Professional Endorsements
“I had the privilege of working under Cyndy Stead’s leadership during our time on the 50–30 Challenge Initiative with the Women’s Economic Council. Cyndy provided clear strategic direction while fostering an environment of trust, inclusion, and innovation, and not only guided our work with precision and vision but also inspired our team to push boundaries in promoting equity and diversity in leadership across Canada.
Her ability to navigate complex partnerships, bringing together non-profits, private sector partners, and community organizations, ensured that our work was impactful and sustainable. Cyndy’s dedication to systemic change, combined with her exceptional strategic insight, made a lasting difference in advancing the goals of the 50–30 Challenge.
Working with her was both a professional and personal highlight. Cyndy leads with integrity, purpose, and a genuine commitment to creating lasting, equitable economic opportunities.”
Litzy Baeza | Gender, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (GEDI)
Education & Consulting Specialist
“Collaborating with Cyndy Stead on strategic national initiatives within the Canadian Geoparks Network has been both productive and inspiring. Her ability to foster meaningful partnerships and drive forward-thinking projects has significantly strengthened the network and advanced its impact.”
— Manda Maggs | Canadian Geoparks Network (CGN)
“As a seasoned professional in the non-profit sector, Cyndy stands out for her ability to coordinate multifaceted projects across multiple regions while maintaining a strong focus on quality and timeliness. Notably, she successfully collaborated with over 40 external partners across Canada, demonstrating excellent resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder communication skills, which are key components in any project's success.”
— Marie Bassey, President | Women's Economic Council
“I had the pleasure of working with Cyndy in her role as National Project Manager for the 50–30 Challenge project. During this multi-year initiative, Cyndy demonstrated three things: what it means to work in partnership and collaboration with a diversity of communities/stakeholders, what it means to actively listen and invite in a range of perspectives and experiences, and, most importantly, how to learn and adjust programming based on the needs and insights from beneficiaries and partners.
Cyndy's approach to project management and specifically her ability to recognize the value of everyone's contribution and roles, enabled greater engagement and depth of learning throughout the initiative. If you are looking for support in the areas of organizational change, community engagement, or facilitation and/or project management, I highly recommend Cyndy."
— Chanel Grenaway
Chanel Grenaway and Associates Inc.
“Cyndy ensured our portion of the 50-30 Challenge project was mission-aligned and on track, and we remain grateful for her steadfast leadership that integrated strong relationships and a collaborative approach to a highly complex project.
She is highly skilled at managing budgets and resources so that they are distributed appropriately - this took place with project partners across the country, and Cyndy was thorough in holding all those threads with consistency and care.
She is particularly skilled in making the connections between complementary ideas so that the impact can be amplified. Because of this, although each partner was working on projects relevant to their regional contexts, there is a national network of mutual support that continues today. For example, one of the project partners recently served as a reference for a grant application that Sunflower Co-op submitted. Similarly, Sunflower Co-op has shared our network connections with another project partner for a successful grant application.”
— L. Michelle Tuitsumi
Co-founder | Sunflower Facilitation and Co-op
I had the pleasure of working with Cyndy on various occasions over the years, but the one that brings the greatest memories and has had lasting success is the Cultural Craft Initiative. Her project management and oversight have led to long-lasting benefits for not only the Trinity Historical Society but also other partners organizations and private business operators in the region.
Cyndy’s creativity and sustainability-focused approach bring a fresh perspective and lasting value to every project she leads. Her ability to balance big-picture goals with clear, task-oriented objectives makes them achievable. She consistently delivers results that are both effective and timely, and it’s why I would recommend her to lead any project looking to address challenges and help create sustainable solutions.”
— Jim Miller, Executive Director
Trinity Historical Society
“Our organization had the pleasure of partnering on a national three-year initiative working with Cyndy Stead as National Project Manager, founder of CSTEAD Advisory.
What sets Cyndy apart is her client-centered approach to stakeholder engagement, which was consistently responsive and deeply collaborative in her consultation style and was remarkably flexible and adaptable to our evolving needs. Throughout the engagement, she maintained the highest level of professionalism while making us feel like true partners in the process.
The result? Our staff and clients are now empowered to step into leadership roles on boards and in management positions, and we are building a strong organizational foundation needed for sustainable long-term growth.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Cyndy to any organization serious about transforming its strategic capabilities.”
— Valerie Carruthers
Co-founder & Director | Collective Interchange
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