About Heather Berthoud

With nearly 25 years in organization effectiveness, Heather Berthoud is a thoughtful and trusted partner to organizational and community leaders. She combines a passion for social justice with a focused practical results-orientation that improves leaders' and organizations' ability to accomplish their social change goals, learn, and enjoy. Clients and colleagues describe her as insightful, fun, straightforward, challenging and supportive.

Heather's commitment to her clients' success means that she co-creates lasting change for leaders and organizations. To work with her is to think anew about challenges and to create solutions that endure. Because she listens intently and brings coherence to seemingly unrelated matters leaders articulate their full aspirations. As a result, clients become clearer about their current situation and goals. She provides exceptional value by identifying the essence of issues and then providing models and perspectives that clients can apply themselves. She brings lightness and depth to often challenging situations.

Her clients include Advocates for Youth, American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Center for Community Change, the Interfaith Alliance, Miriam's House, NARAL Prochoice America, and Office on Women's Health Department of Health and Human Services.

In addition to her consulting practice, she is faculty for the American University/NTL Institute Masters in Organization Development and the Marygrove College Masters in Social Justice.

Prior to her consulting practice, she was responsible for organization development and curriculum design and delivery for the nationwide network of National Abortion Rights Action League (now NARAL Prochoice America). She also directed a grassroots mobilization program for Citizen Action. More recently, she has led several development programs including Leading Nonprofit Organizations for the Gestalt International Study Center, the Practitioners Program with the Center for Human Systems, and numerous workshops on planning, diversity, and leadership with the Center for Nonprofit Advancement and Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations.

She has authored several publications including diversity, planning, training and consulting. She is a member of the NTL Institute and the Organization Development Network, and has been a member of the selection committee for the Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management.

Heather is a life-long learner whose education includes

  • Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania,
  • Master of Science in Organization Development from American University/NTL Institute,
  • Certification to administer the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI),
  • Gestalt International Study Center Next Generation program,
  • Nearly 20 years as a student and instructor in martial arts and 7 years studying yoga.
  • Lessons learned while hiking and biking.

Client Testimonial

  • The Interfaith Alliance

    Heather is the first person I think of when I am asked to recommend an expert in the areas of strategic planning, organizational development, and leadership coaching.  She helped the Interfaith Alliance navigate a critical time of transition.  In guiding us through a strategic planning process, she helped the organization to become more focused and effective in mobilizing grassroots activists and raising public awareness around the tricky topic of religious freedom.  By facilitating several staff retreats, she assisted us in clarifying roles and lines of authority, and made a great contribution toward improving our interpersonal communications and office culture.  As I have pursued my own studies in organizational behavior and group facilitation, I have frequently turned to her as a mentor and role model.

    Suzie Armstrong
    Senior Director of Development, Save Darfur Coalition
    Formerly Vice President, The Interfaith Alliance