S1E7 Sherry Rais: Social Impact, Psychedelic Therapy as Employee Benefit, and Finding Strength as a Female CEO
Nov 2, 2022
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Sherry Rais, CEO of Enthea, discusses her journey in fundraising, psychedelic therapy, and international development. She shares personal stories of nomadic living, transformative psychedelic experiences, and navigating challenges as a female CEO. The podcast highlights the importance of mental health care, insurance coverage for psychedelic therapy, and advocating for global mental health impact.
Embracing relationships over material possessions, Sherry Rais values meaningful connections and minimal belongings in her nomadic journey.
Advocating for psychedelic-assisted therapy, Sheri symbolizes her commitment through a 'Ask Me About Psychedelics' pin, sparking mental health conversations.
Sheri Rais, a female CEO, advocates for equity in mental healthcare by leveraging her identity, pushing boundaries, and fostering diversity.
Deep dives
Sheri's Nomadic Lifestyle Rooted in Childhood Travels and Personal Reckoning
Growing up in a family that frequently traveled due to her parents' work in the travel industry, Sheri Rais developed a curiosity for the world from a young age. Her nomadic lifestyle was influenced by early experiences, including a transformative moment at 18 or 19 that led her to value relationships over material possessions, shaping her preference for a life with minimal belongings and a focus on meaningful connections.
Embracing Home Wherever She Goes and the Influence of Wabi Sabi Philosophy
Sheri expresses a sense of home in her nomadic journey by valuing relationships and seeing people evolve over time. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi, she appreciates the beauty in imperfections and the history of well-traveled items. Sheri's attachment to her 'Ask Me About Psychedelics' pin symbolizes her commitment to advocating for psychedelic-assisted therapy and sparking conversations on mental health.
Sheri's Deep-Seated Commitment to Social Impact and Philanthropy
From a young age, Sheri's awareness of privilege stemming from her parents' immigrant journey instilled a strong sense of gratitude and responsibility towards societal equality. Her involvement in volunteering, charity work, and initiatives addressing homelessness reflects her lifelong dedication to balancing inequalities and promoting social impact. Sheri's pivotal experience of sleeping on the streets at 15 further fueled her mission to address mental health issues and advocate for marginalized communities.
Exploring the Intersection of Psychedelics and Social Equity
Embarking on a diverse career path that included roles in startups, nonprofits, and consulting for international organizations, Sheri delves into the evolving landscape of psychedelics. From an unexpected venture into a sex toy e-commerce business leading to encounters with notable investors in the psychedelic space, Sheri highlights the interconnected nature of social impact, mental health, and emerging modalities like psychedelics. Her journey underscores a commitment to fostering equity and accessibility in mental healthcare.
Navigating Challenges as a Female CEO in a Male-Dominated Industry and Advocating for Mass Mental Health
As a female CEO in a predominantly male-dominated sphere, Sheri emphasizes the significance of embracing her identity and leveraging it as a strength in challenging environments. Sharing insights on raising funding, navigating biases, and fostering diversity, Sheri encourages women and minorities to acknowledge their unique perspectives and push boundaries. Moreover, she envisions a transformative approach to mass mental health by bridging gaps in insurance coverage, advocating for underrepresented communities, and tapping into the impactful potential of psychedelics worldwide.
Sherry Rais, MSc, is the CEO of Enthea, a benefit plan administrator that provides health plan benefit riders and single case agreement services for psychedelic healthcare. She has helped dozens of startups, non-profit organizations, academic/research institutions, and small businesses raise funds, operate according to their mission and values, and implement processes that enhance their overall efficiency. Sherry believes in living and working in alignment with purpose and is currently focused on expanding access to psychedelic-assisted therapy to alleviate human suffering. Before this, Sherry consulted for over 10 years with the United Nations and World Bank, implementing cash transfer programs at the national level in over 35 countries. Sherry holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and International Development from McGill University. She also completed the Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies and Research from CIIS in 2021. In addition to being Enthea's CEO, she is the Executive Director of the Boston Psychedelic Research Group and the Grants Manager for CIIS.
