Kresser Institute
Expanding Access to Functional Medicine Education
Kresser Institute | Berkley, CA
challenge
When Kresser Institute, a functional and ancestral medicine education leader, transitioned from the start-up phase into the scale-up phase, the company faced several growing pains. To help support the transition, I was brought on board as the Chief Impact Officer to spearhead the development of a new social impact growth strategy while enhancing the overall organizational culture by fostering a more inclusive, human-centered internal environment.
The primary challenges at Kresser Institute were twofold:
Organizational Culture: Enhancing internal processes to foster a more inclusive, engaging, and effective workplace.
Strategic Partnerships: Establishing and scaling a comprehensive partnership program that aligned with the institute’s vision and values.
Work
Develop and implement a multi-year social impact growth strategy.
I began designing the strategy by conducting an organizational audit by conducting research and stakeholder interviews to understand the needs and aspirations of both internal team members, the people who had worked hard to make this educational institution what it was and potential partners.
Next, key pain points and opportunities were identified within the existing partnership framework and internal processes. This included operational inefficiencies and a lack of clear communication channels.
Facilitated collaborative workshops to brainstorm innovative solutions. These sessions brought together diverse voices from within the organization to co-create strategies that were both ambitious and achievable.
Work (Continued)
Developed a multi-year social impact growth strategy proposal based on my findings from the array of one-on-one user interviews, ideation workshops, historical organizational data, and online user reviews. The following initiatives were in different phases of the implementation process, ranging from pilot to full adoption.
Organizational Culture Enhancement:
Learning-by-Doing: Introduced an iterative learning process to adapt and improve workflow continuously. This included regular feedback loops with partners and internal stakeholders.
Holistic Well-being: Implemented practices and worked with managers to support the holistic well-being of employees, promoting a balanced work environment that prioritized mental and physical health.
Leadership and DEI Initiatives: Developed a leadership incubator program focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This program aimed to nurture future leaders within the organization and foster a culture of inclusivity.
Human-Centered Processes: Introduced new meeting designs and facilitation techniques to create more engaging and productive interactions. This included establishing clear rules of engagement and improving communication practices.
Strategic Partnerships:
Vision and Strategy Development: I crafted a detailed strategy that aligned with Kresser Institute’s long-term goals, focusing on creating mutually beneficial relationships with partners.
Community Impact Prototype: Spearheaded the development and implementation of the ADAPT Trailblazer Health Coaching Fellowship at Kresser Institute, securing full-ride scholarships for 20 under-resourced and -represented health coaches annually.
Results
Community Impact: Shifted social enterprise contribution to global health equity.
Increased employee retention by fostering a 35% increase in employee engagement and satisfaction through improved workplace culture practices.
Leadership Development: The new leadership and DEI initiatives empowered employees to take on leadership roles, contributing to a more dynamic and resilient organization.
Cultural Transformation: Fostered a more inclusive and collaborative work environment where employees felt valued and heard. This cultural shift improved overall morale and productivity.
Process Efficiency & Cultural Transformation: Revamped organizational strategies by developing 30+ new policies and procedures, reinforcing our commitment to social impact and impacting all levels of operation.
Community Impact: Trailblazer Health Coaching Fellowship secured full-ride scholarships for 20 under-resourced and under-represented health coaches annually, significantly reducing healthcare disparities and enhancing community health outcomes globally.