On a mission to smash the menopause taboo by empowering women with evidence-based education, care & community.
Our Philosophy
50 million women are currently navigating menopause in the US. While this transition is a universal female experience, it’s shrouded in stigma, shame, and secrecy. We believe it’s time to change this outdated narrative.
Elektra is built around one simple mission: smashing the menopause taboo. We’re creating a movement to reimagine menopause as the beginning of a new chapter, one that is powerful & transformative.
We provide deep expertise & science-backed solutions alongside community support & guidance to give you agency over your hormonal health. Our approach is holistic and integrative, and it starts with education from trusted experts.
We believe women deserve better. Join our movement to ensure every woman lives a bold, fearless & thriving menopause, and beyond.
Meet the Team
For our female-founded team, menopause is personal. We’re committed to empowering women with honest, science-backed expertise & solutions that we want for ourselves.
Alessandra Henderson
Co-founder & CEOAlessandra Henderson kicked off her career in tech as the sixth employee at Artsy, where she built the content partner business from the ground up. From there, she went on to found and serve as Executive Director of the MIT NYC Startup Studio and VP of Network at Human Ventures. She holds a BA from Vanderbilt University and MBA from Sloan MIT. Alessandra is passionate about community, Mexican cuisine, and all things art.
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Jannine Versi
Co-founder & COOJannine Versi has spent over a decade working in healthcare, tech, and government. On the founding team of Cityblock Health, Jannine oversaw clinical programs and community partnerships. Previously, she worked at Google and Valera Health, and served in President Obama’s White House & Commerce Department. She earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, BA from UPenn, and was a Fulbright Scholar. Jannine spends her free time scouring for new recipes to test out with her kitchen gadgets.
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Anna Barbieri
MD, FACOG, NCMPDr. Anna Barbieri, Elektra's founding physician and co-Founder of TaraMD, an integrative gynecology practice, is a board-certified gynecologist and a North American Menopause Society-certified practitioner. She serves as Assistant Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Dr. Barbieri is also trained in integrative medicine through the Center for Integrative Medicine at University of Arizona. She loves cooking, growing her own tomatoes, classical archaeology, and glam rock.
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Jacqueline Giannelli
FNP-BC, NCMPJacqueline Giannelli is a board-certified family nurse practitioner specializing in women’s health with a special focus in menopause, urogynecology, and women's sexual health. Jacqueline is a North American Menopause Society-certified practitioner and Assistant Medical Director at Maze Women’s Health. She earned her nursing degrees at NYU and San Francisco State University, and BA from Georgetown University. When not at work, Jacqueline enjoys tennis, hiking, cooking for her family, and hunting for treasures in New York City.
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Melissa Schwartz
Director of ProductMelissa Schwartz defines the vision and builds mission-oriented, user-centric experiences with designers and engineers. She was a Senior Product Manager at Oscar Health through IPO, responsible for cross-functional initiatives and leading the Concierge pods. Previously at EY Digital, she advised banking clients and built mobile-first products for millions of users. She has a BSE in bioengineering and entrepreneurship from UPenn. Melissa is always planning her next trip abroad.
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Laura Stratte
RN, BSNLaura Stratte is a registered nurse with over a decade of experience in breast cancer care. During her time at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s, she developed a survivorship care program focused on health and wellness for patients during and after treatment. As a cancer survivor and advocate, she’s worked with local and national organizations on education and outreach covering sexual health, cancer and the environment, and self-care. Laura loves power walks, 80s music, and her husband and two teenagers, especially when they vacuum without prompting.
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Julia Rosenbaum
Marketing AssociateJulia Rosenbaum works on marketing at Elektra to help reach more people in better navigating their menopause journeys. An advocate for women’s health, Julia has worked as an educator at the Maskhane Center, a sexuality education nonprofit, as well as a research intern at the National Abortion Federation. She holds a BA in Cello Performance from the Eastman School of Music with a concentration in gender studies from the University of Rochester. Outside of work, Julia spends her time painting, listening to comedy podcasts, and cooking Korean food.
Click for full bioSelect Advisors & Experts
Lila Nachtigall
MD, NCMPDr. Nachtigall is one of the world’s leading reproductive endocrinologists, widely recognized for pioneering medical research on hormone therapy, estrogen, and menopause. She has authored over 500 articles in medical journals and 3 books, and is currently a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Medical School where she also completed her training. Previously, Dr. Nachtigall served as President of the North American Menopause Society.
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Christina Jenkins
MDDr. Jenkins is a venture investor and strategic advisor with expertise spanning clinical medicine, health systems, and health plans. She is a Venture Partner for Portfolia’s FemTech and Active Aging and Longevity Funds, and was previously founding CEO of OneCity Health Services, a subsidiary of NYC Health + Hospitals. Among other advisory positions, Dr. Jenkins is also a Board Director for Independence Health Group (parent of Independence Blue Cross).
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Chitra Akileswaran
MD, MBADr. Akileswaran is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, and is concurrently Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Cleo, a venture-backed digital health platform that supports working parents to grow their families and their careers, as well as serving as the Vice Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Alameda Health System in Oakland, California. She also holds a Lecturer appointment at Harvard Medical School.
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Alison Moore
Content, Brand & StrategyAlison Moore is an executive with extensive media, tech, and consumer experience. Currently CEO of Comic Relief, Alison was previously the Chief Business Officer of the Beauty Collection at Condé Nast, where she oversaw brand strategy, monetization, and operations for women-focused publications such as Glamour and Allure. Earlier in her career, she held senior positions in tech (Soundcloud) and media (NBC Universal, HBO).
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Tessa Gould
Content, Brand & StrategyTessa Gould is a mission-driven wellness enthusiast who helps businesses grow, scale, and succeed. She brings over a decade of strategy, ops, and monetization leadership experience to her current role as SVP of Growth at Kinship. Previously, she worked at the likes of SoulCycle, mindbodygreen, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and Verizon Media Group.
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Elizabeth Poynor
MD, PhDDr. Elizabeth Poynor is a gynecologic oncologist and advanced pelvic surgeon with over 20 years of experience in menopause, sexual health, and cancer. She is a graduate of Princeton University and UPenn, and holds a PhD in cell biology and genetics from Cornell. Previously, she served as Director of Translational Research for the Gynecology Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where she also completed her fellowship training. Dr. Poynor enjoys rock music, creative cooking, and experiencing nature through dressage.
Click for full bioOur Values
We are committed to provide women with the latest information from trusted sources with the best care available, and changing the culture around menopause.
Celebrate growth and (The) Change
We proactively seek continuous growth and learning. We embrace change with open arms, even when it's uncomfortable.
Elevate women
We believe in a world where every woman has the agency and empathy she deserves. Our community and its needs are at the center of everything we do.
Embrace dialogue
We strive to build a safe, supportive space where stories are shared and honest, open conversations flourish.
Value science and evidence
We believe in expertise and evidence, and we work tirelessly to bring this truth to light.
Challenge the status quo
We’re reimagining an outdated model of menopause. We thrive by coloring outside the lines and proactively seeking new ideas & perspectives in pursuit of a better tomorrow.