Alisa is a practitioner-scholar, educator, coach and executive leader with over 20 years of experience working in government, non-profit organizations, professional associations, and post-secondary institutions. Her interdisciplinary career has evolved from doctoral scholarship at Duke University into a dynamic practice of systems leadership and transformation, grounded in intersectional, relational and trauma-informed theory and practice, contextual awareness, human rights and justice, and community engagement.
She consistently blends vision and pragmatism, and strives to cultivate generative, respectful working and learning environments that see opportunity in complexity, support diverse teams to build shared purpose, and develop adaptive strategies for change. Alisa currently operates Alight Insights Coaching and Consulting, and is Associate Faculty at Royal Roads University.
Alisa acknowledges that her family’s safety and security has come at Indigenous Peoples’ expense, and that she occupies stolen Tsawwassen and Musqueam Nation land. She asks that you join her in acknowledging Indigenous territory and recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ long-standing protocols and systems, and inherent, unceded rights.
Experience
Alisa has led system transformation from multiple vantage points. As a senior leader, she was founding executive director of the Victoria Division of Family Practice, CEO of the Midwives Association of BC, and Senior Manager with several portfolios at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine’s Division of Continuing Professional Development. As a consultant, she collaborates with many organizations, most significantly BC’s Ministry of Health and regional and provincial health authorities, where she brings expertise in policy- and organization-building, qualitative participatory action research, inclusive evidence, and community engagement to make a meaningful difference for health system strategy and operations.
As a coach, Alisa supports individuals and teams to build resilience, relational leadership skills, cultural humility and psychological safety, as well as explore opportunities for personal and organizational growth and development. She has particular interests in coaching around workplace conflict and/or completing major educational or professional projects, and offers neuroaffirming support for ADHD/Autistic/AuDHD adults who may experience overwhelm, executive functioning challenges, and/or burnout.
Alisa has taught History and Women’s Studies at universities in the US and Canada. She is currently Associate Faculty at Royal Roads University, where she teaches graduate courses and supervises theses and learning projects in the School of Leadership Studies and Professional and Continuing Studies.
Education
2008
PhD in History
Duke University
2008
Graduate Certificate in African & African American Studies
Duke University
2001
Master of Arts in History
University of British Columbia
1999
Bachelor of Arts in History
University of British Columbia