Some of the most important work a team or organization does happens in a room together. How that room is designed including who gets to speak, what gets surfaced, what doesn’t, how decisions get made, shapes what comes out of it. Most groups don’t struggle because they lack smart people. They struggle because the container isn’t strong enough to hold honest assessment and conversation about what’s happening.
That’s what I build.
I facilitate retreats and learning sessions for nonprofit leadership teams, program cohorts, and organizations navigating change. My approach is direct and relational. I do some exploration, come prepared, read the room, and I don’t let important things stay unspoken because they’re uncomfortable. I also know how to hold space for the kind of conversation that needs care, not just a good agenda.
I work best with groups between 8 and 50 people, where real dialogue is possible. I’ve facilitated for staff teams moving through leadership transitions, program cohorts building shared practice, and organizations trying to get honest about what isn’t working. I bring 25 years of on-the-ground experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors into every room, which means I already understand a lot of what your team is navigating before we start.
What facilitation with me looks like
Every engagement starts with a conversation and may include a survey and/or strategic interviews. I want to understand what your team is carrying into the room, what the team needs to leave with, and what a good outcome actually looks like. From there, I build a design that fits your time, your people, and your purpose.
Engagements I offer include half-day and full-day team retreats, multi-session cohort facilitation for leadership programs, and focused working sessions for teams navigating a specific challenge or transition.
I do not offer off-the-shelf agendas. What I build for your team is built for your team.
This work is a good fit if your team is ready to be honest, your leadership is willing to participate rather than just observe, and your goal is something more lasting than a good day out of the office doing team-building activites.
This work is not the right fit if you need a facilitator who will keep things comfortable, avoid hard questions, or deliver a predetermined outcome.
Here is what this work has looked like in practice:
A Houston-based youth development organization brought me in to facilitate two staff retreats focused on team alignment and leadership culture. Each session was designed around what the team was actually carrying, not a generic agenda. Leaders left with clearer language for how they work together and a shared understanding of what needed to change for the organization to move forward.
To inquire about facilitation, please sumit this facilitation inquiry form. We’ll follow up within three business days to set up a conversation.