Suzanne M. Zaldivar

Suzanne co-founded Inspired-Inc. (2001), an international organization development consulting & executive coaching firm dedicated to helping leaders and organizations manage change and create effective and sustainable futures. Drawing on her 25 years of experience, she is a trusted resource for clients seeking to understand and better manage individual, organizational and cultural complexities. Working with those who want to own the power and impact of their leadership, she has coached hundreds of executives & managers and consulted to dozens of organizations in Asia, Africa and the Americas. Clients include Fortune 50 multinationals, NGOs, supranationals, as well as small companies and governments. Suzanne teaches at two universities and holds a masters degree in organization development.

Clients, including CEOs and other C-level executives, elected leaders and mid-level managers, constantly appreciate her ability to create a space where they can be safely challenged in order to productively explore issues and find practical solutions for themselves and their organizations. Known for her warmth and humor, Suzanne helps clients feel at ease and comfortable tackling even the toughest issues. Her efforts, combined with client commitment, have resulted in: increased capacity to proactively manage change in a sustainable way; measurably improved leadership capability; and systems more aligned and energized around vision and strategy.

In addition to her consulting and coaching work, Suzanne has been an adjunct professor at American University's AU/NTL master's program in Organization Development since 1997 and serves as adjunct faculty in the Department of Business at Trinity University. She has also coached Maryland leaders, both elected and appointed, in the Rawlings Fellows Program within the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland.

Suzanne brings a rich background working within international organizations. She is certified in Multi-Track Diplomacy (international conflict facilitation) and has facilitated community and organizational dialogue in the US, and overseas. For example, she recently worked with the central and provincial governments in Afghanistan on several organization development projects funded by USAID & UNDP. She designed and delivered a culturally sensitive change management program in French to the World Health Organization in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Earlier in her career, she worked in leadership development at the World Bank. In addition to English, she also works in French and Spanish.

Her speaking credits include the Women Presidents' Organization, the World Future Society, and the Chesapeake Bay Organization Development Network. Suzanne has also guest lectured at New York University, and published several articles, notably "International Development through OD: My Experience in Afghanistan" in the OD Practitioner (for which she won the ODN Award for best article of 2008) and "Whose Drummer?" in Washington Woman Magazine. Her latest article "Change in Afghanistan: Contrasting Values and What is Essential about OD" has just been published in the OD Journal.

Suzanne received her BA in International Affairs from George Washington University and her MS in Organization Development from the AU/NTL OD program at American University — both in Washington, DC. In addition, she received her certification in Professional Coaching from the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara. She is also certified in a number of psychometric instruments. Suzanne loves hiking, dancing, books of all kinds, and believes that when life offers a fork in the road, you should take the path that will give you a really good story.

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Known for her warmth and humor, Suzanne helps clients feel at ease and comfortable tackling even the toughest issues.