Reinvention Maven | Storyteller | Helping you see opportunities beyond boxes 📦 | Veteran | Consultant | Speaker | Diversity | Writing stories to create reader experience and sow seeds

When we feel unseen, unheard... unsafe to be our authentic selves, the ripple effects are undeniable:
📍 We withdraw from fully engaging with others… hold back contributions in friendships and business.
📍 Our motivation and drive to excel fades.
📍 We hide our authentic selves behind a mask – a box, fearful what others might say/do if they learn we’re neurodiverse, overcame addiction, and so much more

When we can show up authentically, we unlock our potential and create a sense of Belonging that transforms everything.

According to a survey by the Institute for Inclusive Leadership:
🍀 71% of employees felt more confident when they could be authentic.
🍀 60% felt more engaged.
🍀 46% reported feeling happier.

What does this mean for organizations?
Employees who don’t feel safe to be their authentic selves risk becoming disengaged… no longer thriving contributors.

That's where I step in.

I’m Susannah, an empathic warrior ⚔ woman 👩 who broke free from proverbial boxes in which society tried to place me – it's my mission to help others do the same. My passion lies in guiding individuals and organizations to “Move Beyond Boxes and Shine” like the stars we are… embrace their authentic selves and find their space of Belonging.

I've walked that path, and now help others see they are more than the roles or limitations placed on them.


When we move beyond boxes, we:
🫶 Build unshakable self-confidence
🫶 Foster authentic teamwork
🫶 Elevate organizational performance and revenue


I offer services that inspire transformation, empower individuals, and create lasting change:

🎤 Keynote Speaker
Deliver powerful talks for conferences and organizational events on connecting with your authentic self, reinvention, and how Belonging drives productivity and innovation.

📈 Business Consulting
Help organizations improve productivity and their bottom line through Belonging… identify opportunities to create cultures where everyone thrives. 

🖋 Workshops & Seminars
Lead transformative seminars that encourage participants to step outside the box and embrace their authentic selves, including vision boards.


Whether you’re an organization looking to foster a culture of Belonging, a leader seeking inspiration, or you’re ready to break free from the boxes holding you back, I’m here to help you create a path to shine.


DM me, or email Susannah.Dawn.Writer@gmail.com to set up a consultation.

It's time to gain traction in life, spread your wings 🦋, and fly 🦅.


"I'm not what I used to be, yet I am who I've always been."
Susannah Dawn 🦋 🦅 🦋

Reinvention Maven 👩

Susannah Dawn

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.

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The Battle

Susannah Dawn

Amanda Stern ✍️

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