Systems change is human work. I’m here to help you lead it with clarity, care, and strategy that fits.
I started in direct service—working closely with young people, families, and community leaders. But I quickly realized the most lasting change wasn’t happening at the program level.
So I shifted toward the science of scale—expanding a program nationally, learning what it really takes to create systems change, and supporting leaders across sectors who were trying to make the whole ecosystem work better.
And through it all, I kept asking one question:
Can we do this work—the real work—without burning out?
The Collective Shift Co. is my answer.
We support the people who support the work—leaders of collectives, networks, and place-based partnerships.
My clients are visionaries who are often:
Bridging direct service and systems strategy
Navigating team transitions, funder dynamics, or stakeholder complexity
Overwhelmed by leadership responsibilities—and ready for support
Holding a lot… and still dreaming big
You don’t need a perfect plan. You need a steady partner who gets it.
Founder
Lynn is a strategist, systems thinker, and founder of The Collective Shift Co. With 15+ years of experience across community work, national program growth, and cross-sector initiatives, she helps mission-driven leaders align their strategy with their values—and lead without losing themselves in the process.
She’s an ESFJ, a Mental Projector, a Scorpio, and a big fan of afternoon coffee breaks that actually create connection.
(The boring stuff)
I’m a lifelong learner with the receipts to prove it, but what matters most is how I synthesize across disciplines. I bridge rigor and intuition, theory and practice, left brain and right brain. Whether I’m facilitating cross-sector systems work or designing strategic frameworks with soul, I draw from a deep, dynamic toolbox—and know which tools to use when.
MBA in Social Impact Management (The Heller School for Social Policy & Management at Brandeis University)
→ Focus: social enterprise & entrepreneurship, social innovation, collective impact
Key courses:
Building Sustainable Business
Evaluation
Leadership & Organizational Behavior
Managing the Triple Bottom Line
Social Entrepreneurship
Social Justice & Management
Strategic Management
Team Consulting Project: Social Impact Bonds
Women & Leadership (Boston College)
Master’s in Intercultural Youth and Family Development (The University of Montana)
Key Courses:
Addressing White Racism
Conflict Management & Mediation
Counseling Theories & Techniques
Critical Skills in Intercultural Work
Health Behavior Counseling
Intergroup Dialogues
Intercultural Human Development I & II
Nonprofit Administration I & II
Bachelor’s in Social Work (The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
→ Certificate in Youth Development
Key courses:
Community Organization
Criminal Justice
Cultural Diversity
Death & Dying
Social Work in a Global Context
Sociology of Deviant Behavior
Sociology of Juvenile Delinquency
Sociology of Sexuality
Sociology of Social Change
Sociology of the Family
Youth Work Practice & Methods
Engineering foundation (Marquette University) → Emphasized systems thinking skills
Courageous Conversations About Race
StriveTogether Equitable Results Series (Results Count, adaptive leadership, centering racial equity)
StriveTogether Trainer Pipeline Program (TPP)
Competencies:
Results-Based Facilitation
Holding Racial Equity in Groups
Use of Self
Grounding Facilitation in Adult Learning
Results-Based Facilitation 101, 201, and 301
Play-based leadership for social-emotional development (3 years at Playworks)
Project Management certification
Domestic Violence Advocacy Training (YWCA of Missoula)
HIV/AIDS Testing & Counseling
AmeriCorps and Peace Corps project development and management