I am a student of nature and living systems as a paradigm for how to navigate times of dramatic change. I work with individuals, organizations, networks and communities to see how to creatively and powerfully move forward amidst the changes we are seeing. We are adaptive, creative, connected and resilient as human beings and need to bring forward these capacities in all our endeavors through well designed processes, change efforts, strategic dialogs and community events.
I have an eye for the bridge between the strategic and the personal. I am always listening for the strategic paths forward: Looking for and naming the clarity that arises as groups work together; looking for the deeper purpose and potential of a given meeting, conference, or training and seeing how we can make that real; identifying the systemic issues at play and sensing what moves are available. This is often very personal work which starts by bringing forward the authentic voices within a team to discover what is really at the heart of our efforts together. From this platform of shared purpose and authentic leadership great things happen.
My work for 18 years has been about change, leadership, and dialog. I am a facilitator, a dialog host, a group process architect/artist, an organizational development consultant, and a leadership coach. My career included 13 years in high tech industry leading a large training organization and working as a Leadership and Organizational Development Consultant. There I learned about human potential, seeding innovation, adaptive leadership and designing participative change efforts.
In 2003 I began working with communities and organizations across Washington, and globally, with a vision of creating healthy and resilient communities. I teach N.E.A.R. Science, also known in Washington as the Science of Hope (Neuroscience, Epigenetics, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Resilience). In 2018 I began running SELF-Leadership Cohorts as a place for resilience leaders to do their own healing work and self-hosting.
I’ve been on a quest to discover how we heal – generation to generation. For the past 7 years I’ve been studying and implementing the practices of ReConnective Therapy and I also have an Anatomy Specialization from the University of Michigan. I’ve done extensive study of somatic practice including: breath work, posture, movement and voice. This included studying with exceptional teachers of Aston Patterning, the Alexander Method, and the Realization Process.
I love sharing these practices, when working with individuals and groups and encourage everyone to run experiments in the Neurobiology Lab that is their own body, learning about our nervous system and what helps THEM firsthand! Our bodies, our families, and our communities ARE resilient! As we understand more about our nature (e.g. nervous system and brain), we recognize our capacity to Flourish.
I am a steward and host of the Art of Hosting and was part of the global Berkana community beginning in 2000. Visit me at http://www.emergingwisdom.net