Support that Meets Clients’ Unique Needs
Drawing on our experience as advisors and practitioners, we also bring perspectives on what works.
Building Equity-
Centered Teams
Our Approach
Adaptive. Adaptive challenges are situations where there are no known solutions; they are unique to the specific moment and context, and cannot be solved through off-the-shelf solutions. We’ll build your team’s capacity to identify and respond to adaptive challenges.
Technical. New and mature teams often need shared protocols to build cohesion, communication, and accountability. Protocols include team agreements, meeting agendas, and decision-making tools. The process to create these protocols is just as important as the protocols themselves; we’ll help you identify and create the right protocols for your team.
Reflective. Especially when it comes to race, humans often analyze problems that are “out there” as if separated by a window. We’ll help your team gaze inward to investigate personal beliefs and biases--this leads to better organizational outcomes and team cohesion.
Sample Services
Retreat facilitation
Agenda design
Equity audit
Stages of team development analysis
Creation of team protocols (e.g., team agreements, team charter, decision-making tools)
Executive coaching
Strategy
and Learning
Our Approach
Inclusive. Involving teams (and sometimes external stakeholders) in planning increases the quality of ideas, shared understanding, and team ownership. Inclusivity also lays the groundwork for effective execution.
Aspirational. Strategic planning often starts from a place of resource constraints and daily fire drills. We flip the script by using techniques such as Appreciative Inquiry to start from a place of abundance and possibility.
Systems-oriented. No organization can achieve widespread change on its own; we’ll help you “see” the broader system and determine your best role.
Equity-centered. Equity-centered strategic plans require intent, listening deeply to your constituents (especially marginalized communities), and analysis of how oppressive structures are perpetuated by the status quo.
Expertly facilitated. Our role isn’t to give you answers; rather, it’s to create the conditions so your team can do its best thinking.
Sample Services
Visioning
Strategic positioning analysis
Systems analysis tools (e.g., landscape mapping, ecocycle mapping, trend mapping)
Theory of action creation
Goal setting, indicator identification
Organizational learning system
Developmental evaluation
Facilitated decision making
Bringing Strategy
to Life
Our Approach
Realistic. We’ll help you create ambitious but realistic plans that work for you, your team, your funders, and your budget.
Learning-oriented. We’ll help you plan for how and when to take stock of lessons, and we’ll facilitate spaces where your team can learn together.
Integrated. Breaking down silos across the organization involves carefully-considered work plans, getting clear about individual roles, and creating clear communication protocols.
Practical. Form should follow function, and simple protocol and ideas are often best. We’ll help you organize your team for maximum effectiveness and create practical protocols such as progress monitoring tools.
Sample Services
Work planning
Progress monitoring
Organizational design
Team charters
Talent audit
Grantee diligence
Grants management
Retreat facilitation
Special Projects
Most Panorama Advisors projects defy categorization. As a former Chief of Staff, David brings experience leading a wide array of special projects. Examples include supporting COVID-19 planning for schools, writing in-depth case studies, and creating interactive system maps. We’ve also worked across myriad issues (e.g., K-12 education, postsecondary education, workforce development, public health) and sectors (e.g., philanthropy, nonprofit, government, business).
Leadership Coaching
We believe that the vast majority of people are more powerful than they realize, and we’re passionate about helping others reach their full potential. With clients we listen deeply, accentuate strengths, change internal narratives, and build skills to lead equity-centered work. As a stand-alone service or in combination with other services, we coach senior and junior staff.