"When we bring in speakers, we’re trying to give students the chance to have ‘aha’ moments for themselves. At the core, it’s about making sure their values drive what they do next — and Crystal delivered that with such insight.

From the beginning, we were very selective about who we brought in because we wanted alignment and a dynamic experience. Crystal was the perfect fit because she understands the power of community, and she brings that into how she teaches you to be a better leader.

She is super respectful and creates a safe space where walls just melt away. I saw students journaling and reflecting deeply in her sessions, even when they weren’t engaging out loud. And then, by the end, the questions would start pouring out because they were so locked in.

Crystal is about the person, down to the core. She’s authentic and genuine, able to peel back layers in such a positive and delicate way."

- Keisha Knight Hughes, founder, Grace and Wisdom Institute

"One of the big reasons I brought Crystal in was her approach to examining bias. We work with individuals with physical disabilities, and if we don’t understand our own biases, we can’t understand how we’re showing up for them. Crystal had such a clear, thoughtful way of presenting this that it really resonated.

I liked her personality right away. She’s calm and open, and when she explains things, people really feel it. She doesn’t talk at you, she talks with you. That makes it easy for people to engage, and I noticed afterward that staff would repeat little things she said. That’s when you know they took something with them.

For me, that’s the kind of facilitator I look for — someone who can connect with staff in a way that stays with them long after the session ends."

-Kari Miller-Ortiz, Director of People and Culture, Move United

“I first met Crystal when she facilitated a session on brave leadership, and it was one of the best workshops I'd ever attended. She had a seamless way of weaving in nervous system regulation with social justice education that left me feeling grounded, and curious for more.

At a time when DEI and leadership language can feel like jargon, Crystal left me thinking, wow — this is someone who genuinely lives their values.

I eventually hired Crystal as a co-facilitator, providing sessions like allyship in the modern world for Planned Parenthood. Her facilitation style is rooted in validating people's experiences while offering perspectives that expand their worldview.

Crystal holds an incredible amount of space and emotional capacity. She has a rare ability to meet people where they are without shaming them for not knowing differently. That kind of compassionate, grounded leadership is one of many qualities that makes her extraordinary.”

-Rex Wilde, LGBTQ+ speaker, educator, and business consultant