Nell Kisiel

Founder and Principal

Nell’s work draws on over 20 years of leadership experience, working closely with visionary entrepreneurs to design and leverage cross-sector and interdisciplinary initiatives. Nell has served on the Executive Team for two nationally recognized non-profits as well as the founding team of the Harvard Initiative for Global Health.  A consistent theme throughout her past leadership and academic work,  is the understanding that adults and adolescents internalize learning and development through applied practice and reflection. 

In her consulting and coaching practice, Nell draws on first hand experience leading organizations through periods of change, including start up, high growth, strategic pivot and leadership transitions. Her accomplishments include: developing and communicating organizational strategy, piloting and executing partnerships for scale, program design and innovation, and introducing systems and structures to support sustained impact through later stages of growth. 

Nell’s coaching practice is informed by a variety of theoretical frameworks and concepts, including the Learning through Relationships (LTR) model created by her mentor, Dr. Diana M. Smith, a pioneer in Action Science and the LTR model. Nell has been a proud member of the Associate Faculty for the Action Design Institute, a member of the ActionSmith Network, and has served as a guest lecturer on Systems Leadership at the Boston University Questrom School of Management, and a Gleitsman Visiting Practitioner with the Harvard University Center for Public Leadership. Nell holds a Masters Degree in Education from Boston University, with a specialization in international development and participatory action research. 

All client engagements are facilitated by Nell Kisiel in close partnership with her team of curious, creative, and committed clients. For larger engagements, Nell partners with her diverse network of expert coaches and facilitators - all of whom also have organizational leadership experience.

Susan Asiyanbi

Network Affiliate

Susan is the Founder and CEO of The Olori Network, a groundbreaking leadership development firm dedicated to transforming systems through relationship-centered strategies. Known for her visionary approach, Susan helps leaders and teams across sectors unlock their potential by leveraging relationships as the cornerstone for enduring systems change.

Before founding The Olori Network, Susan served as Chief Operations & Program Officer and Chief Transformation Officer at Teach For America. There, she spearheaded leadership development for nearly 2,000 staff and led operational strategy across 51 regional offices, demonstrating her unmatched capacity to drive large-scale organizational transformation.

Susan is a lifelong learner and thought leader who holds a B.A. from Williams College, an M.A. in Education Administration and Supervision from St. Peter’s University, and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She is an active member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO), CHIEF, the Aspen Global Leadership Network, the Economic Club of Chicago, and the Commercial Club of Chicago, underscoring her standing as a trusted voice in leadership and business innovation.

Her commitment to service is reflected in her nonprofit board leadership. Susan serves on the board of directors for the Chicago Children’s Museum and is a member of the President’s Council for the Museum of Science and Industry as well as the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce. She has also contributed her expertise to organizations including New Classrooms, ReGeneration Charter Schools, Noble Day Care, and the Classy Awards Leadership Council.

At the heart of Susan’s work is a deep belief in the power of relationships to create lasting change, inspiring leaders to not only transform their teams but also the systems in which they work. You can learn more about her work at olorinetwork.com.

Lauren Johnson

Executive Assistant

Lauren’s role as Executive Assistant leverages her thirteen years of experience in administrative/administrator roles and her expertise in project management, systems analysis, HR best practices, and process management.