Meet The Facilitators
Phyllis D. Braxton, LGSW, MSW, MEd (she/her/hers)
Phyllis D. Braxton, LGSW, MSW, MEd (she/her/hers)
Phyllis D. Braxton, LGSW, MSW, MEd (she/her/hers)
Mother, wife, artist, bestselling author [Be Right Or Be Effective: A 30-Day Journal to Master Life’s Messes and Unexpected Challenges (available on Amazon) and Good Intentions, Bad Results: A Practical Guide to Build Intercultural Confidence and Healthier Relationships at Work, Home, and School – October, 2023], artist, interculturalist
Mother, wife, artist, bestselling author [Be Right Or Be Effective: A 30-Day Journal to Master Life’s Messes and Unexpected Challenges (available on Amazon) and Good Intentions, Bad Results: A Practical Guide to Build Intercultural Confidence and Healthier Relationships at Work, Home, and School – October, 2023], artist, interculturalist, and a World-renown Miraval Thought Leader bridging theory and practice in the DEI and self-care space.
Phyllis has over 25 years of international touchpoints with tens of thousands of people with experience in trauma-informed diversity, equity and inclusion training and facilitation, leadership coaching, conflict communication, intercultural competence, organizational development, and clinical therapy.
Phyllis received her BA from Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Ga., a Master of Adult Education from the University of MN, and a Master of Clinical Social Work from St. Catherine’s University. As a lifelong learner, Phyllis is a doctoral student studying Leadership for Change, specializing in Leadership Coaching.
A certified administer and member of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Training Faculty, Intercultural Conflict Styles (ICS), Cultural Detective, Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI), and The Leadership Circle Profile (a 360-degree feedback leadership tool).
As PINK Consulting, LLC's CEO and founder for nearly 2 decades, Braxton has conducted assessments and provided intercultural organizational development services for over 100 organizations, including Princeton University, Stanford, and the University of Minnesota.
She was an adjunct professor who studied diversity and experienced cultural trends from Iceland to Dubai and the deep south to the West Coast. She helps others leverage their identities and experiences to foster healthy relationships for more inclusive workplace outcomes and homelife satisfaction.
A former therapist, self-described “edutainer,” and “intellectual activist,” she believes in meeting people where they are without blame, shame, or judgment. Phyllis is passionate that a sense of humility balanced with confidence and a deep reverence for human complexity is vital.
Through laughter and human connection, Phyllis encourages people to examine their life experiences and practice essential life lessons with humor and grace. Phyllis brings shine and leaves light wherever she goes.
Learn more about Phyllis as an author at PhyllisBraxtonBooks.com
Omkar Sawardekar, MSW, LICSW (he/him/his)
Phyllis D. Braxton, LGSW, MSW, MEd (she/her/hers)
Phyllis D. Braxton, LGSW, MSW, MEd (she/her/hers)
Omkar Sawardekar, MSW, LICSW provides training, consulting, and coaching services in the mental health and intercultural field. Omkar is an experienced therapist with expertise in skillfully engaging trauma and crises at the individual, team, and organizational levels. As a therapist and mental health worker, Omkar thrives in working with
Omkar Sawardekar, MSW, LICSW provides training, consulting, and coaching services in the mental health and intercultural field. Omkar is an experienced therapist with expertise in skillfully engaging trauma and crises at the individual, team, and organizational levels. As a therapist and mental health worker, Omkar thrives in working with crises and is adept at engaging group approaches to foster transformative experiences.
As an immigrant who made his way to the United States via England, Saudi Arabia, and India, Omkar deeply honors the beauty, complexity, and heartbreak of our shared and divergent human experiences. As an interculturalist who sees the impact of culture in every context, Omkar is skilled at practicing therapy, training, consulting, and coaching to address our most profound challenges. Omkar has experience in the mental health field, working with many of the most marginalized and vulnerable communities, including children, LGBTQ individuals, and those with severe and persistent mental illness.
A priority for Mr. Sawardekar is supporting organizations that don’t have a formal mental health lens but navigate highly complex mental health challenges and traumatic situations. Omkar is based in St. Paul, MN, and has professional experience in skillfully navigating the impact of crises on organizations, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workforce, the murder of George Floyd, and civil unrest.
Omkar has a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is a licensed therapist, social work supervisor, and certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and Intercultural Conflict Styles (ICS).
Learn more about Omkar at omkarsawardekar.com