Olga Zbarskaya

Dr. Olga Zbarskaya serves as president of the AskRita Institute of Creative Thinking in New York, an organization she founded eight years ago after more than twenty years as vice president of policy research and development for large corporations. A scientist holding five degrees, including a doctorate and two postgraduate programs in fields such as education, art, psychology, administration, and clinical social work, her work focuses on unlocking human potential through creativity, decision-making, problem-solving, and the art of thinking. She has published more than twenty books and textbooks, including the first higher-education textbook on creativity titled Brainstorm, as well as a children's series and six poetry collections translated into multiple languages. Through the institute she delivers more than forty creativity courses and workshops, collaborates with SUNY and libraries, conducts international projects, and operates an art gallery featuring her Mind Booster Art technique that merges psychology with visual expression to support pain management and mood enhancement. Dr. Zbarskaya presents at over thirty international conferences annually, serves on boards of multiple organizations, and develops curricula for educators, childcare providers, and professionals across disciplines while emphasizing cross-disciplinary approaches and lifelong learning.