Bio

Connecting Wisdom with Knowledge - A Hope and Resilience Alchemist Tanya Cruz Teller is a passionate, creative leader of systemic change processes founded on principles of personal transformation, collaborative partnerships, and appreciative inquiry. As an Organisation Development practitioner her work is committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive world through building great organisations. She has 20+ years of experience in international, organizational, and community development. She champions strengths-based design in strategic planning, leadership development, & stakeholder engagement. Her learning mindset and proven skillset centers local knowledge, maximizing impact and inclusion across diverse and often divergent stakeholders. Her career in the international OD and diversity arena includes her role as an expert panelist of the Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Benchmarks. Equally sought after are her speaking skills: She has co-keynoted at the World Appreciative Inquiry Conference in France and presented multiple years at the Forum on Workplace Inclusion and at the Association of Talent Development conference. She also enjoys designing, facilitating & moderating conferences such as the 2021 Forum on Workplace Inclusion, 2019 Voices of Change Millennial Panel, the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Futures Project conference in 2018 as MC and lead co-designer in Princeton and the 2017 International OD Association opening plenary interactive visioning session. With the current Covid19 pandemic, Tanya has harnessed her many years of combining participatory convening, coaching and culture work with technology to engage and build inclusive processes for clients/stakeholders online. Moving in-person conferences and workshops to virtual platforms has proven her innovation skills invaluable & cost effective. Tanya is familiar with leading organisations from within as well as operating in multiple sectors. In her previous role as SA Country Director for the Synergos Institute, her mandate was to bring together government, business & civil society in partnerships that create a more equitable society in SA and the region. She was also formerly with the SA government, directing a leading-edge center of excellence in youth development practice for adults & policy makers to create an enabling environment and realise the youth dividend in the country and continent. Tanya specialises in blended, synchronous and asynchronous online engagement that maximises inclusion, innovation and inspired action.