Cyndi Gueswel
I feel fortunate to lead a professional life supporting teams, collectives, and individuals to achieve ambitious goals that serve the higher good. (see more)
Though I am an independent consultant, I collaborate in significant ways with two groups that sustain, shape, and stretch me:
I work with Groupaya, a San Francisco-based organization supporting leaders and leadership teams to skillfully create their future.
I serve an Associate at The Civic Canopy, a community-based nonprofit focused on transforming the way we solve society’s big, sticky issues. I am also a founding member of the Civic Consultants Collaborative in Colorado, a self-organized co-op that grew out of The Civic Canopy.
Before consulting, I was a senior executive at EL Education (EL), a leading non-profit helping schools and districts across the country redefine and raise student achievement. At EL, I oversaw national professional development offerings and program materials, as well as staff development for the organization’s 60+ coaches. I have crafted and facilitated countless multi-day institutes centering equity, diversity, and inclusion.
I live in Loveland, CO with my husband, Bruce, and our two terriers. When not immersed in learning with others, I can be found on a yoga mat, boating, out sauntering, deep in a good book, or cooking up something new in the kitchen while listening to a wide range of eclectic music. My husband and I organize and host multiple gatherings each year to celebrate community, music, art, and nature.
See more in Life and Work with Cyndi Gueswel, published by VoyageDenver in 2020.
EXPERIENCE
Coaching
Professional Certified Integral Coach through New Ventures West and credentialed by ICF, I have decades of experience coaching leaders across for-profit, non-profit, and governmental contexts
Practitioner of The Leadership Circle Profile and the Collective Leadership Assessment, highly-respected 360° feedback tools, and a rich framework for leadership development
Certified to administer and debrief the Leadership Maturity Assessment Profile (MAP), the most robustly researched and validated instrument for assessing and growing leadership capacity
Certified Enneagram Teacher in the Narrative Tradition, often using Integrative Enneagram iEQ9 reports with coaching clients and teams
Directed professional development for 60+ instructional coaches across the nation
Executive Leadership
Served as a Senior Leader at EL Education, as Managing Director of Program
Leadership Development
Work with leaders and leadership teams of all variety, from the rural community of Silverton, CO to San Francisco; from New York to New South Wales, Australia.
Have crafted and facilitated over 100 multi-day leadership institutes and ongoing cohorts
Co-designed and facilitated a multi-year mentor leader initiative for 8 years
Professional Development Events
Managed a suite of events for groups up to 1,200 participants, overseeing content and logistics
Librarianship and Website Design
Current Board Chair for the Loveland Public Library and member of the library’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee
Master's-level certification as Library Media Specialist
Designed EL Education's virtual Resource Library
Designed, built, and managed a new library for Erwin Middle School in Loveland, CO
Teaching
21 years of experience in adult education
15 years of experience in secondary education
Awards
EL Education, Exemplary Service
Impact
“Cyndi’s contributions to EL Education are so broad and so deep we would not be the organization we are today without her. Her legacy is profound. Beyond that, her warmth and heart has been a beacon for others in embodying inclusiveness.”
- Ron Berger - Senior Advisor, Teaching and Learning, EL Education
“I feel so much more supported now that I have a high functioning leadership team. We have a shared purpose for fostering the growth of our staff and a much higher level of trust.”
- Senior Managing Director, national research, development, and service nonprofit
“Cyndi brings heart to every endeavor—real presence, commitment, and a deep, clear mind. She is willing to "get messy," digging into essential work to move teams forward towards achieving impact. Cyndi poses questions, builds capacity, and brings out the best in others. Working with Cyndi fosters a deep sense of trust, synergy, and sparks of creativity."
- C-suite leader, national educational nonprofit
“Cyndi has an innate ability to read people and to help them to navigate and explore their deepest leadership and life questions. She has taught me to lead from my center with authenticity and grace, both for myself and others. Cyndi helped me to grow and see new possibility.”
- Executive coaching client