thought leader and subject matter expert in autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities and behavioral healthcare, she is a dynamic senior executive, entrepreneur and strategist.developmental disabilities and behavioral healthcare, she is a dynamic senior executive, entrepreneur and strategist. In 2001, Dr. Molko cofounded Autism Spectrum Therapies Inc. (AST), which grew into a highly respected, multi-state provider of services for individuals on the autism spectrum. In 2014, she sold her company to Learn It Systems, a private equity backed strategic buyer, and then served as President of Autism Services for the combined family of companies until early 2016.

Today, as CEO and Principal of Empowering Synergy, Dr. Molko conducts due diligence for investors. She also consults as an expert in the field of service delivery for healthcare, with a special focus on behavioral healthcare and companies that provide services to families affected by autism and developmental disabilities.

In 2018, she released her latest work, “Autism Matters: Empowering Investors, Providers and the Autism Community to Advance Autism Services,” published by ForbesBooks, in which she takes a critical look at the autism services industry and identifies opportunities for advancement of services and business.

Over the course of her career, Dr. Molko has developed and maintained strong working relationships with regulators and third party payers, among whom she is known for protecting her client’s services in the face of significant regulatory change. She has driven strategies to diversify revenue streams, increase profitability and improve efficiency while driving excellence in client programming and service delivery. Through AST, she and her team empowered thousands of individuals on the autism spectrum, helping them to gain the skills they need to live more independent lives and fulfill their dreams. For her, it is a true passion, and a personal mission.

A graduate of Harvard Business School’s three-year Owner/President Management program, Dr. Molko holds a Ph.D. in Applied Behavioral Science and Family Life from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in Psychology from Claremont Graduate University. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and is a licensed clinical psychologist in both California and Washington, and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst.

Dr. Molko is currently a board member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Autism Society of America and the Galt Foundation, which places individuals with disabilities in the workforce, and a member of Women’s President Organization. She has been actively involved in many healthcare-based committees and organizations throughout her career.

In recognition of her achievements in business as well as her leadership abilities, Dr. Molko has received several awards, including the Mickey Weiss Award for Outstanding Alumni from the American Jewish University, the World of Difference 100 Award in Education from the International Alliance for Women, an Enterprising Woman of the Year Award from Enterprising Women Magazine, and the Smart Leader Award from Orange County’s Smart Leaders. Most recently, she was recognized with a 2017 Woman of Influence Award by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Dr. Molko currently serves on the board of the Galt Foundation and the Los Angeles chapter of the Autism Society of America, and is a member of the Women Presidents’ Organization at the local and platinum levels.