Aja King
Summary
Organizational wellness strategist and leadership development consultant with 10+ years of experience designing workforce wellbeing initiatives, facilitating culture transformation, and advising organizations on employee engagement and professional sustainability.
Expert in translating psychological science and behavioral health insight into scalable organizational strategies addressing burnout, leadership resilience, psychological safety, and workforce retention. Known for facilitating high-impact dialogue across complex systems, guiding leadership teams through culture change, and developing initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness.
Founder of Brave Defiance Consulting, providing executive facilitation, workforce wellbeing programs, and organizational consulting for healthcare, nonprofit, and community systems.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder & Principal Consultant
Brave Defiance Consulting
2019.03 - Current
- Facilitated workshops to enhance team collaboration and communication skills.
- Mentored staff on best practices in project management and service delivery frameworks.
- Collaborated with leadership to align organizational goals with community needs and resources.
- Streamlined reporting processes, ensuring accuracy and timely updates for stakeholders.
- Advocated for policy changes based on research findings to improve service delivery outcomes.
- Assisted in the development of corporate culture initiatives that fostered an inclusive work environment promoting collaboration and innovation.
- Collaborated with executive teams to develop strategic plans focused on long-term growth and sustainability.
- Facilitated workshops aimed at improving communication, teamwork, and leadership skills among employees at all levels within organizations.
- Developed comprehensive training programs that resulted in increased employee engagement and retention rates.
- Successfully navigated complex organizational challenges, leading clients through periods of change and growth while maintaining a focus on long-term success.
- Develop scalable frameworks supporting employee wellbeing and leadership resilience within complex organizations.
- Provide executive facilitation for organizational dialogues addressing social impact, culture, and community engagement.
Organizational Consultant
People for Pride in Living & Lutheran Social Services
2017.03 - Current
- Designed workforce development trainings addressing mental health awareness and burnout prevention.
- Provide workforce training and leadership development for housing and social service organizations.
- Partnered with leadership teams to strengthen employee engagement and reduce stigma around mental health.
- Delivered workshops supporting staff resilience and professional sustainability in high-stress service environments.
- Provided consultation to supervisors on workforce wellbeing and team dynamics.
Psychotherapist
Empower Therapeutic Services
2016.03 - Current
- Deliver individual, group and family psychotherapy for a broad range of clients.
- Provide clinical supervision to individuals seeking licensure.
- Develop and monitor individual treatment plans, designed to restore the client's personal functioning.
- Utilize online therapy for distant and rural communities.
- Developed personalized treatment plans based on client assessments and therapeutic goals.
- Utilized evidence-based therapeutic techniques to address diverse psychological issues.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive client care and support.
Psychotherapist
NorthPoint Behavioral Health
2013.09 - 2021.05
- Facilitate Domestic Violence and Empowerment Women’s Group that provides psychoeducational and therapeutic services.
- Provide cognitive behavior therapy and services to adults, children/ adolescents, and their families with an emphasis on mindfulness and reality training.
- Administer, score, and interpret various mental health tools, instruments, and tests as appropriate to crisis intervention and stabilization.
- Record notes and data pertaining to client progress; write comprehensive reports of client histories, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations.
- Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary adult crisis or child crisis response team.
Education
Ph.D. - Counseling Psychology
Argosy University
Washington, DC2016-09
Master of Art - Community Counseling
Argosy University
Atlanta, GA2009-10
Skills
Organizational Development & Effectiveness
Designing and implementing strategies that improve organizational structure, culture, and performance
Leadership Development & Executive Facilitation
Developing leadership capacity through workshops, retreats, and executive dialogue
Workforce Wellbeing Strategy
Designing initiatives that reduce burnout and strengthen employee resilience and engagement
Psychological Safety & Team Dynamics
Facilitating environments where employees feel safe to contribute ideas, raise concerns, and collaborate effectively
Strategic Facilitation & Dialogue Leadership
Leading high-impact conversations on culture, equity, leadership, and organizational growth
Human Capital Strategy
Aligning workforce initiatives with broader organizational goals and performance outcomes
Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Working with executives, HR leaders, and teams to implement people-focused strategies
Burnout Prevention & Resilience Programming
Designing organizational programs that address workplace stress, sustainability, and leadership wellbeing
Accomplishments
- Keynote Speaker and Facilitator for conferences, universities, and community initiatives addressing leadership resilience, trauma-informed dialogue, and workforce wellbeing.
- North Hennepin Community College – World Racial Healing Day Speaker
- Greater Twin Cities United Way – Keynote Speaker
- Interfaith Dialogue Moderator – Mental Health & Community
- American Mental Health Counseling Association Conference Presenter
TRAINING and COACHING
- Community Coordinator; 63rd and Zane March 2021- December 2022
- Organized community events to bring awareness to community violence, and bring a presence of peace.
- Crisis Mobile Training; Supervision in a Cultural Lens, 2021
- Help supervisors learn new ways to address the biases within their services for their providers and community connections.
- Race, Justice and Policing Moderator, October 2021
- Guide conversation on ways to address issues within policing and the black community.
- Keynote, "Being a fair witness of pain to hold space for healing" 8th Annual Forum on Race, 2019
- Discussed the technique of being present with others to create equality.
- Domestic Violence Awareness Moderator in Brooklyn Park, September 2019
- Guide conversation on domestic violence and debunk myths
- OJP Annual Conference on Crime and Victimization, Brainerd, MN 2018
- Presenting Topics: When Therapy is Not Enough: Domestic Violence, Trauma Bonds and Effective CPS Interventions.
- Teach practical ways for providers to treat victims of domestic violence
- American Mental Health Counseling Association. Orlando, FL 2018
- Presenting topic: Clinical Supervision with Consideration of Multicultural Historical Trauma in Communities of Color.
- People for Pride in Living Training, July 2017
- Presenting Topic: Improving Employee Engagement and Mental Wellness.
- Minnesota School Mental Health Conference, Co-Facilitator, October 2017
- Presenting Topic: Multicultural Person-Centered Practices in an Educational Setting
- Hamm Clinic Diversity and Inclusion Training, October 2017
- Presenting Topic: Sustaining and Maintaining Cultural Responsiveness within the Organization.
Timeline
Founder & Principal Consultant
Brave Defiance Consulting
2019.03 - Current
Organizational Consultant
People for Pride in Living & Lutheran Social Services
2017.03 - Current
Psychotherapist
Empower Therapeutic Services
2016.03 - Current
Psychotherapist
NorthPoint Behavioral Health
2013.09 - 2021.05
Master of Art - Community Counseling
Argosy University
Ph.D. - Counseling Psychology
Argosy University