Program design · Evaluation · Wellbeing · LEADERSHIP
Programs that hold people well.
I design and evaluate wellbeing and leadership programs, and write about listening, leadership, and care. My work brings together human-centered design, systems thinking, and the lived experience of the people a program is meant to serve.
- Educator & program designer
- EdD Candidate, Organizational Learning & Leadership, UNC Chapel Hill
- Wake Forest, North Carolina
Selected work
Recent projects
Evaluation
Young adult wellness program
Evaluation architecture for a young adult wellness program, including pre/post and module-level instruments.
Mixed methods · Program and module-level evaluation
Research & design
Caregiver wellbeing program
A dissertation in practice designing a wellbeing and resilience program for caregivers of children with sickle cell disease.
Qualitative, design-based research
Learning design
Graduate practicum
A practicum assignment that guides graduate students through building validated evaluation instruments for a live program.
Internship supervision · Applied evaluation training
Writing
Listening, on the page
Poems, reflections, and practice notes from the work.
Storytelling · Systems view
In the Presence of Another
A poem written from close observation of a conversation between two friends. It shows how I pay attention: to what is spoken and what is carried in expression, and to the roles of listener, sharer, and observer that shape every exchange.
How do these dynamics show up in your team and organization? How are they noticed, captured, and honored?
Space fills the air as she recounts tale after tale, First the challenges of children entering adulthood, Childhoods long departed with decisions laying ahead, Wrestling with her place now as a parent watching, encouraging, A daughter’s post college life taking shape, Decisions on career, a life to choose, religious involvement A nephew who too traveled the same path, A bit more certain though, with his faith affirmed, “He already had a strong faith…” She shares, with steadiness in her voice. A friend, a listener, a container Sits across, arms unfolded, leaning in… Into every story, every tale, every angst and every sigh, Across the wooden table she makes room to hear, listen, Breaking the flow of conversation with small nods, Affirming words, the occasional “that’s wonderful”, Granting the gift of silence and of words, A demeanor that invites sharing, presence, mere belonging. The social interaction becomes a dance, A marriage of giving and receiving, Exchanging nods, gazes, attentiveness for permission… Permission to open up, to pour out, A giving of secrecy, An invitation ushered in words, extended over a warm cup, Bringing another into the folds of private life, Into the sharing of tales held near and dear. An observer, quiet voyeur perhaps, there I sit, Close enough to see, hear and be moved by their stories, The ones spoken aloud and those conveyed in expressions, Having been both listener and sharer in the past, Recognizing the power that lies in each space, Positions that hold empathy, power and presence, Quietly observing, noting and hoping To capture the exchanges, the expressions, the meanings, To only tell that which spoke in words or breath or gaze.
Strategizing with a storyteller and systems thinker brings listening into focus. It helps you capture the human elements of your organization in ways that are meaningful and impactful. Read more of my writing
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Early Leadership Influences
I was perhaps eight or nine years old when my grandfather said, “She’s going places.” I was sitting at our table in Haiti, reading a borrowed book by…
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In the Presence of Another
Storytelling · Systems view What does looking at the full picture provide? In the Presence of Another was written from close observation of a conversation between two friends.…
About
Listener, storyteller, creative.
I believe people live amid their stories, and that reaching them requires that we learn what those are and the importance they hold to them. I’m an educator and program designer who also believes the best learning happens when people feel seen. I design wellbeing and leadership programs, build evaluation that reflects what truly matters to participants, and mentor emerging professionals as they find their own voice in this work.
I’m also a doctoral candidate in Organizational Learning and Leadership at UNC Chapel Hill. My research centers on caregivers of children with sickle cell disease, and it is close to my heart. Caregivers carry so much, and their own wellbeing is often the last thing anyone asks about. Through design-based inquiry, I’m listening to what caregivers say they need and shaping a wellbeing and resilience program together with them.
I’m a believer, a mother, a lover of words, a relational leader, a qualitative researcher, and a systems thinker. I believe the best programs are designed with people, not for them.
- Program design
- Transformational learning
- Wellbeing innovation
- Community health
How I work
Everything begins with listening.
A few steady commitments guide everything I do.
Deep listening
I start by listening to participants, staff, and partners, and let what I hear shape the questions we ask.
Systems view
Programs live inside organizations, schedules, and communities. I look at the whole system so the work holds up in practice.
Design thinking
We build small, test early, and refine together, so ideas are shaped by the people they serve.
Strength-based
I begin with what is already working: the skills, relationships, and wisdom people bring.
Shaped to context
No two people or places are alike. The work is shaped to its people, goals, and capacity.
Kind words
From colleagues and collaborators
“It was amazing to connect with you. Thank you for your time and wisdom. Based on our conversation, I combined the two problems I was experiencing together, and accounted for the group I am working to help, and have begun to connect the internal challenge with the external outcome and have begun to see a clearer theory of action.”
SH
“Fleurztael is an outstanding team member, who is ready to roll up her sleeves and bring her brilliance and can do attitude to all of the programs we are developing, innovation to expand well-being in our communities.”
SS
“Fleurztael has demonstrated outstanding professionalism, job performance and a deep embodiment of our culture commitments. She is a growing leader and team member of utmost value to our programs and our health system.”
SK
“Fleurztael’s calm and steady demeanor, along with her ability to work well with a variety of personalities, has contributed greatly to the team’s success.”
TK
Contact
Let’s connect.
My focus right now is my doctoral research. I’m always glad to connect with people who care about wellbeing, leadership, and listening well.