OUR TEAM
Who Are We?
We are a laboratory. We practice what we preach with the idea that being a great communicator is mandatory for our success as humans
We are teachers. We will teach you how to create authentic relationships, giving you the ability to connect with one person or 50,000 in any medium.
We are seasoned pros. The Connection Lab modules are a cocktail of years of experience in radio, theater, television, trade show production and ontological coaching.
Team
RUSSELL HAMILTON
Connection Lab Founder
Russ is the founder of Connection Lab, a global training and development company specializing in communication, presentation, and leadership programs. Celebrating over a decade of impact, Connection Lab has reached thousands of participants across a dozen countries—offering the ultimate tools for human engagement.
An award-winning broadcaster, writer, content producer, podcast host, teacher, coach, actor, and leadership consultant, Russ brings a rich, multidimensional career to his work. He has previously served as a radio host, marketing director, and film/TV producer, all of which inform his dynamic, story-driven approach to leadership development.
Based in Vancouver, BC, Russ also volunteers with Burnaby Family Life. In his downtime, you’ll find him tinkering with vintage motorcycles, golfing, gaming, or spending time with his wife Carolyn and their cat Leo. Linkedin: Russell Hamilton
JAVIER CAREAGA
Connection Lab Director Latin America/Spain
Javier is an inspirational speaker, passionate about human potential. A graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, with a Master’s from Boston University, he has more than 20 years of professional experience, designing and implementing person-centered highly effective organizational cultures.
Currently Javi is Director of Connection Lab Latin America/Spain and Connection Lab Workshop Facilitator. He is an ICC certified coach and a bilingual facilitator that works in multicultural contexts, face to face and in remote settings. Throughout his life, as CEO of The Mexican Swimming Federation, Senior Executive at Laureate Education Inc, Senior Consultant and Coach at Refinery Leadership Partners, he has supported individuals and organizations set and achieve meaningful goals.
An Olympic Athlete, Javi swam for Mexico at the Seoul ’88 and the Barcelona ’92 Olympic Games. This 17-year road required to achieve maximum performance shaped his character around discipline, planning, execution, resilience, and the relevance of always striving to achieve the highest standards of excellence.
His family is his biggest inspiration to always keep striving to serve a larger purpose and make the World a little better every day! Linkedin: Javier Careaga
CAROLYN SEVOS HAMILTON
Connection Lab Chief Operations Officer
Carolyn brings over two decades of leadership in business development, education, and community engagement to her role as COO of Connection Lab. As a facilitator of the Connection Lab 6 Box Method, she helps leaders and teams transform how they communicate and connect—professionally and beyond.
Before joining Connection Lab, Carolyn led IntraCommunities, a boutique tech firm, and later managed YouCake, an edible printing service for custom cake toppers. With degrees from NYU (MA, Education) and Oberlin College (BA, History), her career has spanned teaching, publishing, entrepreneurship, and civic advocacy. Recognized with awards from NAWBO and NYWA, she’s passionate about purpose-driven leadership and inclusive innovation.
Born in Paris, France and raised in NYC, Carolyn now lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and their cat Leo, a Canadian transplant from Ave J Brooklyn. Linkedin: Carolyn Sevos Hamilton
ANGÉLICA TELLEZ
Connection Lab Director or Growth
Born in Mexico and living in Canada for over 20 years, Angie has worked with different organizations developing and implementing strategies to open new markets globally. She is a passionate entrepreneur and business developer who brings a wealth of knowledge and intent to her work. She helps organizations build and nurture rich satisfactory relationships.
Angie has more than ten years of experience in developing successful and impactful market expansion strategies. She focuses on clearly understanding what clients/partners crave from their service providers and brings to the table a profound understanding of the cultural nuances of other countries, business etiquettes, international connections, and a collaborative strategy to create deep and trustful relationships—bringing these strategies to life.
Angie holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Commerce from The Universidad del Valle de Atemajac, a Business Management Diploma with focus on Critical Thinking from the University of Toronto, and coaching certifications.
As Connection Lab Director or Growth she puts her expertise in service of creating meaningful relationships that are built on collaboration and mutual tangible benefits. Linkedin: Angelica Tellez
Partners
Rai-mon Nemar Barnes has been obsessed with helping independent businesses thrive for more than 20 years. Providing exceptional leadership for agencies, brands, start-ups and publishers across a wide range of industries, he’s displayed a nack for asking the right questions. His experience executing as a big picture thinker who appreciates the little details was the catalyst for founding CodeSwitch.
Rai-mon works tirelessly as an advocate for conscious companies and independent workers with the AIMBA and as a board member for Conscious Capitalism NYC. He is passionate about the arts, the Golden State Warriors, and artisanship.
Reilly Dow is a graphic facilitator working in English and Spanish. Over the past 10 years, she has supported a broad range of clients on four continents, using visuals to facilitate dialogue, depth, and understanding. Recent projects include co-creating a comic book on ecosystems services with communities on the Gulf Coast of Mexico for the GIZ, and co-facilitating a retreat for global leaders in the Burren on the west coast of Ireland. Reilly’s background in early childhood education informs a focus on lifelong learning and creativity. While completing an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies, her research focused on parent voice and participation in local public schools. Reilly was born in Canada and is based in Mexico City.