Years of leadership experience
Rachel Lawrence
Portland,OR
Summary
Strategic systems-thinker with a decade of executive leadership experience and deep commitment to anti-racism. Advanced facilitation and program development expertise with strong background in research, evaluation and data analysis. Leadership and change management consulting firmly rooted in anti-oppressive, adaptive and emergent approaches and frameworks. Passionate about building the capacity and conditions needed for teams to thrive in highly complex and diverse environments.
Overview
16
16
Work History
DEIB & Change Management Consultant
Rachel Lawrence Consulting
Portland, OR
03.2020 - Current
- Provided holistic executive coaching and training to empower leaders who are committed to radical transformation and inclusion.
- Conducted comprehensive organizational culture assessments and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) benchmarking.
- Provided document and policy review through Equity lens.
- Partnered with HR leaders to transform all aspects of talent recruitment, supervision and engagement toward more inclusive, equitable and person-centered approaches.
- Project-managed major change initiatives including managing merger of two non-profit organizations.
- Facilitated development and implementation of Equity and trauma informed decision making tools.
- Facilitated group sessions, trainings, and strategic planning that center Equity,
- Developed and delivered customized DEIB curriculum and strategies, addressing specific needs of clients and driving impactful learning experiences and shifts in policy and culture.
Race Equity & Inclusion Consultant
Center for Equity & Inclusion
Portland, OR
03.2017 - 01.2019
- Guided diverse portfolio of 20+ organizations through comprehensive racial equity planning and implementation design process.
- Provided comprehensive policy review, culture assessments and leadership capacity assessments to provide data driven strategies and supports.
- Provided adaptive and targeted support to leadership and change teams in development and execution of DEIB strategies.
- Facilitated and co-led implementation of ERGs and SRGs and cross-functional Equity change teams. Developed training for and led racial caucus groups to facilitate staff engagement and learning.
- Coached executive leaders with focus on de-centering dominant culture norms and empowering bravery, vulnerability and transparency in their leadership approach.
- `Facilitated dialogue and strategies to support change management and engage with resistance and conflict through relationship building.
- Developed and facilitated tailored DEIB training curriculum and process design across various industry sectors and organizational sizes.
- Facilitated effective and impactful learning and planning experiences that resonated with diverse audiences.
- Delivered specialized training and strategy sessions on topics including: change management, culturally responsive supervision, feedback, trust building and foundational knowledge of structural oppression.
- Fostered collaboration among cross-functional teams, cultivating environments where DEIB initiatives seamlessly integrated with overall business strategies.
Program Director
SMART Reading
Portland, OR
10.2007 - 03.2017
- Led diverse statewide program team comprising 22 staff members across 7 regional offices, including 12 direct reports.
- Co-led organizational HR and hiring practices.
- Served as key liaison to board of directors, leading development of strategic program direction.
- Orchestrated significant program delivery restructure and expansion of services from 6,800 students in 200 sites to nearly 11,000 students in 300 sites.
- Co-led implementation of comprehensive multi-year racial equity and inclusion plan, ensuring program integration across organization.
- Fostered inclusive environment by actively promoting diversity and equity in all aspects of employee life cycle, program development and delivery.
- Innovatively developed new training materials, videos, and resources, enriching learning experience for nearly 5,000 volunteers.
- Directed all facets of program development, implementation, and evaluation.
Education
M.A. in Sociology - Environmental Justice
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ05.2006
B.A. in Psychology -
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, IL05.2002
Skills
- DEI Strategy Design
- Change Management
- Data Analysis and Insights
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Workforce Development & Diverse Talent Recruitment
- Program Development & Management
- Inclusive Leadership
- Group Facilitation
- Training and Development
- Strategic Planning
- Team Leadership
- Relationship Building
- Organizational Assessment
- Project Management
- Qualitative/Quantitative Research Methodology
Certification
- Facilitative Leadership for Social Change - Interaction Institute for Social Change 2022
- Emergent Strategy Facilitation Training - Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute 2022
- Transformative Justice - Blue Light Academy for the Liberatory Arts 2022
- Uprooting White Supremacy in Organizations - AORTA Inc- May 2022
- Foundations in Somatic Abolitionism for White Bodies - Education for Racial Equity 2021
- Advanced Facilitation Intensive - Center for Equity & Inclusion 2018
- Heart of Facilitation Advanced Facilitator Training - Partners for Youth Empowerment 2016
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Quote
“Liberated relationships are one of the ways we actually create abundant justice, the understanding that there is enough attention, care, resource, and connection for all of us to access belonging, to be in our dignity, and to be safe in community.”
adrienne maree brown
Timeline
DEIB & Change Management Consultant
Rachel Lawrence Consulting
03.2020 - Current
Race Equity & Inclusion Consultant
Center for Equity & Inclusion
03.2017 - 01.2019
Program Director
SMART Reading
10.2007 - 03.2017
M.A. in Sociology - Environmental Justice
Arizona State University
B.A. in Psychology -
Southern Illinois University