ABOUT
ME

Twenty-five years ago, I left my first career in business consulting for graduate school, inspired by a single question: What learning and development practices foster diverse communities and sustain inclusive cultures?.
 

I knew there must be a way that people and organizations could better utilize their resources for:

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• more effective knowledge construction

• creative thinking

• productive team-building

• a purpose greater than the bottom line. 

But most organizations didn’t think that way, and they definitely did not have metrics to assess for growth and success in those areas. Ironically, the focus solely on the bottom line hampered efficiency, productivity, and return on investment.  The concept of colorblind cultures marginalized voices that brought new ideas to the table and re-enforced the status quo.  It would take the next two decades to move beyond that model, and as graduate school came to a close, I was impatient.

And so I entered the field of education. I began to apply my understanding that social, cultural, and economic factors informed knowledge acquisition and shaped collaborative behavior. I researched learning and community-building in virtual environments (which at the time meant KQED radio listeners, because although I could see the beginnings of online social networks, there were not many to study at the time). Curious about the informal learning and doing that was shaping teaching, learning, and the workforce of the future, I piloted new teaching methodologies and refined core concepts and competencies for global citizenry, partnership, social and emotional learning, and leadership. I worked across the country and in the world, building partnerships between learning communities in India, South Africa, the Dominican Republic, Europe, and the United States.

My students of the past two decades are the thinkers and team members who are being hired onto teams today and the many tomorrows ahead.  These young people are the brains and hearts that society needs to:

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• build the muscle for courageous initiative

• develop the agility to work across disciplines, ideas, and perspectives

• engage with purpose so that they positively impact their own lives and the daily experiences and goals of those around them

And, perhaps most importantly, they care deeply about the impact of their decisions on concerns like climate change and dismantling White Supremacy culture that systematically continues to oppress People of Color.

Today, I am invested in shaping the current culture of school and work. The work is urgent, but the journey requires patience, tenacity, and commitment.  I work with teams that are ready to be the change and move beyond checking a box.

 
I work with teams that are ready for the extraordinary rewards that come from:
 

• honest conversations and critical feedback

• redrawn protocols and processes

• sophisticated assessments that redefine success and reward courage and conviction, as well as the bottom line 

Diverse communities thrive when difference is an asset and curiosity about others an expectation. Your community members deserve the best space for learning, innovation, and personal growth that you can co-create with them.  I am excited to facilitate that.