From team crisis to lasting repair — before it costs you your next hire.
Let’s build something that actually works.
I’ve worked inside mission-driven organizations long enough to know exactly where and why they get stuck.
I’m Stephanie, the Latina founder of Cultivating Joy Consulting. With over 10 years of experience in higher education, conflict resolution, systems thinking, and culturally responsive education, I’ve seen what happens when talented, mission-driven teams operate in an urgency culture with unaddressed conflict and systems that were never designed with equity in mind.
I also know what it looks like when that changes.
I founded CJC because I believe the organizations doing the most important work in our communities deserve consulting that goes beyond strategy decks and surface-level trainings. My approach is grounded in restorative justice, cultural humility, and the conviction that joy is not a luxury; it's the foundation of sustainable, effective leadership.
I work with nonprofit leaders, higher education teams, and mission-driven organizations who are ready to do the deeper work — and I stay with you long enough to make sure it actually lands.
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Read my thoughts as a lifelong learner & joy seeker navigating the intersection of equity, conflict, & culture.
The Compost Method™
Conflict is the richest material an organization has. Most organizations throw it away.
The Compost Method™ is my five-move restorative process for using it instead: Notice, Gather, Turn, Feed, Rest. Rooted, Cultivating, Growing is the shape of an engagement. The Compost Method is what happens in the hardest room.
Most culture work fails because it starts in the wrong place. Before you bring anyone into a room, it helps to know whether the conditions for repair are actually there.
The Conflict Readiness Check is twelve questions completed in about four minutes. It does not measure how much conflict you have. It measures whether you are positioned to repair it, and it tells you which of the five moves to start with.
Working with me is simple
You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to take the first step.
Step 1. Book a Free Consultation
Together, we outline a path forward that’s realistic, strategic, and tailored to your specific needs.
Step 2. We Build Your Engagement Plan
You’re part of the process. We keep communication open and design a customized engagement tailored to your organization's context, culture, and goals.
Step 3. Your Team Moves From Stuck to Thriving
We do the work together, and I stay with you long enough to make sure the change actually lands, not just on paper but in how your team shows up every day.
Mission-driven leaders and their teams deserve cultures that are equitable, joyful, and built to last — not just survive.
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
Let’s talk about what’s possible for your organization.