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DO YOU HAVE A VISION

BUT FIND YOURSELF LIMITED ON CAPACITY?

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I PROVIDE

STRATEGIC SUPPORT

TO CHANGE MAKERS

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Hi, I'm

Carissa!

You have a vision, and I'm here to help turn it into reality. I specialize in providing tailored, short and long-term support to visionary leaders and entrepreneurs. My approach combines strategic insight with hands-on, behind-the scenes, tactical support to offer the capacity you need, particularly during pivotal inflection points such as growth, change, scaling, or transition.  

Scroll Down

DO YOU HAVE A VISION

BUT FIND YOURSELF LIMITED ON CAPACITY?

Scroll Down

I PROVIDE

STRATEGIC SUPPORT

TO CHANGE MAKERS

Scroll Down

Hi, I'm

Carissa Holsted

I work with visionary leaders and entrepreneurs in educational and social impact settings. I provide customized short and long-term support via a combination of strategy and tactical support, often during inflection points such as growth, change, scale, or transition. 

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Planning, building, and amplifying the work of community change makers

  • Do you need additional capacity to manage a project or operationalize and execute new programs, strategies, and initiatives?
  • Does your team need an extra hand during a period of surge activity or change? 
  • Have you ever wished for a confidential thought-partner to think through strategic issues and leadership challenges?
  • Are there challenges you could solve if you had more efficient systems and processes?
  • Would you like Director or C-level support but can’t commit to an internal or long-term hire?

What could you accomplish if you could close the gap between strategy and results?

As your fractional chief of staff or special projects consultant, I'm here to bridge the gap between strategy and execution. My unique strengths, broad experience, and extensive network of experts from diverse specialties and industry backgrounds enable me to transform your vision into reality.

I'm deeply passionate about supporting visionary, mission-driven leaders and entrepreneurs. With impact across a myriad of sectors, including education social impact, nonprofit, and workforce development, I offer strategic capacity and tailored support for short and long-term initiatives and projects. My approach blends high-level strategic thinking with hands-on tactical support to address your organization's most pressing challenges.

Whether you are navigating organizational growth, experiencing rapid scaling, or going through significant changes, I am here for you, as an advisor and a behind-the-scenes capacity-builder, allowing you to focus on what truly matters to you, your organization, and its stakeholders.

Learn more about me on LinkedIn

How I Can Help Your Organization

Enhance
Your Organization's Sustainability:

Fully Capitalize on Your Organization's Potential

• Performance Monitoring
• Operations Management
• Process Design & Improvement
• Policy/Procedure Review & Development
• Landscape/Competitive Analysis
• Strategic Planning
• Organizational & Programmatic Assessments
• Data Analysis & Reporting

Bridge
the Strategy/Execution Gap:

Add Capacity to Support a New Project or Bring a Big Idea to Life

• Project Management
• Fractional Chief of Staff or COO Support
• Strategic Planning
• Action Planning
• Federal/Philanthropic Grant Writing and Management
• Special Project/Initiative Support
• Growth & Staffing Plans
• Customized Program Development

Supercharge
Your Effectiveness:

Customized Solutions for Busy Leaders

• Executive Office Support
• Strategic Advising
• Governance/Board Advising & Support
• Special Project/Initiative Support
• Talent Sourcing/Selection Support
• Charter School Renewal Support
• Strategic Communications/Change Management
• Compensation Equity Review

Select Clients

What Others Are Saying About My Impact

Higher Education Client

Carissa was able to help my team develop a project plan and timeline that allowed us to celebrate our accomplishments as we met goals and to see a path ahead to tackle even the challenging things one step at a time. She helped us navigate what seemed like an insurmountable mountain, all while keeping a positive approach to the work.

Social Impact Client

As a female CEO running a successful and busy consulting practice, I had no idea how much I needed someone who matched my level of experience and knowledge to help me more clearly see solutions to help me free up my time. Carissa deftly and quickly created value by helping me review my time allocation and the resources I had to fulfill my mission. Before Carissa, I easily spent 50% of my time and budget on wasted meetings and/or resources. After Carissa, I have my life back.

Large Nonprofit Client

We were disorganized and in over our heads, and Carissa was key to our project's successful and timely completion.

Charter School Client

Working with Carissa has been a joy! She has added capacity to our organization during a difficult time of transition with customized support and services. She is detail-oriented and thoughtful in her approach to all projects and conversations with stakeholders.

READY TO BRING YOUR VISION TO LIFE?

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