About
Me
Parallel Lines
I work at the intersection of culture, change, behavior, & design and future of work both as the expert change consultant and the curious coach. These two run in parallel ~ Just like Blondie's 1978 album.
My clients witness me walk the walk when it comes to people experience and outcomes. Leaders have called me the "Ship's Deana Troi" (Star Trek TNG) because I empathize with them and I care about how the changes show up and impact their people.
I take the time to listen to leaders and people, hear their pain points, support them, advocate for them, and I coach their leaders on how to show up for themselves and their people, how to build their own capabilities and create the world and culture they desire. Download my coaching flyer.
I've worked in a slew of industries over the years and yet my favorites remain retail and arts & entertainment. I chalk it up to years of hustling at The Gap, The Limited, and Deck the Walls while in high school and college, and then 15 years in the arts, including a 6-year run as the owner/founder of an arts agency.
Lightening strikes, Maybe once, maybe twice
I always say I was born when Blondie, Stevie Nicks and Disco all converged and it explains everything about me. My first records were Diana Ross' Upside Down and Olivia Newton John's Xanadu on little 45s.
A child of the 80s, I strive to live life in as much color as a disco dance floor, Care Bear book, Rainbow Brite doll, charm necklace, or a neon sign, sometimes all at once, while disco, Lionel Ritchie, Madonna, Hall & Oates, Stevie Nicks and Blondie play on Spotify - or my turntable - as I'm cooking or making a craft or painting. A little Ol' Blue Eyes for the moments when I need to slow things down.
I'm as comfortable in my Doc Martens as I am in those slouchy 80s vintage boots I scored on Etsy and scouring markets for MCM home furnishings. I will always sing The Jefferson's theme song to anyone who's promoted, binge Who's the Boss? and Star Trek TNG, and relate just about any situation to an episode of 90210. I enjoy an occasional 5K although strength and yoga workouts are my jam now. I love exploring and traveling and my favorite trip was to Syros, Greece to pit fire clay pots and immerse myself in the culture.
I'm a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University and hold a B.S. in Business and Fine Art. I live outside Philadelphia with my husband and two dogs.
Found the trail, and at the end was you
Pop-Up Tony Danza, as he's lovingly called here, has been a presence in the home office and on Teams/Zoom calls since 2020.
I found him (or did he find me?) at an estate sale in Overbrook Park during the pandemic when things were just barely reopening here in Philadelphia. Who has a life-size cardboard cutout of Tony in their home? Turns out, a colleague's had been a sound engineer on Tony's AMC program Teach, that took place at Northeast High back in 2009/2010. Because you're The Boss, you have a cute cutout of yourself in your Tony Micelli glory -- and it goes home with your crew. Why not?
My friend informed me of Tony's whereabouts and I set out at 8:00AM one Friday morning in September 2020 to find my favorite TV dad.
"You got the Danza?!" The estate sale rep gleefully asked me as I checked out with T, some vinyl and a handful of other vintage goodies. "I sure did!"
The cost of the pandemic was high -- financially, economically, emotionally, psychologically, culturally. But cute Tony? Priceless. And forever The Boss.
Artwork
I Did It My Way
I received a failure warning in art during my sophomore year of high school - my only failure warning ever - because I rebelled against value and color studies. My parents could not believe their teenage artist daughter could be on the brink of failing advanced watercolor class, especially when she could create gorgeous paintings. The warning and follow up meetings with faculty were infuriating at the time and yet foretold much more than my love and need to create abstract art.
It was a glimpse into a girl who already leaned into and embraced the nonlinear.
What do I want to say with my art? That we are layered and textured beings. There is richness and sparkle especially in the mess and grit. We can create our own processes and ways of working that suit us best. And we can still slay and take our rightful place among the best. Below is a selection of my more recent digital work.
English