As a natural outgrowth of a life steeped in learning, leadership and the aesthetic application of the arts to all walks of life, Carla Matero and Mark Olsen created Honor Bound LLC, an advisory firm providing hands-on consulting, professional development, and expert guidance for navigating complex systems in business, education, government, and the arts. Our clients and partnerships come from a large cross-section of the global community and they all benefit from a simple but powerful center of gravity for our work - social impact and strategic partnerships. We build deep, authentic relationships that enable tailored solutions through a community fueled by creativity, empathy and unique perspectives. Given our independent business model and strong network, we are able to provide additional client and advisor recommendations as value-add team members.

Carla Matero, CEO

There is an art to everything - finding artistry in how we connect, creating the space to weave intergenerational and intercultural stories together, sharing experiences and expanding curiosity. Having devoted herself to the Arts very early in her life, Carla learned how to advance this conversation and evolve our level of understanding. Carla found her way to senior administrative and advisory positions at Columbia University, Girl Scouts of the USA, City of New York and eventually the number one government relations firm in NYC. Carla’s journey through the worlds of Academia, Non-Profits, Government and Business make her a skilled communications strategist, consultant and producer.

Carla began this journey as an instructor in the School of Arts and Architecture at Penn State University. During her tenure, she was also an Artist in Residence for the Commonwealth and continued to perform, write for the stage, direct and coach in London and New York.

Carla then assumed a leadership position for President Lee C. Bollinger of Columbia University. Carla’s work with President Bollinger included managing a $5 billion campaign; launching global centers in Amman, Beijing, Mumbai, Paris, Istanbul, Nairobi, Santiago, and Rio de Janeiro; working with city officials and community organizers on the rezoning of Manhattanville, as well as the design process with Renzo Piano and team; and partnering with multiple communications and speechwriting teams. Carla’s management and editing of President Bollinger’s book led to her appointment as Forum Director of an international Columbia series of fora that focused on the capacity, strategy, mandates, and needs for a global free press in an interconnected world. Those conversations and the experts that Carla brought to the table became the foundation for the Columbia University’s Global Freedom of Expression initiative and the Knight First Amendment Institute.

Carla eventually had the honor of serving as Executive Director of the Girl Scouts of the USA, working on the advancement of girl leadership. That opportunity led her to accept a mayoral appointment as Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Special Projects and Community Events, where she and her team designed and executed hundreds of public and private partnerships and events for New York City, connecting diverse communities in all five boroughs with 50+ agencies and valuable resources, including vital sponsorships and external stakeholders.

Carla then moved on to run the top-rated government relations firm in New York City as Chief Administrative Officer and Chief of Staff at Kasirer LLC. During her four years there, she led a hybrid workforce of over 35 professionals in corporate, nonprofit, legislation and real estate sectors, overseeing all aspects of operations, strategy and policy-making, managing business rhythms and communications flow with cross-collaborating teams.

Carla holds an MS in Strategic Communications from Columbia University, MFA from Penn State University and has studied at Baliol College, Oxford. She is a Fulbright Commissioner and board member of Dancing Classrooms and the LearningSpring School. Carla was recognized in 2023 as a Public Relations Power Player by PoliticsNY and amNY, as well as a 2021 City & State Honoree - “The leaders who made New York”. In 2012, she founded Grizzly Girl Productions, now Honor Bound, to promote her consultancy as an innovative connector, communications strategist, creative producer, and champion of ethical leadership.

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Emily Maury, Coordinator

In addition to her work as a coordinator and researcher for Honor Bound, Emily is the Assistant Director for Columbia University Athletics Development and Alumni Relations.

In both roles, Emily deftly handles the organization and support of events, strategic reporting and analytics. Additionally, she is a part of Columbia's We Roar Together initiative for diversity, racial justice, equality and inclusion.

Earlier experience includes serving as a Leadership & Education Programs intern at the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) and as an intern at Facing History and Ourselves.

Emily graduated from Columbia University in 2018 with a degree in psychology and concentration in human rights.

Mark Olsen, Head of Coaching

Not long after earning a theatre degree from Trinity University, Mark became an Artist in Residence for the city of Dallas, working with and teaching underserved populations as well as high level diplomats, artists and civic leaders. Mark went on to study with many of the great master teachers of physical acting disciplines, attending studios in Paris, Los Angeles, São Paolo, and New York. Along the way he received special training in body mind modalities such as Alexander and Feldenkrais technique, as well as extensive training in Cheng Man-Ch’ing’s Yang style Tai Chi, a martial art form he has practiced for over thirty years.

Mark is the former Head of MFA Graduate Acting at Penn State University, Head of BFA Acting at Wright State University, and Head of Movement at University of Houston. He has been called upon to build ensembles and teach as a guest artist at a number of universities and organizations throughout his career, including The Public Theater, Signature Theatre, Alley Theatre, Columbia University, Carnegie Mellon University, Sarah Lawrence College, and Ryerson Theatre School in Toronto.

Mark appeared on Broadway and toured internationally with Mummenschanz. He has directed many professional and university productions and as a movement coordinator/fight director, his work has been seen in film, on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in major regional theaters throughout the country.

Mark has worked with attorneys and public defenders to enhance courtroom effectiveness, partnered with corporate advertising teams to create winning content, and advised numerous academic clients to devise more vivid and memorable learning environments.

Mark has authored three books: The Golden Buddha Changing Masks, The Actor with a Thousand Faces, and Acting: Scene One.

In addition to his coaching and team building work with Honor Bound, Mark remains an Instructor in The Juilliard School Drama Division, teaches Tai Chi at City College New York, and maintains an active list of private clients: www.studywithmarkolsen.com