Erin Bresnahan
Erin Bresnahan is a bilingual (English/French) strategic advisor and facilitator whose work bridges evidence, action, and human dynamics. Over 15+ years, she has partnered with foundations, multilateral institutions, civil society organizations,and companies in more than 90 countries. Today, as Co-Founder and COO of AvoMotion Advisory, Erin co-leads a firm serving nonprofits, foundations, multilateral organizations, and private sector clients of all sizes, facilitating strategic planning workshops, board retreats, and multistakeholder convenings. What sets her approach apart is the pairing of rigorous, data-grounded strategy work with genuine facilitation craft: she builds the KPI dashboards and measurement systems a room will need after the workshop ends. Erin holds an MA in International Affairs from Carleton University with a specialization in international development and conflict studies, and a Bachelor of Business Administration.
Kāvya Raman
Kāvya Raman believes design is the use of power to shape what’s possible. She designs and facilitates spaces for change with organizations, movements, governments, and communities learning how to become good future ancestors. Her work focuses on shaping strategies, practices, and ways of working that help people and institutions cross thresholds with care, courage, and imagination. Over the past fifteen years, Kāvya has lived and worked across war zones and megacities including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Turkey, Jordan, Haiti, Egypt, Italy, and the United States, navigating cultures, languages, and ways of knowing, being, and belonging. Her experience spans social impact design, facilitation, coaching, organizational leadership, and program strategy with nonprofits, foundations, international organizations, and governments, including collaborations with The International Rescue Committee, The Gates Foundation, Oxfam International, Global Affairs Canada, and the U.S. Department of State. Her superpower is adaptation.
Ashley Johnson
Ashley Johnson is a leadership development advisor, facilitator, and executive coach with more than 15 years of experience helping leaders scale their impact when their roles grow. Through Brightwell Leadership, Ashley partners with organizations to design strategy and experiences grounded in real organizational context. Her work spans leadership development programs, team alignment, and coaching leaders through the shifts in thinking and behavior that growth demands. She is known for bringing both strategic clarity and genuine humanity to her work, helping leaders and teams move from insight to action in ways that are thoughtful, practical, and built to last. Before founding Brightwell, Ashley held senior leadership development roles at global organizations including Hilton, Levi Strauss & Co., and BioCryst Pharmaceuticals. During that time, she led enterprise leadership strategy, leadership and executive development programming, and large-scale leadership capability building. Ashley holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and is an ICF-certified coach, CliftonStrengths trainer, Korn Ferry 360 and ATD-certified facilitator.
Nkiruka Stella Okonkwo
Nkiruka Stella Okonkwo is a seasoned development consultant, facilitator, and nonprofit leader with nearly two decades of experience across gender equity, policy development, and youth and women empowerment. She is the founder of Fresh & Young Brains Development Initiative and managing consultant at Alexijan Consults, where she leads strategic planning, policy reviews, and capacity-building initiatives for government agencies and civil society organizations. Recognized for her expertise in facilitation and stakeholder engagement, Nkiruka has moderated high-level dialogues for institutions such as the United Nations, the African Union, and various national policy platforms. Her facilitation work spans critical themes such as climate change, gender equality, SDGs, and governance—guiding multi-stakeholder conversations with clarity and inclusivity. She holds advanced qualifications in social work, law, development policy, and leadership, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Humanitarian and Development Studies. Nkiruka brings deep contextual knowledge of African development systems, a strong cross-cultural sensibility, and a proven ability to foster alignment in complex policy environments.
Mark Hecker
Mark Hecker is a social worker and educator with varied and extensive leadership experience. A former DC Social Worker of the Year, Mark’s work has been recognized by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Aspen Institute. As the Founding Executive Director of Reach Incorporated, Mark built and led an innovative and impactful organization that won multiple, national awards and gave hundreds of teens the opportunity to demonstrate leadership in their communities. He holds an A.B. from Duke University, an M.S.W. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an Ed.M from Harvard University.
Amy Fisher Bruey
Amy Fisher Bruey is a dynamic and experienced facilitator specializing in leadership development within international contexts. As an ICF-certified coach, she brings a unique blend of coaching and facilitation skills to her work, empowering individuals and organizations to achieve meaningful growth. Amy has designed and led over 50 workshops, training programs, and retreats for a variety of clients, including USAID, the Department of State, and international NGOs. Her facilitation expertise spans a wide range of topics, including leadership, team building, strategic planning, and mentorship, with a focus on creating engaging (fun!) and transformative experiences for her clients.
Kajsa Hendrickson
Kajsa Hendrickson is a sustainability leader, facilitator, and bridge builder. She brings ten years of experience working around the world with government, academia, private sector, and nonprofits including FHI360 and the Center for Creative Leadership. Kajsa is trained in conflict management, facilitation and CliftonStrengths. She specializes in designing and leading energy-focused engagements, advising Fortune 500 companies on sustainability and stakeholder engagement. She helps her clients and their stakeholders find common ground and effective solutions. Her facilitation has included engagements for the Tennessee Valley Authority and Southern Company, as well as multinational corporations. Kajsa’s work experience includes designing international education programs to China, Thailand, Switzerland, and Rwanda, managing custom leadership experiences for companies.
Solonia Teodros
Solonia Teodros is a cross-sector facilitator, innovation strategist, and career coach with 15+ years of experience designing and delivering transformative programs for organizations and individuals navigating change. Of Ethiopian and Chinese heritage, with life and work chapters across North America, Asia, and Europe, she brings a rare blend of cultural fluency, systems thinking, and human-centered design. Her facilitation style is immersive, reflective, and values-driven—focused on activating leadership, building and bridging cultures, and enabling purposeful growth. Currently Chief Growth & Innovation Officer at JUMP! Foundation and co-founder of The Change School, Solonia has led retreats, strategy sessions, and learning labs for youth, executive teams, educators, nonprofit leaders, and public sector changemakers. She is bilingual in Mandarin and English, a TEDx speaker on global citizenship and identity, and a certified coach supporting individuals through career shifts and personal realignments. Her coaching draws from strengths-based, narrative, and values-led approaches, while her facilitation often centers on leadership development, culture transformation, identity, and inclusive collaboration.
Norah Bwaya
A pioneer in, and veteran of, the coaching industry in East Africa. Norah believes in the vast potential of people. She is known for her effectiveness in leadership development and for spearheading advocacy for improving work culture and ethics in Uganda. She is a multi-skilled Certified Executive Coach, Organization Development Consultant, Facilitator/trainer, public speaker and author. Her working experience spans across 4 careers (Accountancy, Marketing, Insurance, Coaching) in 21 countries across 3 continents (Africa, Europe, America). She has supported top-tier executives in over 100 organizations across several sectors: Petroleum, health, banking, hospitality, insurance, beverages and development sector. Has served, and still serves, on numerous development and private sector Boards. She founded the first coaching firm in East Africa—Coach Africa Ltd. and Institute of Work Culture and Ethics. She holds a Doctorate in Executive Performance from Middlesex University and is a credentialed Professional Coach (ICF).
Mary Njenga Murimi
Mary Njenga Murimi is a Certified Organizational Development (OD) Consultant and an ICF PCC Accredited Coach. She works as Coach, Facilitator/trainer, Organizational Development and Development Consultant based in Nairobi-Kenya with assignments in Africa, North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. The main focus of her work is Organizational Development, Change Management, Leadership Development, Executive team, leadership Coaching, Training, Process Facilitation and Moderation. She holds two Masters Degrees in Sociology and Organizational Development and is currently working on a Doctorate in Business Administration dissertation on Leadership and change management. Her past and current clients are in the public sector, International Non-Governmental Organizations and the private sector. Some of her clients in the past have been Parliaments of Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania, devolved governments in Kenya, International NGOs among them OXFAM, Global YWCA, Women for Women International, Women Link International, Womankind International, Mastercard Foundation Amnesty International-International Secretariat, Amnesty International UK section, Kenya Section and Regional offices in East, Southern and Western Africa, Europe and Asia, Plan International East, Southern, Middle East Regional Office, IPPF Africa Regional Office, Action Aid, SNV, DAI, VSO, WWF, UN Agencies and donor agencies such as USAID and GIZ.