Over the course of 25 years working inside organizations, I became increasingly curious about what made organizations work. What makes an organization’s culture so sticky? What motivates individuals and teams? How do structures and rules come into being and how do they change? Why do people want the workplace to be different, yet bristle when change arrives? All of these questions led me to the field of organization development, where I have spent the last decade diving deep into theory and practice.

I hold an MSOD from Pepperdine University and transformational leadership coaching certification from Georgetown University. My work is further grounded in training in polarity navigation, mediation, and improvisation. With an emphasis on systems and complexity thinking, I have focused my practice around organizational design, team capability-building, retreat design and facilitation, and change and transition.

But let’s be honest. There are a lot of organization development professionals with similar experience and compelling credentials. What makes each of us unique are the ways in which we see and interact with the world.

I grew up in a small farming community in southern Minnesota, where hard work was non-negotiable, rules mattered, and people generally held the same set of values and beliefs. Over time, my relationship with work evolved to focus more on meaning, while I added more rest and play with loved ones. I let go of binary thinking and gained appreciation for nuance in a way that allowed me to challenge my assumptions about what constitutes order. And most importantly, my understanding of how the world works and what matters evolved as my horizons expanded into adulthood.

I have been fortunate to live, work, and play across the United States and internationally. I have learned that the ideas and individuals I understand the least are often those that offer the greatest potential for my growth. I have also learned that it can be hard to be human, especially in the midst of a growth experience. So I make sure to laugh in the process. It is imperative.

Through these lessons, I have become inspired by the power of people working together to solve wicked problems and create new possibilities through self-awareness, healthy group process, and well-designed systems. As a consultant and coach, I use inquiry, pragmatism, compassion, and humor to facilitate clients in their work.

When I am not working with clients, I can be found hiking, kayaking, and camping with friends and family in the Pacific Northwest. I enjoy printmaking, growing my library, and celebrating the cycle of seasons with my daughter. More than anything, I delight in adventuring with loved ones and exploring mysteries around the next bend. I look forward to meeting you too!