Katrina L. Pierson
Community Animator

Mindfulness-based teacher, creative facilitator, and artist. I help people deepen relationships with self, community, and the living world by activating attention, empathy, and collective imagination to spark community action.


WORK EXPERIENCE

Community Mindfulness Teacher
Mindfulness Works | 2013 - present

Design and lead community meditation programs and retreats that cultivate presence, grounding, and emotional resilience.

• Facilitate mindfulness practices in group settings to support relational awareness, empathy, and non-violent communication.

• Integrate nature-based and contemplative methods to enhance attention, wellbeing, and embodied learning.

• 1:1 coach embodied leadership and mindful stress management.

Yoga Instructor
Full Circle Yoga & Evolve Yoga | Dec 2020-Present

• Facilitate yoga practices that emphasize nervous system regulation, mindful movement, and somatic safety.

• Guide students in integrating breath, attention, and embodied awareness to support emotional and physical wellbeing.

Founder, Partner & Regenerative Leadership Consultant
Pierson Henry Strategy & Search | February 2025-Present

• Advise nonprofit leaders to strengthen clarity, communication, and adaptive leadership.

• Train nonprofit board members on executive health and transition.

• Facilitate board and community visioning processes.

• Lead stakeholder engagement processes to build alignment and trust.

• Support leadership transitions with search strategy and onboarding.

• Assess organizational culture and alignment for nonprofit organizations.

Partner
Growth By Design & HBH Consultants | January 2011-February 2025

• Provided leadership coaching and development for nonprofit and foundation executives.

• Designed and facilitated strategic planning and community engagement processes.

• Created and co-designed curriculum for Fundraising for a New Era Professional Certificate Program.

• Co-created and expanded the She Leads conference for rural women leaders.

• Developed narrative, video, and photography storytelling projects to support donor and community engagement.

• Designed and facilitated participatory storytelling projects such as the Field Notes Photo Story for the Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge to expand community awareness and stewardship.

• Conducted asset-based impact evaluation studies for organizations like The Nature Conservancy’s Worldwide Office.Also created the case-for-support story for The Nature Conservancy Worldwide’s volunteer program, providing recommendations for designing a sustainable volunteer-driven program model based on best-practice case studies.

• Created fundraising strategies and sustainability plans for mission-driven organizations.

• Designed and managed 20+ capital campaigns in rural communities, providing interpersonal communications training, coaching & strategic counsel to nonprofit executives and boards and coached leaders and boards through campaign readiness and execution.

TEACHING & LEARNING DESIGN

Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota
Hubert Project Fellow, Curriculum Design

University of Wisconsin, Superior Center for Continuing Education
Trainer & Content Developer

Winona State University, “Fundraising for a New Era” Professional Certificate Program
Creator, Trainer & Curriculum/Program Design

Initiative Foundation, Social Enterprise Program for Nonprofit Sustainability in Rural Contexts
Trainer & Content Developer

Growth By Design
E-Learning Trainer & Content Developer

Lightened Leaders Mindful Nonprofit Executive Circle
Trainer, Meditation Guide and Program Design

West Central Initiative, Board Leadership Academy for Rural Nonprofits
Trainer & Content Developer