Kat Vellos is a trusted expert on the power of cultivating meaningful connections, the loneliness epidemic, community-building, and healthy work environments. She's the author of "We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships" which was called "marvelous" by BookLife, a subsidiary of Publishers Weekly, and which Kirkus Reviews compared to the work of Norman Vincent Peale and Cicero. Since its release in January 2020, it's been helping adults around the world heal from disconnection and loneliness. Following on the heels of her debut book's success, she recently released "Connected from Afar: A Guide for Staying Close When You're Far Away" to support readers who are trying to maintain and bolster their friendships without the benefit of face-to-face interaction. Kat has twenty years' experience creating communities where people find belonging and authentic connection. A veteran facilitator, she founded Better than Small Talk and Bay Area Black Designers which was profiled by Forbes. Both groups have created community and connection for hundreds of people across the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. She's also a seasoned researcher and UX designer. She's worked for Slack, Pandora, and multiple Silicon Valley startups. She's graced the stage as a speaker for Design for America, UX Week, Social Good Tech Week, the Transforming Loneliness Summit, AIGA SF, and many more. Kat has now turned her UX expertise towards combating the loneliness epidemic, by helping millions of people experience greater wellness and fulfillment through thriving platonic relationships.