Systemic Change
Adept at mobilizing data-informed change, aligning organizational culture with mission, and galvanizing diverse stakeholders around a shared purpose, consistently moving institutions from fragility to resilience, from vision to value, and from promise to performance.
Higher Education Transformation & Strategic Renewal
Scope: Pacifica Graduate Institute | $23M Budget | 4,500 Students | National & Global Impact
Challenge:
Pacifica Graduate Institute faced an institutional crisis marked by fractured governance, public faculty and student grievances, and urgent reaccreditation deadlines. A founder-led, tuition dependent model left the $23M institution vulnerable amid public leadership breakdown and operational misalignment.
Mandate:
Entrusted to lead a comprehensive three-year turnaround to restore academic excellence, financial viability, shared governance, and institutional vision while modernizing operations, pedagogy and positioning Pacifica as a globally relevant graduate school.
Strategic Actions:
- Orchestrated an enterprise diagnostic and stakeholder listening tour using the THREAD proprietary transformational framework
- Developed Onward Together 2030 strategic plan with innovative revenue and academic expansion strategies
- Executed board-mandated campus consolidation, governance redesign and strategic enrollment plan
- Launched Pacifica’s first fully online, WSCUC-accredited graduate programs, global learning and student success infrastructures
- Established Student Success Hub, capital campaign feasibility study, and academic partnerships
Results:
- 6-year WSCUC reaccreditation; 40% enrollment growth
- 100% MA graduation rate; 25% increase in institutional valuation
- 54% boost in morale and collaboration; cross-sector partnerships established and 15 state authorizations secured
Transformational Impact:
Accelerated institutional transformation, shifting from a founder-led, tuition-dependent model to a high-performing, mission-aligned graduate institution. Within 24 months—well ahead of the three-year mandate—successfully completed a comprehensive renewal of governance, academic innovation, and strategic market positioning. Surpassed contractual expectations by delivering sustainable reinvention, cutting-edge program expansion, and long-term alignment with both institutional mission and global graduate education trends.
Nonprofit Redesign & Community-Rooted Transformation
Scope: CommUnify | $22M Budget | Multi-Site Human Services | 12,000 Families Served Annually | Regional & Statewide Reach
Challenge:
Amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Community faced a critical breakdown: siloed departments, outdated systems, a demoralized workforce, and a stalled strategic plan. Service demand surged while infrastructure crumbled—leaving the organization vulnerable and unable to meet urgent community needs.
Mandate:
Lead a full-scale organizational transformation to restore operational integrity, rebuild morale, and embed equity into every aspect of the agency. Create a modern, trauma-informed, data driven model that could serve as a statewide example of resilience and innovation.
Strategic Actions:
- Applied the proprietary 6E Change Model to drive inclusive redesign across leadership, operations, and programs
- Launched the CAVO Virtual Onboarding Platform (reaching 1M+ users) and a Universal Intake System to streamline service access
- Established a new Learning Academy to support leadership pipeline development and organizational agility
- Secured a $398K Family Self-Sufficiency Grant and implemented multiple COOP innovations for pandemic and post-disaster readiness
- Partnered with County Departments, Kaiser Permanente, Santa Barbara Foundation, and United Way to rebuild credibility and resource alignment
Results:
- 40% increase in operational efficiency and 25% reduction in administrative overhead
- Maintained 90% staff retention during a sector-wide workforce crisis
- 85% adoption of new onboarding platform across state and regional partners
- National recognition for innovation in early childhood development and family economic mobility
Transformational Impact:
Transformed Community from a crisis-strained service provider into a nationally recognized, trauma-informed, equity-centered agency. Demonstrated the power of systems healing, inclusive leadership, and data-integrated innovation to rebuild trust and improve lives across entire communities.
County Government & Workforce Development Modernization
Santa Barbara County Government | $1.7B Budget | 4,600 Employees | 23 Departments | Regional & National Impact
Challenge:
The County faced a perfect storm: its largest layoffs in history, a stalled strategic plan with no workforce buy-in, and crumbling internal trust. The Employee University had become dormant post-crisis, morale was at an all-time low, and outdated civil service policies hindered recruitment and retention.
Mandate:
Revitalize the County’s workforce and talent systems under the Renew 22 strategy. Restore a culture of equity, performance, and innovation by modernizing learning infrastructure, rebuilding trust, and expanding access to public service careers.
Strategic Actions:
- Led an appreciative inquiry-based listening tour with over 200 employees
- Reimagined Employee University with WSCUC-accredited programs and a no-cost training model
- Developed the JOIN Equity Framework and launched the nationally recognized Passport to Public Service program
- Overhauled civil service rules, job classification systems, and pay structures
- Implemented COOP (Continuity of Operations) plans and a comprehensive remote work framework
Results:
- Over 300 internal job placements, including 75% of dislocated workers re-employed
- 150% increase in program participation; 78% employee retention during statewide workforce shortages
- National awards for workforce innovation; dramatic improvements in staff morale and cross-departmental collaboration
Transformational Impact:
Turned a stagnant workforce into a dynamic public service pipeline—positioning the County as a national model for equity-centered workforce innovation. Demonstrated how values-based executive leadership can align operational excellence with human dignity and civic trust.
Public Health Equity & Fiscal Innovation Leadership
Scope: New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) | $6B Budget | 6,000+ Employees | 10M+ Residents Served | National and Global Influence
Challenge:
During a period marked by escalating chronic disease, systemic racial health disparities, and pandemic recovery, DOHMH needed to deliver scalable health equity solutions under intense public and fiscal scrutiny. Fragmented partnerships, legacy systems, and outdated funding mechanisms impeded innovation.
Mandate:
Design and execute a high-impact public health investment strategy. Leverage cross-sector partnerships and modernized fiscal systems to deliver measurable, equity-centered outcomes in obesity prevention, chronic disease reduction, and access to care.
Strategic Actions:
- Applied the T.H.R.E.A.D.© Framework and RevenueX Model to align multimilliondollar investments with measurable public health outcomes
- Managed and deployed over $65M in combined city, federal, and philanthropic funding
- Partnered with city agencies, nonprofits, and hospitals to scale food access, nutrition education, and culturally responsive chronic disease interventions
- Modernized grant management and compliance systems to ensure transparency and longterm sustainability
- Established cross-functional governance structures for accountable and inclusive implementation
Results:
- Achieved a 5% reduction in obesity across targeted high-risk zip codes
- Scaled equity-based interventions citywide, benefiting over 10 million New Yorkers
- Positioned DOHMH as a national leader in health equity investment and innovation
- Strengthened funder confidence, driving sustained support from CDC, HHS, and philanthropic partners
Transformational Impact:
Redefined how public health institutions allocate capital, build partnerships, and measure progress—delivering a blueprint for cities to operationalize justice through data, community voice, and fiscal precision. Demonstrated how public leadership at scale can transform systems, save lives, and shift the future of urban health.
Union-Led Workforce Development & Health Equity
Scope: 1199 SEIU | Nation’s Largest Healthcare Union | Tens of Thousands of Members | New York & New Jersey | National Influence on Care Quality & Labor Policy
Challenge:
Across hospital systems and long-term care facilities, frontline workers—many of them immigrants, single parents, and essential caregivers—faced systemic barriers to education, mental health support, and career advancement. The need for retention, upskilling, and culturally responsive development was urgent.
Mandate:
Expand member access to education, wellness, and credentialing. Build a scalable, traumainformed workforce advancement model that aligns with evolving healthcare demands and labor equity goals.
Strategic Actions:
- Designed and launched stackable credential programs aligned with hospital system needs
- Built strategic partnerships with CUNY, private colleges, and hospital HR departments to embed training into workplace pathways
- Created a portable benefits and education tracking system to follow members across job roles and facilities
- Integrated mental health and trauma-informed supports into learning and career pathways
- Advocated for institutional alignment around worker wellness and upward mobility
Results:
- Thousands of SEIU members earned new credentials, licensures, and promotions
- Retention and job satisfaction improved across unionized facilities
- Quality of care metrics rose in partner hospitals due to better-trained, supported workers
- Strengthened labor-management relationships around a shared equity agenda
Transformational Impact:
Positioned 1199 SEIU as a national model for union-led workforce transformation—where dignity, healing, and development converge. Demonstrated how inclusive leadership and systemic support can elevate those who care for others, transforming not just careers, but the quality and equity of healthcare itself.
Private Sector Leadership & Enterprise Transformation
Scope: Startups | Mission-Driven Enterprises | Financial Services | Life Sciences | Operating Budgets $10M–$250M | 1,000+ Employees Reached | National & Global Impact
Challenge:
Mission-driven businesses and financial institutions were navigating volatility, rapid growth demands, regulatory shifts, and rising expectations for equity and culture alignment. Many lacked scalable infrastructure, performance systems, and inclusive leadership pipelines.
Mandate:
Build operational resilience, scale impact, and align enterprise values with performance and market growth. Apply private sector tools, agility, metrics, culture-building to ensure sustainable and equitable business transformation.
Strategic Actions:
- Led operations, talent, and digital strategy across startups and mid-sized firms
- Implemented digital learning platforms and inclusive hiring pipelines to strengthen leadership succession
- Oversaw financial workflow redesign in high-volume banking environments, improving compliance and efficiency
- Built enterprise performance systems tied to social impact KPIs in health, literacy, and education ventures
- Advised on AI-integrated research innovation and regulatory preparedness in pharmaadjacent initiatives
Results:
- Achieved double-digit revenue growth and 35% operational efficiency improvements in early-stage enterprises
- Increased retention and internal promotion through values-based management systems
- Improved customer and client engagement across service lines
- Contributed to FDA progress on CGM and artificial pancreas innovation via strategic trials and ethical frameworks
Transformational Impact:
Translated bold vision into enterprise value. Fused metrics, mission, and equity to build scalable, inclusive organizations capable of thriving in a complex market landscape. Demonstrated that executive leadership grounded in integrity and innovation can elevate both people and performance.
Mobilizing Capital and Trust for Mission-Aligned Growth
Scope: Pacifica Graduate Institute | Sansum Diabetes Research Institute | CommUnify | NYC DOHMH | $6B+ Combined Portfolio | Regional, National, and Global Philanthropic Reach
Challenge:
Amid a volatile philanthropic landscape and growing demand for transparency and equity, institutions needed to rebuild funder trust, stabilize revenue, and tie capital directly to measurable, mission-driven impact. Pacifica faced donor fatigue; Sansum required innovation funding; and public agencies struggled with fragmented investment strategies.
Mandate:
Align purpose with funding. Convert strategic vision into compelling cases for support. Embed equity and outcomes into philanthropic infrastructure to drive institutional sustainability and public confidence.
Strategic Actions:
- At Pacifica, designed and launched a $150M capital campaign feasibility study, reframing the institution’s value proposition around soul, science, and social impact
- At Sansum, secured $1.25M in grant funding for cardiometabolic disease prevention in Latino communities; expanded global clinical research partnerships with Medtronic and Abbott
- At CommUnify, acquired a $398K Family Self-Sufficiency Grant and catalyzed $2.5M+ in cross-sector funding, embedding philanthropy into operations
- At NYC DOHMH, managed a $65M+ equity-aligned grant portfolio, tying investments to population-level outcomes and compliance excellence
- Integrated storytelling, data strategy, and stewardship tools to enhance credibility and inspire long-term investment
Results:
- Achieved 40% enrollment growth and a 25% increase in valuation at Pacifica, fueling donor re-engagement
- Strengthened Sansum’s visibility and trial access among underrepresented populations; supported FDA trial advancement
- Improved NYC’s public health equity infrastructure, reaching 10M+ residents with scalable programs
- Expanded access, trust, and donor pipelines across all institutions
Transformational Impact:
Shifted fundraising from transactional to transformational. Built equity-centered, data-informed philanthropic strategies that positioned institutions as investable, visionary, and socially accountable leaders—ready to scale impact across borders, sectors, and generations.