TRAINING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Let's Work Together
I design and execute leadership trainings and communications strategy for a variety of organizations—from corporations to nonprofits to Native American tribal entities. I have a perspective that comes from working in multicultural organizations and communities and the experience of leading multi-generational teams. My background allows me to help others develop greater emotional intelligence, a stronger empathy muscle, and the ability to shift their mindsets–all of which results in more efficient and joyful teams and work places.
All of my work is customized, and I also welcome speaking engagements!
COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY
Branding & identity
Crisis communications
Storytelling & narrative development
Community outreach
Facilitation
Strategic planning & organizational development
TRAINING
Team building
Multicultural management
Personal storytelling
Compassionate (nonviolent) communication
Introduction to empathy
My Approach: Leadership and Improv
For my trainings and workshops, I use improv comedy as a vital component. In my experience, the core qualities of improvisers, like empathy, collaboration and fearlessness, are also the same ones we need to become authentic leaders. When we improvise, we create something that none of us could have created on our own. Over time, I've developed a belief that life can be this way as well—we don't know how it will unfold but leaders know that no matter what, we will figure it out, together.
I’ve been studying at the Magnet Theater in New York City since 2013 under some of the most thoughtful and talented improvisers on the planet, including Elana Fishbein and Armando Diaz. I'm trained in improv comedy, musical improv, storytelling, and improv coaching.
My Favorite Projects
Funny Girls
I am proud of my work as both a writer and instructor for the pilot of Funny Girls, a curriculum that teaches young women leadership skills through improv. From collaboration to empathy to resiliency, we know that the key skills needed for improv are also the same ones for leadership. Funny Girls is run by the Harnisch Foundation, in partnership with the Magnet Theater and Pilobolus Dance Company.
native american outreach
For more than 20 years I have worked with Indigenous organizations including Sealaska, the regional Native corporation for Southeast Alaska with more than 26,000 Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian shareholders. I often partner with Morgan Howard Communications, a Native-owned business in the Pacific Northwest. We have worked together on communications and storytelling strategy, from annual reports to a historic campaign to enroll the next generation of tribal members.
Great East Japan earthquake Recovery Efforts
After the Great East Japan tsunami and earthquake in March 2011, I spearheaded efforts with the governor, consul general, and nonprofit leaders to create a coalition of 80 community-based organizations and companies in Washington state to raise money and awareness for recovery efforts. Since then I have worked for the Japanese government as an education facilitator and trainer on programs for emerging Japanese leaders from the disaster zone.
The White House Project
In my role as VP of communications and strategy, I served as brand architect and culture steward at a national nonprofit working to elect women into office. I directed a comprehensive identity and branding process that included cultivating a new internal culture and managing team building and staff retreats. By working alongside trainers, we created leadership training modules and engagement strategy for 15,000 trained alumnae. The organization now exists as Vote Run Lead.