Designing Systems That Scale
From leading national brand activations for a billion-dollar CPG company to scaling operational systems for mission-driven nonprofits, I’ve orchestrated complex logistics across teams. In the leadership development space, I’ve designed and facilitated programs for nonprofits, growth-stage companies, and clients in the government and education sectors — at times supporting globally dispersed teams. Whether I’m managing backend systems for seamless program delivery or building warehouse inventory processes and SOP libraries from scratch, I bring structure, consistency, and flow to operations — even in fast-moving or resource-constrained environments.
Operational Systems in Action
Scaling Brand Activations at CLIF Bar
As Field Marketing Manager, I oversaw contractor teams executing brand activations across Texas — managing vendor relationships, negotiating contracts, onboarding and training staff, and delivering high-quality event experiences aligned with national CPG strategy.
From vendor negotiations to team training to final execution, every detail mattered — and I loved connecting it all into one seamless experience.
Systems Design for Dispersed and Cross-Functional Teams
At Brilliant People, I led both the facilitation and backend operations of leadership development programs for clients across nonprofit, education, and government sectors. I was the primary facilitator for all engagements — designing and delivering sessions that helped individuals and teams grow. Behind the scenes, I managed scheduling, stakeholder communications, and delivery systems, ensuring even complex, multi-touchpoint programs ran smoothly.
This dual role allowed me to ensure consistency, quality, and measurable impact — from first contact to final debrief.
Program Results at a Glance
Leadership Alignment Gains: Immediate Impact of a Targeted Workshop.
Bar graph image showing pre/post scores for each category. *Note: Data drawn from anonymous self-assessment survey distributed before and after the program.
Great leadership programs start with great logistics — because when the experience feels seamless, learning can actually take place.
Building Scalable Systems for Outdoor Nonprofit Ops
At Explore Austin, I designed and implemented a warehouse inventory and QR code-based tracking process to support field logistics across multi-day youth expeditions. In addition, I created a 160 page SOP library covering gear usage, repair workflows, and safety protocols — ensuring repeatable processes for trip leaders, staff and volunteers.
In the field, trust starts in the warehouse — this system ensures the right gear is ready, reliable, and easy to find.
Balancing Structure with Empathy
Across every ops challenge — from the boardroom to the backcountry — I bring a grounded, human-centered approach: simplify the complex, make the invisible visible, and build systems that serve both the mission and the people behind it. Whether I’m designing workflows or guiding teams through change, I lead with clarity, compassion, and an understanding that operational excellence only sticks when people feel seen, supported, and set up for success.
Operations should be a bridge, not a bottleneck.
Learning & Development
From curriculum design to group facilitation, I bring a whole-systems lens to developing leaders and building cohesive teams. This work often centers on values-driven organizations navigating change or growth — and blends tools from psychology, communications, and systems thinking to support real, sustainable transformation. Whether coaching individuals or aligning team dynamics, I aim to make development practical, human-centered, and results-driven.
A visual representation of the professional development framework I co-developed to guide leadership coaching, group facilitation, and team development.
Transformation doesn’t come from content alone — it comes from rhythm, reflection, and relationships that deepen over time.
These blog posts were written during my work with Brilliant People and capture real-time thinking on leadership, growth, and organizational culture — based on work with teams across education, government, and nonprofit sectors.
Facilitation as Infrastructure
Behind every transformational learning experience is a well-run system. This post shares how logistics and design shape the emotional safety and depth of group work.
[Read more]
This framework was developed to support sustainable growth — but it was the real-world fieldwork, iteration, and relationships that made it transformative.
How to Create Cohesive, Collaborative Teams
In this podcast conversation, we explore the deeper dynamics of workplace connection — from the real root causes of “people problems” to the organizational blind spots that prevent genuine community. We talk about how communication styles differ, how expectations aren’t always mutual, and how building trust across a remote-first workforce takes more than just good intentions. While the conversation centers on remote teams, the takeaways are just as relevant for any leader looking to foster cohesion and connection in today’s evolving workplace.
“When people know who they are in the mix, who others are (personality-wise) and how they are perceived, they can begin to understand their strengths and challenges, as well as the gaps that others might be able to fill.”
Facilitation in Action
Facilitating leadership development is where I bring clarity, presence, and adaptability to the room — whether that room is in person or digital. Below are two clips from a digital course I co-created and delivered — one co-led, one solo — showcasing the range of my facilitation and teaching style.
Digital course intro video – co-created and co-facilitated by Whitney Nelson & Brettne Shootman.
I believe in facilitation that’s clear, dynamic, and deeply human. This intro video — created to launch a digital course focused on understanding personalities at work — offers a glimpse into how I bring learning to life, combining storytelling, structure, and spontaneous connection. While it was co-created, this clip reflects my tone, teaching style, and commitment to learning that sticks.
Great facilitation bridges knowledge and connection — it’s not just about delivering content, it’s about how you make people feel while they’re learning.
https://youtu.be/bvOLgvFcQbo
In this solo teaching segment, I dive into how personality types show up in teams. This clip highlights my ability to distill complex concepts and make them accessible, actionable, and engaging — especially in virtual learning environments.
Leadership in the Field
