Who I am

I work in the space where strategy, leadership, and human dynamics don’t always line up.

That’s where most organizations actually operate—and where the work matters.

How I Got Here

I was raised in Chicago and Detroit in a family shaped by organizing, service, and a belief that how we treat people matters.

Early on, I was drawn to work that was both practical and relational—housing activism, special education advocacy, and learning sign language from students who taught me the importance of voice and access.

I went on to work in the trades, contributing to large-scale construction projects. Later, I moved into leadership roles in labor and organizational environments, working on strategy, systems, and decisions that directly impacted people’s day-to-day work.

Across all of it, I learned this:

  • Strategy only works when people can actually carry it out.

  • People can only carry it out when systems, expectations, and relationships are aligned.

How That Shapes My Work

Today, I work with organizations navigating the people and systems gap- to understand what’s actually happening—and what will move things forward in your specific environment.

My work focuses on:

  • strategic alignment

  • conflict mediation

  • qualitative research and analysis

We’ll put attention towards what’s happening on the surface, what’s happening underneath, and where those two things don’t match.

What Matters in My Work

The environments I’ve worked in have made certain things very clear:

  • People do better work when expectations are clear and consistent

  • Conflict, handled directly, leads to better outcomes

  • Systems should support people—not work against them

  • Curiosity is a practical tool for solving real problems

This isn’t theoretical. It comes from working in settings where misalignment shows up quickly—and has real consequences.

Outside of Work

I make space for activities that bring energy back into my system—kayaking, cooking, painting, and time outside in the Pacific Northwest.

Play matters. It changes how we think, relate, and solve problems.

This Means

I work with organizations where the work matters—and how people experience that work matters just as much.

Evelyn Shapiro