ABOUT OUR FOUNDER

The first thing that you should know about me is that I am a collaborator and have a very "with" mentality. There is a certain amount of truthfulness that can come out of this process, which builds trust and the opportunity for direct and meaningful conversations. Think of me as a warm-demander. Because I get it; we all want what's best for our organizations, communities, and stakeholders and are likely also deep-knowledge experts in our own rights. Problematically, though, is that sometimes we are so immersed in the water around us that we cannot see beyond the environment we are swimming in to new and innovative solutions. [Sidebar: I am also a lover of metaphors.]

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I come to this stage in my life's journey from many previous iterations: teaching, performing, public speaking, research, school administration, coaching, and consulting. I have a broad and rich resume of diverse experiences that have made me the professional that I am. But that isn't all that I am. That doesn't speak to my why.

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I am a father, a husband, an avid reader and gardener. I love to spend time alone and in the middle of a group of people. I love cycling, anything on or around water, and college football and basketball. I am a believer in the human experience and ferociously believe that all people can learn, have deep capacity for greatness, and that all people should have equitable and unfettered access to experiences, rights, and protections in all places and systems. I am an advocate, a board leader, a former dancer and theatre performer, and nothing quite speaks to me the way an orchestra in a crowed theatre does when the first notes of the overture are played.

 

But I guess what is most important about me is that I am a human who loves supporting other humans to maximize and exceed their previously understood potential. Because you can and you will. And I will, too, as I continue to work on myself, my family, my practice, and my connection to the world around me. 

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Stephen Rayfield, Founder