Steven Byers

Based in the Pacific Northwest, Steve Byers is an interdependent consultant and trusted advisor who works with leaders, leadership teams, organizations and other communities seeking to establish or renew their essential conversation. He focuses on helping human systems think, learn, and work together - better.

Steve is a graduate of the Organization Systems Renewal (OSR) program at Seattle University, where he learned to design and lead significant change through collaborative relationships. Much of his recent work has involved designing and hosting meaningful conversations in culturally diverse communities on such topics as employment for people with disabilities, access to health care in rural communities, strengthening families to prevent child abuse and neglect, and social determinants of health in immigrant communities. He has experience designing and hosting dual language (Spanish/English) World Café conversations. In Olympia he hosts the monthly First Wednesday Conversation at a local fair trade café.

Steve teaches a “systems thinking for leaders” course in the Masters in Leadership graduate program at St. Mary’s College of California. He regularly offers an evolving systems thinking workshop called New Habits of Mind for New Solutions. He is a volunteer instructor for Leadership Eastside, a non-profit organization dedicated to training leaders in the public sector. Steve’s courses and workshops are highly interactive and designed so that participants learn from each other as well as from the instructor.

Prior to developing his practice as an organization consultant, Steve worked in the private sector as a quality manager and based his practice on W. Edwards Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge.

Steve is a life-long learner. Recent learning experiences include the “Powers of Leadership” year-long seasonal retreat at the Whidbey Institute at Chinook, “The Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter” (Berkana), “Sensing and Shaping Emergent Change” (OSR), the Center for Ethical Leadership’s “Gracious Space” workshop, the Authentic Leadership in Action (ALIA) 2012 Summer Institute, and David Whyte’s “Conversational Leadership”.

Steve’s clients include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Microsoft, Mozilla, the Washington State Family Policy Council, the National Alliance of Children’s Trust & Prevention Funds, Red Wind Casino, the Washington Healthcare Access Alliance, Global 2 Local, City of O