My Story

As a change and project management specialist, my journey didn’t begin in a classroom or corporate boardroom.  It began in the real world, where I learned that meaningful work happens when you balance multiple stakeholder needs while building something that lasts.

For over two decades, I’ve worked across diverse sectors, advancing innovative ideas through every stage of the project life cycle - from initiation and planning to education, monitoring, and closure.

Each project revealed the delicate balance between competing interests and shared goals. Again and again, I met organizations with exceptional potential - visionary products, innovative ideas, passionate teams - yet many struggled to turn these strengths into sustainable growth.

From my lived experience, I understand that change and project management aren’t just about plans and processes.

Today, when I work with organizations navigating transformation, I bring this hard-earned understanding that lasting change requires both strategic clarity and stakeholder authenticity. Whether it's succession planning so your next leader won’t be starting from scratch, or helping your team so they can facilitate and build capacity in others long after I’m gone - my focus remains the same: building bridges between where you are and where you need to be - while ensuring no one gets left behind in the process.

Because the most successful transformations aren't just about reaching the destination - they're about creating stronger, more resilient organizations and communities along the way.

This philosophy shapes my approach today.

Our Approach

Every organization’s journey is different - and so is our approach. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all framework, I partner with organizations wherever they are on their transformational path, providing the right balance of strategy, structure, and support to help change take hold and last.

Unlike traditional consulting firms that focus narrowly on either strategic design or operational delivery, I work alongside you as a trusted partner - one who helps connect long-term vision with day-to-day execution. My role is to help your organization move from ideas to implementation with clarity, alignment, and confidence.

Through experience, I’ve seen that the greatest challenges rarely come from a lack of commitment or capability, but from the complexity of coordinating priorities, people, and progress. I help teams cut through that complexity, creating the space and systems needed to move forward effectively.

For each engagement, I draw from a trusted professional network to bring together the right expertise for your specific goals - ensuring your organization has a tailored team equipped to deliver meaningful, measurable results.

This work goes beyond advisory services. It’s about building internal capacity so that when the next wave of change arrives - and it always does - your leaders and teams have the tools, confidence, and resilience to navigate it successfully.

My Credentials

Education & Certifications:

  • Human Resources & Labour Relations (with Distinction) – Athabasca University

  • Economic Development Diploma – University of Waterloo

  • Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) – University of Toronto

Recent Experience:

  • National Project Manager – Women's Economic Council of Canada (2022-2025)

  • Director of Economic Development – Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay (2019-2020)

  • Project Manager – Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark (2020-2022)

  • Cultural Craft Planner - Trinity Historical Society (2014-2018)

  • Current Board Director – Economic Development Association of NL (EDANL)

  • Succession planning that captures what matters.

  • Capacity Building that multiplies.

  • Stakeholder Engagement that builds trust.

  • Systems and Processes that actually work.

Areas of Practice:

Professional Endorsements

  • "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

  • “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)

  • "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.

Let’s Connect!

Ready to explore how authentic change leadership can help you build resilience?