Meet Vanessa
Vanessa Coleman, Ed.D.
Vanessa Coleman is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Coleman Strategy Group, where she partners with organizations to build equitable, inclusive environments and implement sustainable, relevant change. With over 25 years of experience in strategic consulting, leadership development, and organizational transformation, Vanessa specializes in leveraging data, equity frameworks, and Culturally-Conscious Evaluation design and implementation to help organizations navigate complex challenges and align their practices with their mission and values.
Known for her collaborative, inquiry-driven approach, Vanessa designs tailored strategies that foster inclusivity, innovation, and continuous improvement. She has worked across various sectors, providing leadership coaching, facilitating strategic planning processes, and helping organizations develop the capacity to thrive in dynamic environments.
Meet Our Affiliates
Amber E. Valdez, Ed.D.
Amber E. Valdez is a strategy and systems change consultant with experience supporting communities and leaders to design and transform complex systems for equity. Her areas of expertise include transformational leadership, organizational development, strategic planning, change management, human-centered design, continuous improvement, and networked learning. Amber has worked with public and private sector systems, including state and local education and health agencies, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, community development firms, and foundations. She founded Valdez Consulting Group, LLC, and has spent her career as a nonprofit leader and strategy consultant. Amber is also a member of EdLoC and a certified improvement coach with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. She earned her B.A. in Women and Gender Studies and Ethnic Studies and M.A. and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Mills College in Oakland, CA.