Alumni Stories

Noelle Pourrat’s journey from international affairs and conflict resolution to collaborative leadership through facilitation. Raised in a multicultural community and trained at Sciences Po & Columbia, Noelle honed bridge-building at Carnegie Corporation before discovering facilitation’s power. A 2020 misstep sparked a focus on presence over tools; Voltage Control’s certification, Practice Playgrounds, and community unlocked breakthroughs like the Diamond of Participation. She’s since led high-impact retreats, rolled out Crucial Conversations, and launched Facilitation Lab NYC—applying facilitation to strengthen teams, civic dialogue, and culture.

From stage to seminar, Christy Rotman shares how a career in professional dance evolved into purposeful facilitation and academic coaching at UVA. Mentoring interns, graduate study in counseling, and years supporting first-year students led her to Voltage Control’s Facilitation Certification, where a diverse cohort and tools grounded in purpose (inspired by Priya Parker) transformed her practice. Today she designs engaging workshops on growth mindset and the science of learning, leads accountability groups, and coaches one-on-one—confidently calling herself a facilitator who builds community, clarity, and student success.

Alum Nina Mancina traces a facilitation journey from “guerrilla dialogue” in LA free clinics to equity-centered Liberatory Design in schools. Drawing on grant writing, cross-cultural listening, and community storytelling, she builds trust with parents, educators, and youth—then turns insights into strategic, inclusive agendas. After joining Voltage Control’s Facilitation Lab and Certification, Nina sharpened her practice with Magical Meetings, SessionLab, and futures thinking. Today she guides districts through equity design, alternative education, and student-centered workshops—proving real change starts with listening, structure, and courageous care.

Alum Kristi James shares how her lifelong love of bringing people together evolved into a career in catalytic facilitation, now shaping global impact at the World Health Organization. From early days leading school events to marketing innovation at DHL and immersive brand experiences, Kristi discovered the power of storytelling and intentional design to spark engagement. Her journey deepened through Voltage Control’s Facilitation Certification, where she mastered Liberating Structures like 1-2-4-All and applied them to transform WHO workshops. Today, Kristi uses facilitation to move teams from passive meetings to active collaboration, proving that a well-placed “why” can turn any gathering into meaningful change.

From leading student adventures to facilitating global workshops, Chris Federer’s journey shows how facilitation is often discovered through exploration, not a straight path. In this alumni story, Chris shares how design thinking, community, and practice shaped his evolution into a professional facilitator. Discover insights on leadership, collaboration, and the winding road to a career in facilitation.

In "Holding Space, Finding Self," Voltage Control alum Tahira Bharmal shares her journey through facilitation, culture, and connection. From her early corporate days in the UAE to discovering the transformative power of holding space, Tahira reflects on mentorship, cross-cultural lessons, and how facilitation has shaped her life and work. A story of growth, purpose, and the magic of creating space for meaningful conversations.

Discover how Marco Monterzino went from luxury product designer to rural facilitator, using design thinking and facilitation to drive organizational resilience and change. From ST Dupont to Innovate UK and now Voltage Control, Marco’s journey explores purpose, collaboration, and the power of facilitation to unlock innovation across sectors.

Discover how facilitator Erin Warner reclaimed her voice and transformed her leadership trainings by embracing participatory methods and authentic space-making. From Italy to Austin, explore how facilitation helped her build deeper connections, lead with purpose, and spark transformation in every room.

Grace Losada shares her journey from leading high school retreats in Hawaii to scaling emotionally resonant experiences at Change Enthusiasm Global. Through Voltage Control’s Facilitation Certification, she discovered a framework for the work she’d been doing all along—rooted in connection, trust, and transformation. Her story is a powerful reflection on how facilitation can evolve from instinct to craft, and from small group impact to change at scale.

Varsha Prasad went from network engineer to global facilitator by discovering the power of design thinking and human-centered collaboration. In this inspiring journey, she shares how the Voltage Control Facilitation Certification helped her find clarity, confidence, and a supportive community. Her story is a testament to how facilitation can spark transformation—both professionally and personally.