Organizational Shifts
You landed here for a reason.
Let’s make sure we’re the right fit.
Whether someone passed along our name, you found us through a search, or you heard Marissa speak and something resonated — you’re here because you’re looking for something different.
We’re not your ordinary consultant. And we’re not a training vendor.
This page will tell you what we do, what we don’t do, the kinds of problems we solve, and the kinds of partnerships we’ve had. If it sounds like a fit, let’s talk. If it doesn’t, we’ll tell you that too — and point you in the right direction.
We are a transformation partner.
Not a training vendor.
Make Shift Happen International is a root-cause, solution-centered practice. We don’t often lead with an off-the-shelf curriculum — though we are certified in many evidence-based modalities and deploy them when they’re the right tool for the right moment.
We start with honest diagnosis.
We go beneath the surface to understand what’s actually happening — in your leadership, your culture, your team dynamics, your governance — before we recommend anything.
Skill building may be a byproduct of our work together. It is never the central theme. The central theme is growth — for your leaders, your organization, and the people you serve.
We prefer sustained partnership over transactional delivery. We show up consistently — across multiple engagements, over time — until the shift actually takes hold.
We’re probably a good fit if…
- You’re looking for a sustained partner, not a one-time event
- You want someone who will take time to understand your organization before recommending anything
- You’re ready to go to the root of the problem, not just address the symptoms
- You want your leaders to grow — not just comply
- You’re open to honest feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable
- You sponsor or fund a network, cohort, or ERG and want sustained development for the people inside it
We’re probably not the right fit if…
- You need annual compliance training or checkbox professional development
- You want a speaker to deliver a canned presentation with no connection to your organization’s actual work
- You’re looking for a quick fix to a long-standing problem
- You’re not ready for honest feedback about what’s actually getting in the way
NOTE: We do keynotes — but connected to your organization’s actual work. Before we take the stage, we learn about your audience, what they’re working on, and what would actually move the needle. What we deliver is customized to your moment.
If any of these problems sound familiar, you’re in the right place.
- Governance dynamics
- Executive vacancies and transitions
- Strategic direction and realignment
- Merger and acquisition cohesion
- Culture drift and misalignment
- Leadership team conflict
- Cohort and network development
- ERG and affinity group programming
The kinds of partnerships we’ve had
Range. Depth. Staying power.
- A national foundation — ongoing network facilitation for grassroots leaders mobilizing health equity work in underserved communities across the country. Now in its second contract year.
- A Head Start and youth services organization — ongoing Leaders of Color Network facilitation and quarterly leadership training for executive directors, program directors, and parent/staff policy councils.
- A national political accelerator — two-year governance consulting engagement supporting two grantee organizations through organizational development and strategic alignment.
- A national philanthropic foundation — leadership development and individual coaching for 250+ leaders across a racial equity grantee cohort.
- A national nonprofit governance organization — cohort facilitation for both established organizations and those at the inception phase.
- A CEO peer cohort — sustained peer learning community for nonprofit executives navigating the complexity of mission-driven leadership.
- A child and family services organization — executive and leadership coaching supporting senior leadership through transition and development.
- Multiple organizations — interim executive leadership including a 10-month financial and operational turnaround for a health and dental clinic serving underserved children.
What We
offer
Leadership Cohort
Design & Facilitation-
For foundations, funders, and organizations investing in sustained leader development.
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We design and facilitate multi-session leadership cohorts, networks, and capacity-building programs for groups of leaders. Customized to your community, your goals, and the specific shifts your leaders need to make. Sustained partnership model — not one-time events.
Board & Executive Team
Partnership-
For boards and executive teams navigating transition, conflict, or the gap between strategy and execution.
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Coaching, facilitation, and advisory work for governance bodies and senior leadership teams. Includes change management work plan development, implementation support, and the kind of honest feedback that moves organizations forward.
Culture & Leadership
Development-
For organizations whose culture no longer matches their values — or who want to build the culture they’ve been describing.
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Assessment-grounded culture and leadership work using tools including Everything DiSC®, 360-degree feedback, Kolbe™, Barrett Values, and qualitative analysis. We build a true picture of what’s actually happening before we design any intervention. Then we stay to support implementation.
ERG & Affinity
Group Programming-
For corporate sponsors who want sustained leadership development for their women’s and identity-based communities.
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Ongoing facilitation and coaching for employee resource groups and affinity communities. Not a one-day workshop. A sustained partnership that develops leaders over time and connects to the organization’s broader culture and values.
Interim Leadership
& Organizational Turnaround-
For boards and organizations navigating a leadership gap or organizational crisis.
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Senior-level interim executive leadership for organizations that need experienced capacity during a transition. Marissa has served as Interim Executive Director and Interim CEO for multiple organizations — assessing the situation, stabilizing operations, and building the foundation for what comes next.
Keynote & Custom
Speaking-
For organizations who want a speaker connected to their actual work — not a canned presentation.
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Before we take the stage, we take the time. We want to understand your audience, what they’re working on, what they’re grappling with, and what would actually move the needle. What we deliver is customized to your moment.
What
Organizational
Partners say
“Marissa came in as our interim executive director and over the course of ten months assessed the need for change, recommended those changes to our board, and then worked with staff and leadership to implement them. She has done an outstanding job turning around this vital community asset. Marissa is a highly intelligent, action-oriented candid leader who I cannot recommend highly enough.”
“Marissa is uniquely skilled in helping others to move toward the ‘greater’ in organizational life whatever that may mean: greater vision, greater team, greater alignment, and more. Organizations, networks, and individuals that are fortunate enough to work with Marissa will find a partner that knows how to nurture results and can draw on a wide variety of skill sets to do so.”
“After just one conversation with Marissa, you know exactly why her tag ‘Make Shift Happen’ is real. She provides a willing ear, gentle guidance, and maybe even some not so subtle poking when needed, to ensure her clients are better at the end of each coaching call.”
Ready to talk?
Tell us what you’re working on and what you’re looking for. We’ll be direct about whether we’re the right fit — and if we’re not, we’ll point you toward someone who is.