The Science Behind Organizational Development

You may be wondering how a PhD in Immunology led me to caring about organizational excellence. I started my career in the world of science—studying the immune system and how it assesses, communicates, and adapts. With a PhD in Immunology and a Master in Public Health, I spent years immersed in complex systems, learning how small changes in the right place can create powerful ripple effects. After leaving the bench in search of a work-life balance that aligned with the life I wanted to live, I dove into the administrative side of science. I quickly found myself improving our processes with a lens focused on people experiences. Today, I bring that same systems approach to organizations. Let's break down how my background made this a natural transition for me.

Systems Thinking & Complex Problem Solving

Immunology is all about complex systems—feedback loops, signaling pathways, emergent behavior, and adaptation. Organizational cultures operate in similar ways: they're living, evolving systems with interdependent parts.

• I’m trained to recognize patterns, trace root causes, and work with complexity—skills organizational development practitioners must have.

• I’m able to see how a small shift in one part of a system (a team, a value, a policy) can ripple out.

  
  

My deep understanding of systems, behavior change, and culture helps leaders and teams create cultures that are healthier, more adaptive, and built to thrive. I believe that organizations, like living systems, are capable of incredible growth when the right conditions are cultivated. 

Evidence-Based Decision-Making

My research training and public health education make me data-driven. Or perhaps I was drawn to them because I am naturally data-driven. Either way:

• I understand how to design interventions, measure impact, and adjust accordingly, which is the backbone of organizational development work.

• I know how to collect and balance qualitative and quantitative data, whether through interviews, surveys, or outcome metrics.

  
  

My background in science and public health helps me to design people-centered, data-informed strategies that create meaningful culture shifts. I blend research and insight with curiosity, empathy, and strategy, helping transform organizations from the inside out and navigate complexity, measure impact, and support organizations in evolving with purpose.

Public Health = Population Behavior + Prevention

My Public Health experience equips me to think in terms of behavior change, equity, resilience, and community well-being—which are central to building healthy, people-centered cultures.

• I’m practiced in social determinants, which translates to understanding how organizational “environments” shape outcomes.

• I am trained to bring a trauma-informed, inclusive, and preventive perspective to culture and leadership development.

With expertise in complexity, data-driven design, and human-centered leadership, I support mission-driven teams in creating healthy, adaptive workplaces where people and purpose thrive. We work with growth-minded leaders and people-first teams who are ready to shift from burnout to belonging, from confusion to clarity, from stuck to strategic. Because when your people thrive, your mission moves.

Scientific Rigor + Human Insight + Change Management Mindset

Both immunology and public health are rooted in adapting to new data, emerging threats, and evolving systems. I combine a deeply analytical mind with an understanding of human health and psychology. That translates directly into Organizational Development.

• This makes me exceptional at creating learning experiences, designing culture change frameworks, and guiding leaders through transformation.

• I’m not afraid of nuance or ambiguity and am actually trained to thrive in it.

• I understand the need for strategic response to resistance or friction, patience through uncertainty, and comfort with iteration. 

Are you curious to meet the systems thinking scientist whose work focuses on guiding teams through change, strengthening people-centered practices, and creating environments where growth, purpose, and belonging take root? 

Let's Chat