haley Forest

Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests: Creative cognition; neuroeconomics; behavioral decision-making; attention and cognitive control; social and strategic behavior; human–AI collaboration.

Education

William James College | Newton, MA
Doctoral Student in Leadership Psychology, Concentration: Neuropsychology | Expected 2026
Dissertation: Focus, Drift, Create: What Your Brain Needs to Make Great Ideas (IRB submission in progress)

San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Business Management | Dec 2008

Current & Recent Research

Researcher | William James College | Jan 2023 – Present

Investigate neural correlates of decision-making, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving using EEG and HRV
Design experimental tasks measuring idea generation under goal-directed and spontaneous attention states
Develop Qualtrics-based behavioral experiments grounded in psychological and economic theory to capture real-time cognitive and affective processes
Integrate behavioral frameworks into experimental design, emphasizing mixed-methods synthesis and causal modeling
Explore implications of attentional mode-switching for leadership, creativity, and innovation

Applied Behavioral Scientist | Globe Telecom (GoMo Brand) | February 2025 – Present

Lead behavioral strategy for GoMo, integrating behavioral science into growth initiatives and product development for a 3M+ user base
Design and test AI-driven behavioral interventions that enhance engagement, habit formation, and digital decision-making
Develop internal behavioral systems and processes to guide campaign ideation and strategy development based on cognitive and motivational insights
Partner cross-functionally with product, data, and engineering teams to translate behavioral frameworks into dynamic reward systems and contextual nudges

Professional Experience

Founder & Principal Consultant | HCForest Consulting | January 2014 – Present

Applied behavioral science to optimize team dynamics, leadership decision-making, and creative problem-solving processes
Designed and facilitated workshops on cognitive flexibility, behavioral insights, and leadership for international audiences

Chief of Staff to Founder & CEO (Consultant) – Fabricate, Inc. | 2021 – Present

Co‑created product and business concepts with the Founder, shaping early‑stage ideas into clear value propositions, decision frameworks, and executable roadmaps.
Led “from‑zero” strategy work across product, operations, and go‑to‑market, defining the path from concept to launch when there was no existing playbook.
Built lightweight operating systems (cadence, rituals, artifacts) so new ideas could move from conversation to prioritization, experimentation, and delivery.

Business Strategist & Research Director | Allelo Design | January 2024 – March 2025

Conducted strategic research on climate impact measures, identifying systemic gaps and evaluating metrics used in sustainability reporting
Developed training frameworks integrating behavioral insights for environmental design projects
Partnered with senior leadership to align content with organizational goals, securing funding and stakeholder buy-in

Cognitive Design Researcher – SHIFT | Slalom Consulting | Jan 2024 – May 2024

Developed the translation process for turning assessment data into actionable insights using behavioral science frameworks
Created evidence-based interpretation guides to help teams apply adaptability data in decision-making and leadership contexts
Conducted literature reviews and contributed to model development related to cognitive flexibility and strategic response to change

Brand Growth Manager | Italicus Rosolio Di Bergamotto | November 2017 – September 2021

Spearheaded U.S. market expansion, achieving a 600% increase in distribution
Created data-driven training materials for sales teams, incorporating behavioral insights to enhance performance

Freelance Writer & Editor | International | November 2011 – May 2017

Designed training programs for content writers, increasing engagement through strategic content adjustments
Published work in major industry outlets such as The Evening Standard and Cosmopolitan

Speaking & Thought Leadership

Recent Industry Presentations

Neuroscience of creativity | Creative Problem Solving Institute, Buffalo, NY (June 2025)
Neuroscience of creativity: Unlocking human potential | Okta Quarterly Business Review, Virtual (June 2025)
Leading with the brain in mind | CPSI Pre-Conference Workshop, Buffalo, NY (June 2025)
Neuroscience of creativity | Florida Creativity Conference, Sarasota, FL (March 2025)
Navigating change with the brain in mind: Leading through uncertainty and resistance | New England Association of Association Executives Annual Meeting, Burlington, VT (March 2025)
How to Increase Your Creativity | Neuroscience of Creativity & Innovation | Women in Behavioral Science, Virtual (November 2024)

Academic Presentations

Using AI in communications at work [Panel presentation] | Sawyer Business School, Suffolk University (April 2025)
Neuroscience of leadership [Course Intensive] | University of New Hampshire (October 2023)
Product design with the consumer in mind [Guest lecture] | Middlesex University, London, UK (May 2015)

Podcast & Media Appearances

What Doesn’t Kill Us by Dr. Marion Piper | Episode 48: Haley Forest on the Neuroscience of Creativity (October 2025)
Six Figure Business Mastery | Episode 99: Your Brain and Creativity – The Truth About Inspiration (June 2025)
The Art of Listening with Kim Groshek | How Active Listening Shapes Leadership, Storytelling & Influence (March 2025)
Authentic Leadership for Everyday People | Episode 178: Haley Forest – Leadership, Creativity, and Neuroscience (February 2025)

Skills

Data Analysis & Tools
SPSS | R | Python | MATLAB | Tableau

Neurotech & Physiological Measurement
EEG | HRV (Polar H10, Kubios HRV) | biofeedback integration

AI & Technology
Custom GPT workflows | MindStudio autonomous agents | behavioral prompt engineering | AI interaction design

Professional Memberships

American Psychological Association
Society for Neuroeconomics
Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Society for Judgment and Decision Making
Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology

Community Service

MASPCA | Neonatal Kitten Foster | Boston | 2023–Present
Action for Boston Community Development | Volunteer Tax Preparer | 2024–2025
Greater Boston Food Bank | Volunteer | 2021–2023
Best Friends Animal Society | Neonatal Kitten Nursery Volunteer | 2017–2020

Research Philosophy

Creativity and decision-making are parallel processes of selection and inhibition—choosing what to pursue, what to pause, and what to elevate. My work investigates these cognitive inflection points and designs systems—technological, organizational, and behavioral—that help individuals and teams think more clearly and act more effectively.