The Connecticut Oral Health Initiative, Inc. 

Newly recruited to lead our fundraising efforts to support the mission of advancing oral health equity in Connecticut. I take a relational approach to development, building genuine connections with donors, partners, and community members.

Development Manager

Journaling for Growth

Chief Journaling Officer

CT Library Consortium

Community builder for librarians. First to fill the role of Events & Special Projects Manager for statewide membership collaborative serving ~1,000 Connecticut libraries. 

Known for my personal brand of magic - creating spaces where members felt safe to learn and grow, turning nebulous ideas into concrete programs and services, and planning and executing events so fun they didn't feel like work - I helped members of our community feel seen, heard, and valued, and provided opportunities for them to build skills to better serve their communities. 

Known for being an innovative thinker who imagines creative solutions to problems, often anticipating needs before they arose, I instigated moving our Roundtable program virtual in early 2020, teaching members to use Zoom and modeled how to run an effective meeting. (Librarians went on to use what they learned here to put on programs for their own communities.)

I partnered with the Connecticut Storytelling Center to launch a storytelling training workshop series for librarians. I conceptualized and executed three different vendor expo models, all of which were wildly successful. And I established a new Program Directory to connect libraries with performers and workshop providers. 

I led the national Take Your Child to the Library Day initiative, serving as project manager, growing the program in visibility through projects such as the creation of both community-centric and librarian-centric websites, speaking at the Public Library Association Conference in April 2024, and publishing an article in Public Libraries Magazine in Summer 2024. I partnered with EveryLibrary to create Advocacy Training webinar series to build capacity among children's librarians, and established State Ambassador program to build support and visibility nationwide. I partnered with Demco to create a line of promotional products for TYCLD 2025.

Events and Special Projects Manager

Northwest Village School

I was selected as the first certified library media specialist at this therapeutic day school for special education students ages 4-21.  

Tasked with creating our library media program, I transformed a humble bookroom into a vibrant library ecosystem welcoming and accessible to students of all ages and our teachers and support staff. 

I implemented a new library automation software system, replacing the traditional card catalog, revamped our entire collection of materials, assessing gaps for each section and curating age-appropriate resources, and established new collections of both print and digital resources. 

As the designer of library, information and research, and technology skills curricula that I delivered to students, I was part of our teaching team, delivering instruction to students, facilitating professional development for teachers and support staff, and collaborated with teachers on technology integration and co-teaching classes. 

I created safe and welcoming spaces for all of our students, differentiating instruction, employing de-escalation strategies as needed, and building strong relationships with our learners and instructors. 

I had the joy of surprising and delighting students and staff by instituting school literacy events including annual Read Across America celebrations, coordinated external speakers, and introduced graphic novel collection (our most popular and widely circulated school collection).

Library Media Specialist

Avon Free Public Library

As part of our children's services team, I had the amazing privilege of supporting children and families who came to the library.

While on desk, I assisted children and families with navigation of library materials, equipment and resources; provided readers’ advisory services, connecting readers with engaging materials.

I executed original programming for children including reader’s theater workshops, family thank you letter writing, and thematic creative programs connected to the Amazing Castle™ installation. 

I partnered with Teen Librarian on Book Buddies program pairing elementary school students with middle and high school students to foster reading skills.

And I brought my skills from my experience at Northwest Village School to tactfully manage challenging patrons (i.e. high energy and or poor in-library behavior) resulting in reduction of risk behaviors in the library.

Children's Library Specialist

Self-Employed

Family Sabbatical

Ketchum

At Ketchum (formerly Capital Strategies), I worked with associations such as the North Carolina Economic Developers' Association and NC Go! on events (meetings, conferences, legislative days), editing newsletters, and providing member support. I helped develop communications plans for organizations such as Junior League of Raleigh.

Project Coordinator

Journaling is one of the simplest, most beneficial habits you can use to create the life you want to live. 

And yet something is keeping you from it. 

Whether you’re completely new to journaling and don’t know where to start, you’ve journaled some but not found what works for you yet, or you’re a seasoned journaler looking for new ways to infuse your journaling with energy to get the results you want, I can help. 

✍️Why work with me?
If you were going to do it on your own, you would have by now. The information is out there. But you haven’t figured out how to make it work for you yet. And that’s okay. I love getting to help folks just like you create journaling practices that help you reach your goals. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. We start with you, what you want to achieve, and find simple, sustainable ways to make it happen. 

✍️How to work together
If you need:
🌱A LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT, check out my curated journal prompt collections through my Substack newsletter. At just $8/month, you’ll receive a daily journal prompt designed to help you get to know and love yourself a little bit better AND solve the problem of not knowing what to write about. (journalingforgrowth.substack.com)

🍀MORE SUPPORT, we'll work together to create your bespoke journaling practice that aligns with your personal growth journey. It’s all about you and what you need to grow. And it starts with a conversation. (tidycal.com/amandastern/strategy-call)

✨ Beyond Journaling—Event Planning & Community Building
Along with my passion for journaling, I bring years of experience as a community builder, event planner, and facilitator. I thrive on creating spaces where people can show up as their true, authentic selves and have real conversations that spark connection, growth, and impact. Whether it’s a small gathering or a large-scale event, I specialize in curating experiences that foster meaningful connections and create positive change. If your organization or mission-driven nonprofit needs someone to plan and facilitate events or build a thriving community, let's talk about how we can make it happen.

✍️ About Me
I’ve been journaling since I was an angsty teenager, and it's my go-to tool for learning and growth. I've used it to uncover what I truly want, make plans to go after it, hold myself accountable, and celebrate success, all while creating a life I don’t want a vacation from. When I’m not journaling, you can find me with my nose in a book, puttering in my garden, laughing with my family, and trying to decide what to make for dinner again tonight.

Amanda Stern ✍️

Third Loop Learning LLC

Tell me if this sounds familiar... Your team is always struggling with internal power plays, miscommunications, losing key players and having to onboard replacements, and as much as you try to engage, they just don't seem engageable.

You're not alone. Most people promoted to leadership positions are never actually trained on leadership skills.

And that's where I come in.

I help leaders to transform their teams from barely performing to standard, into high performing powerhouses by training you how to:

1. Co-create group processes- so everyone feels they're included in decision making.
2. Engaging your top talent so that they won't want to leave
3. How to gracefully handle tough conversations, without sweating through another shirt or chickening out
4. Inspire your team so they can sort out their own sh*t.
5. Build solid team practices for sustainable engagement- so you always know what's going on
6. Reduce friction to deliver projects on time and under budget

The key is not more "leadership" books or seminars where you take a vague concept and try to make it your own... it's learning simple facilitation skills that are easy to use, and make the biggest difference in how your team does work.

I'm Bhakti and I'm a Facilitation Evangelist who takes simple, easy to use facilitation skills and shows you how to use them to become the leader you know you can be. One that inspires loyalty, creativity, and dedicated work.
 
I have helped hundreds of leaders and managers become facilitators, and really, they discover their own authentic style of leadership that makes all the difference for their teams, and their career. 

I work with groups, individuals and organizations to build the muscle for inclusive dialogues, deeper conversations and performance centered group processes.

No sure how to start? Book a 30 minute call with me to see if working together is a fit for you and/or your organization. 

https://conversationwithbhakti.as.me/

Founder

SHRM of Greater Phoenix (SHRMGP)

Member Board of Directors

The Trampoline Group

Facilitator

The Silverene Group

Consultant and Facilitator

Color

As a Learning Program Manager, I create and scale strategic learning initiatives at Color.

Learning Program Manager

Amdocs

As a Learning Program Expert at Amdocs India, I am  leading a strategic initiative of developing internal  soft skills facilitators in India and APAC. Iam  passionate about delivering and managing soft skills and management workshops.

My role requires me to:

o   Be accountable for the team on-going development and delivering/facilitating soft skills and behavioral training at all levels. 


o   Ensuring the right allocation of workshops to facilitators and ensuring the readiness of the facilitators to deliver the workshops to achieve valuable learning experience 

o  Identifying complex business needs and transforming them into relevant learning solutions.

o   Managing interfaces with the program’s partners (ex: HR, Learning Business 

Partners, Organizational Development partners, Learning Operation)

o   Identifying risks and solving problems related to training.

o   Operating recognition plans and on-going feedback for the facilitators and their 

managers        

Learning & OD Partner

PubMatic

•Global Training Management: Working closely with the global Learning and Development team to conceptualize, design, and deliver highly interactive leaing solutions that meet leaing objectives and improve performance for global employee population
•Training Need Analysis: Utilize effective training needs analysis (TNI), project management, course development, and evaluation skills for delivering training interventions
•Content Development: Design learning and performance solutions to meet a wide range of business needs using a variety of technology / traditional delivery methods. Creating motivating and innovative training materials that empower employees to execute operational excellence
•	Assessing training gaps: Assess and analyzes training needs and prepares reports to identify gaps and recommend solution
•Training Delivery: Deliver a variety of need based soft skills and behavioral trainings across all levels in the organization.
•E- Learning: Employs a variety of content solutions when designing training content: e-learning, instructor-led training, blended solutions) Program / Training Delivery and Coordination
•Training Management: Developing and managing Global Learning & Development Training calendar

Learning Development Specialist

Fujitsu Consulting India

Being a part of the Learning and Development team at Fujitsu, I am involved in Training delivery and Instructional Design (ID) . I work on developing new modules as well as revamping the existing content. This gives me great exposure to the entire A.D.D.I.E cycle. 
The process also requires me to engage at leaders and employees at different levels.
A part of my role is to take care of the Induction Program for new hires throughout the organization, across all the locations in India. 
I have also collaorated with the Global Induction team to improve and add value to the Gloabal Induction Program.
In addition, I take care of Compliance trainings and role based training as well.

Senior Training Executive

ICERTIS

Handling end to end recruitments as per the human resource plan withing budgets. Sourcing from a plethora of souces like company website application, job portals etc.
Also involved in campus recruitments and have hands on experience on both functional as well as HR interviewing

Employee Engagement:Taking initiatives for Employee Engagement & Retention.

Induction: Employee on- boarding, taking care of joining formalities.

Training and Development: Training plans, Evaluation and feedback.

HR associate

Being a  subject matter expert, I was working as a team lead and handling a team of 5 Management Trainees. 

Consulting: As an SME, I was providing process consulting on Project planning and contract authorization tools like Compass, Service Delivery Management and Unicorn. 

Team Handling: As a team lead, I was responsible for talent acquisition, performance reviews, team operations, goal setting for the entire team.

Reporting: MIS and data reporting and handling for daily and monthly reporting.

Customer Interaction: Monthly reporting to the Customer (Microsoft, Redmond).

Subject Matter Expert

Tell me if this sounds familiar... Your team is always struggling with internal power plays, miscommunications, losing key players and having to onboard replacements, and as much as you try to engage, they just don't seem engageable.

Also, the "good leadership" tips and tricks you read about or learn at seminars feel off, like they're designed for someone else- and when you do try them, they don't work- or worse, backfire,

You're not alone. Most people promoted to leadership positions are never actually trained on leadership skills.

And that's where I come in.

I help leaders to transform their teams from barely performing to standard, into high performing powerhouses by training you how to:

1. Co-create group processes- so everyone feels they're included in decision making.
2. Engaging your top talent so that they won't want to leave
3. How to gracefully handle tough conversations, without sweating through another shirt or chickening out
4. Inspire your team so they can sort out their own sh*t.
5. Build solid team practices for sustainable engagement- so you always know what's going on
6. Reduce friction to deliver projects on time and under budget

The key is not more "leadership" books or seminars where you take a vague concept and try to make it your own... it's learning simple facilitation skills that are easy to use, and make the biggest difference in how your team does work.

I'm Bhakti and I'm a Facilitation Evangelist who takes simple, easy to use facilitation skills and shows you how to use them to become the leader you know you can be. One that inspires loyalty, creativity, and dedicated work.
 
I have helped hundreds of leaders and managers become facilitators, and really, they discover their own authentic style of leadership that makes all the difference for their teams, and their career. 

I work with groups, individuals and organizations to build the muscle for inclusive dialogues, deeper conversations and performance centered group processes.

No sure how to start? Book a 30 minute call with me to see if working together is a fit for you and/or your organization. 

https://conversationwithbhakti.as.me

taplio

The Battle

Amanda Stern ✍️

Bhakti Karkare

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