Our team

Laura Schwartz-Henderson is the Founder and Program Director of Curious Shapes, bringing over a decade and a half of experience in digital rights and social impact. Her work spans the intersection of technology, human rights, and social change, collaborating with diverse stakeholders globally. Laura's expertise includes managing and implementing multi-country research on digital rights, program development, creative campaigning, and strategic planning. Her background includes roles as Advocacy and Research Advisor at Internews and the Program and Research Lead of the Internet Policy Observatory at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communications. Her past research includes work on the impact of internet shutdowns, examining cultures of silence and self-censorship, youth engagement and internet policymaking, the circulation of disinformation/misinformation, and donor strategies to promote freedom of expression. She also produced the Cultura Contra Censura gallery show, served as Executive Producer of the Privacy is Global podcast, and led the Advocacy Assembly Internet Shutdown Academy.

Alex Esenler is the Director of Operation and Impact at Curious Shapes. She brings over a decade of experience in the digital and human rights, media and democracy, and communications space. She is a data and database nerd who is passionate about knowledge sharing and building systems that amplify impact, improve workflows, and facilitate collaboration. Alex’s expertise include operations, program and impact monitoring and evaluation, program management, and strategic planning.  Her background includes work with mission-oriented organizations such as OpenArchive, Global Voices, the Center for Global Communication Studies, and Annenberg School at the University of Pennsylvania. She also instructs a course titled “Data Activism and Impact Communication” at Columbia College Chicago.

Laura Vidal is the Lead of Communications and Community Growth at Curious Shapes. She has 15 years of expertise in digital rights, gender equity, and intercultural communication. She holds a Ph.D. in Education Sciences with a focus on intercultural learning in virtual communities from the University of Paris XII. Laura’s work spans across organizations like IFEX, Internews, The Engine Room and Mozilla, where she has researched issues related to freedom of expression, digital literacy and security, as well as organizational structures. She has also led and supported diverse teams as the Americas Editor for Global Voices. Laura is committed to exploring the intersections of technology, inclusion, community growth and freedom of expression.