People Strategies Hawaiʻi

As a people-centered consultant, I support leaders around organizational change, talent development, team building, vision and values alignment to create inclusive, engaged and effective workplaces. 

Related to that work, I'm often asked to provide training on a range of topics such as: aligning HR strategy to organizational strategy, emotional intelligence, ensuring that diversity, equity & inclusion sticks, change management, psychological safety, effectively managing virtual teams, effective feedback, and more. I also provide facilitation of meetings towards desired outcomes.

Chief Executive Officer

Bank of Hawaii

In this role, I provided consultation to the IT, Mortgage Banking and Human Resources divisions on building their organization/leadership capability for greater organizational effectiveness. In this time, my proudest accomplishments were: 

1) Standing up a "People Committee" within HR focused on having honest conversations and engaging HR staff in meaningful changes to policies and practices, to better improve the HR internal environment for greater effectiveness to the rest of our internal customers; 

2) Aligning the leaders of Mortgage Banking around common goals to bring their departments together around their "why, how, what" (borrowed from Simon Sinek's, "Start With Why" framework), resulting in increased communication, respect, and understanding across their dispersed workforce; and 

3) Assisting in solving for the IT division's 200+ employee move into the central Downtown area, which involved partnering with internal Facilities and operation groups, external corporate partners, and building managers to find a solution for the absence of adequate parking and transportation options. I provided leadership on offering helpful solutions, clear communication (developing frequent all-employee memos with status updates and information), and negotiating discounts on behalf of the employees.

Organizational Development Consultant

Liliʻuokalani Trust

As this 130 year-old Aliʻi Trust underwent major systemic change from being a "social service agency" to "breaking the cycle of poverty for Native Hawaiians", I led organizational development initiatives in the areas of strategy, organizational assessment, culture, change and team development. In that work, I implemented a customized change management initiative grounded in Hawaiian values and Design Thinking principles across the organization. I led the development and rollout of a new performance management system, and implemented a new learning management system branded as "LT University" with customized Native Hawaiian social work curriculum. I managed training vendors and conducted training for leaders. I provided thought partnership to the CEO and Executive Team. I developed a "Lunch n Learn" series. I managed a department budget and team of two organizational development managers.

Director of Organizational Development

INPEACE

In this role, I assisted the CEO in finding and applying for both federal, national and local grant opportunities, one of which garnered INPEACE the 2015 Commitments Award for Advancing Equity by the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities. I provided coaching and guidance to program managers on evaluation language, developed and conducted the first employee well-being survey and planned an all-staff employee retreat, including a giveback service opportunity of over 100+ of our employees at Heʻeia Fishpond.

Director of Research and Development

Hawaii Children's Action Network

Led the organization’s community engagement efforts. Established new partnerships and worked collaboratively with organizations and individuals in the early childhood, non-profit, and government sectors. Strategized on and conducted grassroots outreach, including the mobilizing of community members to testify and submit testimony on early childhood bills. Supervised the Donor & Community Engagement Coordinator, as well as undergraduate interns and volunteers. Supported the Executive Director in grant writing and program reporting. (Org was formerly known as Good Beginnings Alliance.)

Director, Community Engagement

Kamehameha Schools

Developed partnerships for improving educational access on the Wai'anae Coast with key stakeholders including community residents, neighborhood board members, DOE administrators and school-level staff, organizational and community-based providers, University and community-college administrators, and national champions for change. Participated in strategic planning around community and educational transformation for the Coast. Assisted in gathering community feedback and garnering engagement and support. Led and facilitated the first-ever Nanakuli-Waianae College Success Council comprised of UH and LCC faculty and administrators to pilot a dual enrollment program at Nānākuli High School. Supervised interns.

Analyst, Ka Pua Initiative

NYC Department of Education

Served on the school's administrative team in charge of external relations with both current and prospective parents. Worked closely with the school's parent board, and helped to organize a parent community of practice. Communicated with current parents about upcoming school events, policy changes, and immediate announcements. Externally, recruited new admissions to the school, developed marketing materials and gave presentations to city schools. Responded to requests for tours and inquiries about the school from prospects. Maintained the school's website and internal parent dashboard.

DOE Parent Coordinator

Public Education Network

Provided senior staff with information on major educational policy initiatives, including: Promise Neighborhoods Initiative, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorization, merit-based pay/teacher compensation incentives, standardized testing and growth measures, and others. Researched for PEN's college access and school reform initiatives in partnership with Citi Foundation and the Gates Foundation. Managed NCLB news and policy content on PEN's website and e-newsletter. Assisted in PEN's public engagement efforts and support for nationwide local education funds (community-based organizations comprised of public school administrators, teachers, and boards).

Public Engagement & Advocacy Specialist

Kapi'olani Community College Office of Continuing Education and Training 

Oversaw and expanded the Service-Learning Program at Kapiolani Community College. Developed partnerships and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with community-based providers in both the non-profit and private sector to provide service-learning opportunities for students. Recruited and assisted in training new faculty to the program, and organized professional development opportunities for seasoned faculty on service-learning. Developed the first campus-wide program orientation for students, and recruited community partner participation. Developed and managed database of students and opportunities. Oversaw a staff of 7, providing ongoing mentorship and leading efforts to share team best practices in national conferences. Assisted the Chancellor in developing and executing the first-ever student trip/service-learning exchange between Kapiolani Community College and Hakuoh University in Oyama, Japan, now in its sixth year. Maintained relationships through the Hawaii Pacific Island Campus Compact (HIPICC) with all UH system colleges as well as national partners, presenting at several national Campus Compact conferences. Maintained the program budget, and assisted the Director of Civic Engagement in program evaluation and writing reports for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and other national grantors.

Service-Learning Program Coordinator

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