Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world.
Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.
– Rumi
This is how It all started...
As a young girl, I aspired to create a positive impact on the world and dreamed of emulating iconic change-makers like Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela, all of whom were lawyers. As a result, I decided that becoming a lawyer was the best way to achieve my goals.
After years of studying and practicing law, I pursued a master's degree in International Law in Geneva, Switzerland in 2013, believing I was on the right path to fulfilling my childhood dreams. However, it was during this time that I realized that my dream no longer resonated with me.
In the midst of my confusion, I recognized that my childhood dream was not solely about being a lawyer, but rather about helping others and creating joy. Once I realized the difference between the substance of my dream and the form it had taken, I let go of my attachment to specific manifestations of my dream and felt a sense of liberation.
Then, here you are, Peace Lab was born. It was created to experiment new ways of cultivating well-being, positive mindset and deeper human connections for all.
The creation story of Peace Lab begins with an ending, and becomes a story of letting go and surrendering in order to truly receive.
May you remain open to experimenting with life, allowing yourself to discover your most authentic self-expression each day.
Elva (Jing) Zhang
Founder & Chief Experimenter of Peace Lab
our team
Elva (Jing) Zhang, Founder & chief facilitator
Born and grew up in China, Elva came to study in Australia as an international student. A lawyer by trade, Elva currently works as a lawyer for a Melbourne-based international shipping line.
Outside her legal practice, Elva has always been intrigued by the workings of the human mind and brain. She believes that the combination of ancient wisdom and modern science can be powerful tools for promoting well-being and transforming mindsets. Elva is a long-time meditator, a laughter yoga instructor, and an ardent proponent of neuroplasticity. She sees that Peace Lab was born out of her own journey of dealing with stress, anxiety and negative self-talks, initially as an international student studying alone in a foreign country and then as a lawyer working in highly stressful jobs.
As a practising lawyer, Elva advocates for a pragmatic and effective approach to enhance well-being in the legal profession. She derives immense satisfaction from assisting high-achieving, driven lawyers in effectively managing their stress levels, enhancing cognitive performance and realising untapped creative potentials.
Through Peace Lab, Elva has designed and facilitated various workshops and programs for the Law Institute of Victoria, the Victorian Bar, Asian Australian Lawyers Association, and Melbourne Law School.
Elva completed her Graduate Diploma in Applied Neuroscience from King's College London (UK) in 2023 and also pursued the Neuroscience for Business and Leadership course with MIT's Sloan School of Management. She aims to integrate her newfound knowledge and discoveries into Peace Lab programs to empower individuals and businesses to transform themselves from within.
Hency felicia dsouza, social media strategist
Meet Hency, a passionate Social Media Strategist who has been an integral part of the Peace Lab family since September 2020. With a Master of Management (Accounting) from The University of Melbourne under her belt, Hency has a unique ability to blend her analytical and strategic skills with her creative flair in the realm of social media.
At Peace Lab, Hency loves crafting weekly social media content that resonates with the company's audience, helping to build an engaged and loyal community of followers. She also enjoys the challenge of promoting Peace Lab’s podcasts and events, ensuring that they reach as many people as possible.
Hency's journey with Peace Lab began during her university days when she joined a Live Projects program that connected her with Elva, Peace Lab’s founder. Working together on a project, they quickly forged a strong bond that went beyond professional collaboration. Since then, Elva has become not only a mentor but also a close friend to Hency.
While juggling her full-time role as an accountant at a company in Geelong, Hency continues to dedicate her time and energy to Peace Lab, drawn by her love for social media and her commitment to the company's mission. Her warmth, dedication, and creativity have made her an invaluable member of the Peace Lab team, leaving a lasting impact on the company's digital presence and overall success.