Bio
Dr. Ensign has devoted her career to researching, teaching, and practicing leadership, wellbeing, and change. She has taught in higher ed since 2010, currently teaches part-time in the PhD in Global Leadership program at Indiana Institute of Technology and presents regularly at academic conferences. She also serves on the board of directors of nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and advises doctoral students across universities.
Industry Experience. A large part of her career included eight years as a Fortune 100 executive and 25 years of hands-on business and entrepreneurial experience as an investor and/or operator in over a dozen start up and growth stage companies around the world. Three of these companies were acquired by multinational corporations.
Published Research. Dr. Ensign's research is inspired by years of deep engagements with leaders and their teams—and with her own followers. Her doctoral research introduced a new framework to better understand transformative change and she has expanded on these ideas over the years by conducting studies and authoring publications. She serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Transformative Education and Co-chairs the Mezirow Award for the International Transformative Learning Conference.
"Transformational change is a special type of change that happens when we question and update our mental models to make them more inclusive, discriminating, open and reflective allowing us to shift our perspectives and literally create a new reality for ourselves."
~ Dr. Ensign
Wellness & Longevity. While working with boards, C-suite leaders, and managers, she noticed that organizations are only as healthy as the people in them and this realization more formally brought her professional interests in leadership, transformative learning and change together with her expertise in nutrition, yoga, and wellbeing.
Dr. Ensign lives in a small mountain town on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. She owns and operates a boutique hotel with her adult children that offers a wellness destination for outdoor adventures, healthy food, restorative lodging and local community experiences. She loves to hike, paddle board, write articles & books, and tend to her organic urban farm.
"There are over 50 models for change. Transformative change is unlike other types of change that may revert to earlier forms—such changing a habit.
Transformative change is lasting, pervasive, and irreversible.
It's when a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly.
To revert to an earlier form would require another transformation."
~ Dr. Ensign
Credentials. Dr. Ensign holds undergraduate degrees in Finance and International Business, a master’s degree in Organizational Management, and a PhD in Global Leadership and Change.
She approaches her work with an evidence-based, whole-person lens and is board certified in Health and Wellness. Additionally, she is a certified Personal & Executive Coach and a certified Positive Psychology & Wellbeing Coach.
She has practiced and taught Yoga as a registered Yoga teacher, and has studied nutrition, breathwork, and mindfulness for 25 years. She brings this knowledge and a vast toolbox to her teaching and leadership roles.
