Victoria Wigodzky

I am a bilingual, binational, and bicultural organizational strengthening consultant with more than 25 years of experience working with dozens of social justice non-governmental organizations in Latin America and the United States (as senior management, program staff, and grant maker), focusing on program and institutional strengthening, with thematic expertise in human rights, democracy, and citizen security.

I focus on organizational transformation (culture, relationships, structures, and operations); organizational assessments; board development; leadership transitions; team management and leadership development; assertive communications and decision-making; strategic planning; and systems change. I support primarily Latin American groups, as well as US-based organizations that work with regional actors and/or on issues of regional relevance.

I design and facilitate generative, flexible, and sustainable accompaniment processes that lead to organizational transformation within a culture of individual and collective care. Among other things, my partners and I seek to question and interrupt cultures and dynamics of perfectionism, constant urgency, and “more is better.” Our approach is based on building trusting relationships through which we can deeply understand and be sensitive to each group’s culture, dynamics, and particular challenges. We aim to be low profile and use processes that keep it simple and are respectful, participatory, inclusive, and non-prescriptive. We incorporate tools and practices that unleash creativity, free expression, collective thinking, and deep listening. Our approach addresses the 3 central components of lasting organizational transformation: hearts & minds, structures, and behaviors. I integrate coaching concepts and approaches into conversations with leadership and staff, as needed and appropriate.

A bit about my background may explain why I do what I do and the underlying theme of “movement” and “bridging” in my work. I am a Latina immigrant to the United States, granddaughter of Holocaust survivors who emigrated from Poland to Chile and Argentina. In the early 90s, I emigrated from Buenos Aires to Georgia. I am a human rights scholar and activist, policy wonk, reader and perennial student, former (though still aspiring!) performing artist, mother of 2 kids. I appreciate having different cross-cutting national, cultural, ethnic, and religious identities (and a smorgasbord of professional experiences and interests) that have allowed me to question what “belonging” really means in different contexts.

Additional Reading: Entre-lazos Resources