Elena Hompot is a clinical psychologist and psychodynamic psychotherapist, and the co-founder of Lofty Pets Academy, with 17 years of experience in the grooming industry. She combines psychological insight with hands-on grooming expertise, focusing on attachment theory, self-esteem, and the mental health benefits of working with dogs. Her approach focuses on the emotional dimension of grooming as a caring profession and helps professionals understand the deeper motivations behind their career choice. She supports groomers in developing emotional maturity, healthy boundaries and self-worth by reflecting more on how they relate with dogs and pet parents-enabling long-term professional sustainability.

Chelsea Ward is a board-certified health and wellness coach (NBC-HWC) with over a decade of experience in the animal industry, including dog daycares, veterinary clinics, pet grooming, competitive grooming across the U.S. and Canada, and show dogs, with a specialization in handstripping. She is a breeder of Griffon Bruxellois and a member of the American Brussels Griffon Association, and earned her degree in Integrative Health from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Chelsea is also a registered yoga teacher (RYT 200) and holds certifications as a birth and postpartum doula through DONA International and the Bastyr University Penny Simkin Center. Her work focuses on holistic, practical approaches to injury prevention, pain management, and burnout recovery, helping dog groomers build sustainable careers while caring for their bodies and nervous systems.

Stephanie Zikmann is a multi-award-winning holistic dog groomer, certified canine behaviourist, educator, and bestselling author from Scotland. She is the founder of the Holistic Grooming Academy, where she delivers accredited education focused on cooperative care, emotional wellbeing, and evidence-led grooming practices. Stephanie is passionate about raising standards in the pet care industry by integrating behaviour science, consent-based handling, and compassionate approaches into everyday grooming. Through her books, courses, and international speaking, she supports both professionals and dog guardians in creating safer, calmer, and more positive care experiences for dogs.

Nathalie Doaré-Ariey-Jouglard is the founder of the International Grooming Society (IGS) and the creator of the DAATA-ICDG methodology, a structured, science-based approach to professional grooming practice.

Over the past years, her work has focused on elevating grooming standards through dermatological knowledge, methodological rigor, and ethical responsibility. Through international education programs, publications, and professional collaborations, she has consistently advocated for a more evidence-informed and sustainable grooming profession.

As the initiator of the Global Groomer Health Initiative (GGHI), Nathalie led the development of the Global Groomer Health Study, gathering data to better understand the physical and psychological realities of the profession worldwide. Her work highlights musculoskeletal strain, burnout, noise exposure, respiratory risks, skin reactions, and injury patterns as critical occupational concerns requiring structured action.

Corinne Gearhart, M.A., is a behavior and education specialist focused exclusively on Doodles and their families. She is the founder of The Doodle Pro® and the bestselling author of Your Doodle’s Daily Schedule Blueprint™. Through her educational platform and widely followed podcast, Corinne works at the intersection of owner education and professional sustainability—translating behavior science into practical communication strategies that reduce preventable conflict, handling risks, and emotional strain. Her work centers on strengthening collaboration between pet parents and pet professionals to support safer, healthier outcomes for both dogs and the industry.

Anka Hana Sladoljev is the founder of Doglyness, a certified organic and natural dog grooming brand dedicated to elevating skin and coat care standards. With an MBA and a successful background in business and real estate, Anka chose to follow her lifelong passion for dogs, transforming personal devotion into professional purpose. Her journey began while grooming her own poodles, where she noticed that many conventional products focused on cosmetic results rather than long-term skin health.

Determined to find better solutions, she immersed herself in ingredient science, cosmetic chemistry, certification standards, and sustainable production — ultimately identifying a lack of truly transparent, independently certified grooming products.

Founded in 2018, Doglyness is independently verified by the Ecogea Institute and formulated to high-end natural human cosmetic standards, setting a new benchmark in professional grooming.

Anka is also the founder of CoolPoodles, an educational platform about poodles and responsible ownership, and NextGroomers, an initiative connecting and educating grooming professionals worldwide.

She is widely respected for her transparency, commitment to ingredient integrity, and her mission to support skin balance rather than mask issues — honoring dogs as sensitive beings deserving of the highest care standards.