Meet the team, discover our stories

We’re a global team driven by artists, shaped by educators, and led by students. Before sharing your stories, discover ours.

Board members

  • Board of Directors MemberView Bio

    Lisa Consiglio

    Board of Directors Member

    Lisa Consiglio is CEO and Co-Founder of Narrative 4, a global which she launched in 2013 but began envisioning in 2004. For over thirty years, she has dedicated her career to developi powerful organizations that transform the lives of their clients and constituencies. She has applied her leadership skills – in management, fundraising, marketing, and business communications – to a wide web of organizations that is connected by a dedication to humanistic ideals. Deeply committed to a belief in the power of stories, Lisa’s professional experience spans the arts, education, civic engagement, technology, cancer research, public policy, and honoring WWII veterans.

  • Board of Directors MemberView Bio

    Dr. Lora de la Cruz

    Board of Directors Member

    Throughout her career, Dr. de la Cruz has worked with a great diversity of students and families across the socioeconomic spectrum. As the child of a Mexican immigrant, she has a lived experience tha proves the power of education to change one’s life; this is why she has made it her life’s work to ensure that children and families have access, opportunities and quality educational experiences. After spending 20 years in BVSD as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, she left the district for a few years to expand her leadership experiences as an area superintendent and superintendent. She is delighted to have returned home to BVSD as deputy superintendent. Dr. de la Cruz is driven by a belief that all students deserve access to high quality educational experiences, so they can manifest their potential and thrive, and that is our responsibility as educators to ensure that conditions are optimal for this to occur.

  • Treasurer of the BoardView Bio

    Yildiz Ferri

    Treasurer of the Board

    Yildiz Ferri, a Turkish-Canadian now living in New York, has extensive experience in finding innovative solutions to business problems and seeing them through to successful execution. A former strategy consultant for a broad range of clients in industries including media and entertainment, telecom, energy and pharmaceuticals, she has a strong interest in using skills in team-based environments on projects having a positive social impact. Yildiz worked with the Boston Consulting Group for twelve years and with the Council for Economic Education in New York for seven years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a law degree from Harvard Law School. She and her husband, Matthew, live in New York City and have been long-time supporters of Narrative 4.

  • Board of Directors MemberView Bio

    Colum McCann

    Board of Directors Member

    Colum McCann is President and Co-Founder of Narrative 4, which he began to help shape in 2004. He is the author of six novels and three collections of stories. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, has been the recipient of many international honours, including the National Book Award, the International Dublin Impac Prize, a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French government, election to the Irish arts academy, the 2010 Best Foreign Novel Award in China, and an Oscar nomination. In 2017 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts. His work has been published in over 40 languages. His most recent novel, Apeirogon was a New York Times bestseller, and winner of several international prizes.

  • Board of Directors MemberView Bio

    Christopher Oechsli

    Board of Directors Member

    Christopher G. Oechsli is President and CEO of The Atlantic Philanthropies. In keeping with Chuck Feeney’s philosophy of Giving While Living, he led Atlantic’s four program areas and Founding Chairman grantmaking to completion and concluded foundation operations and closure of its offices in 2020. He currently serves as Chair of the Atlantic Institute, which supports the work of the seven global Atlantic Fellows programs that were established as the foundation’s culminating work. He is a Trustee of the Rhodes Trust, the host of the Atlantic Institute in Oxford, England. Mr. Oechsli has over 40 years of experience in international business, law, philanthropy and policy development in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. He previously served as Counsel to U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, whom he advised on legislation and a range of domestic and international issues. Since 1990, Mr. Oechsli has served in various senior program roles at The Atlantic Philanthropies and as director, counsel, or chief executive of operating companies within the General Atlantic Group, an international investment subsidiary of the Atlantic Foundation. Earlier in his career, Mr. Oechsli worked with private law firms in Seattle, Shanghai, San Francisco, and Taipei. In 1985, he became the first resident visiting law professor from the United States in the People’s Republic of China, where he taught constitutional and commercial law at the East China Law School in Shanghai. He currently serves as a director of the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mr. Oechsli is a graduate of Occidental College in Los Angeles. Following studies in Chinese language at Georgetown University and graduate studies at Columbia University, he received an M.A. in Foreign Affairs and a J.D. from the University of Virginia.

  • President of the Board of DirectorsView Bio

    Marc Brackett, Ph.D.

    President of the Board of Directors

    Dr. Marc Brackett is the founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, professor in the Child Study Center at Yale, and author of the best-selling book, Permission to Feel , which has been translated into 25 languages. An award-winning researcher for 25 years, Marc has raised over $100 million in grant funding and published 175 scholarly articles on the role of emotional intelligence in learning, decision making, creativity, relationships, physical and mental health, and workplace performance. Marc is the lead developer of RULER, an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning (SEL) that has been adopted by over 5,000 schools across the globe, improving the lives of millions of children and adults. RULER infuses the principles and skills of emotional intelligence into school systems, enhancing how administrators lead, educators teach, students learn, and families parent. It has been proven to boost academic performance, decrease school problems like bullying, enrich classroom climates, reduce teacher stress and burnout, and enhance teacher instructional practices.

  • Secretary of the BoardView Bio

    Alanna Jane Sethi

    Secretary of the Board

    Alanna Sethi is a 21-year-old award-winning mental health consultant and certified yoga instructor
    from Hong Kong. As the Founder & CEO of HOPE, Alanna aims to develop self-sustaining wellness ecosystems in each community across the Asia-Pacific, through promoting menta health education, empathy, and leadership advocacy. She is also a mental health researcher pursuing her final year of studies of the BSc in Psychology (Hons) program at the University of Toronto, where she investigates accessible solutions for mental health. She has undergone additional training in mental health and accessibility and is currently a Circl Future Leader for their accredited Leader Coach program. Having previously worked as the Head of Wellness for online therapy platform start up, Open Heart by Arise Asia, she also has experience working in adult mental health such as developing the clinical matching questionnaire and consulting on accessible user experience for the platform. Most recently, she has received the prestigious Diana Award, which recognises outstanding young people from across the globe working to create and sustain positive social change in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. She is also a speaker for the upcoming Duke-NUS Global Mental Health in Asia 2025 Symposium. For her exceptional achievements, in 2024 she was also named a Top 10 Finalists for the Chegg.org $100,000 Global Student Prize, Global Citizen Youth Leaders Award, Laidlaw Leadership and Research Scholar, Scholar-in-Residence and Dean’s List Scholar. Other achievements include being named 2023 Platinum Youth Wellness Mentor of the Year and receiving the 2022 Women of Wellness: Changemaker Award among others. She has also been featured in Liv Magazine, JESSICA Magazine, South China Morning Post, Insauga, and live on CBC Radio, 680 News Radio and NewsTalk 1010.

Africa Team

  • Programs and Operations Intern, N4 AfricaView Bio

    Jadesola Adekoya

    Programs and Operations Intern, N4 Africa

    Jadesola Adekoya is an operations and program intern at Narrative 4 Africa. She recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. Her journey to Narrative 4 was driven by her passion for social change and community development, and the desire to make a meaningful impact. Throughout her academic journey, she explored the intersection of economics and social justice, understanding how economic policies shape communities and foster equitable development. Beyond her academic pursuits, she finds solace in reading and enjoy escaping into the pages of a good book. She also love organizing and participating in fundraising events to promote literacy and support education. These experiences have fueled her passion for social change and strengthened her commitment to making a positive difference. She is eager to contribute to N4’s mission of creating positive change around the world!

  • Program Manager, N4 Sakhuvelwano Community CenterView Bio

    Zukiswa Allah

    Program Manager, N4 Sakhuvelwano Community Center

    Zukiswa Allah is a daughter, mother, humanitarian, and part of the N4 Africa Team. She started her journey at Artworks for Youth as a mentor and a teacher, assisting in the community. During her time there, the Sister’s Keeper was founded. Zuki’s time there involved empowering and guiding young women in the fight against Gender Based Violence through different campaigns. Meanwhile, she is also a founder and principal at Royal Offerings, a daycare center in South Africa. Zuki has been involved with Narrative 4 for many years, and in 2020, she founded and now manages the organization’s first official Empathy-into-Action project, Trash to Treasure, based on an exchange of trash for groceries.

  • Regional Associate, RwandaView Bio

    Bruno Bugingo

    Regional Associate, Rwanda

    Bruno has been an associate at Narrative 4 in Rwanda since its inception in the country of Thousand Hills in 2022. Alongside his work with Narrative 4, he is involved with a social enterprise dedicated to protecting the future by conserving forests. His main role is advising the senior management on strategy, communication, and partnerships. Bruno has extensive experience in strategy and communication and has worked in various sectors, focusing on socially impactful and sustainable projects. He enjoys traveling, hanging out with friends, and engaging in open conversations.

  • Regional Associate, South Africa School Hubs View Bio

    Pamela Gijima

    Regional Associate, South Africa School Hubs

    As an Operations Manager at Kgololo Academy South Africa, Pamela has experience in organizational efficiency and team leadership. With a background in educational administration and a keen eye for detail, Pamela has successfully managed various aspects of school operations, from logistics and facilities management to budgeting and compliance. This role has honed Pamela’s skills in problem-solving and strategic planning, ensuring that the school environment is conducive to learning and growth. Driven by a passion for education and community building, Pamela was drawn to Narrative 4 by its mission to connect people through storytelling, recognizing it as a powerful tool to bridge gaps and foster understanding. In addition to professional interests, Pamela enjoys cooking and baking, shopping and spending quality time with her 2 boys Unathi and Lwandle.

  • Regional Associate, ZambiaView Bio

    Maud Kamwengo-Mkangaza

    Regional Associate, Zambia

    Maud ia a mother, wife, an artist, an educator, and a mentor. She is a teacher with over 15 years teaching experience in the Zambian education sector, from teaching in the classroom to being part of a pioneering team that created eLearning content in English and translated in local languages in Zambia. She has a passion for volunteer work in education, the arts and girl child empowerment projects. She also works with students with disabilities and OVC’s (orphaned and vulnerable children). After being introduced to N4 by Buchi Onyegbule, Head of Operations in N4 Africa, she said yes and was launched into the world of N4. The Story Exchanges still blow her away because of the connections that develop among participants that come in as strangers and leave as acquaintances or friends. She also enjoys the networks she has gained and new collaborations (like letter exchanges) with other educators around the world.

  • Associate, TanzaniaView Bio

    Herman Mosha

    Associate, Tanzania

    Meet Herman Mosha – Narrative 4’s Associate in Tanzania. He was introduced to Narrative 4 through his volunteer work with the National Debate Society here in Tanzania. Inspired by Narrative 4’s mission of equipping young people to harness the power of stories to drive change in their communities, he is passionate about community development, youth empowerment, intellectual engagements, and leadership forums. He envisions creating a better world through the platforms that he has and will continue to engage with throughout his life.

  • Regional Manager, NigeriaView Bio

    Joseph Onokpe

    Regional Manager, Nigeria

    Joseph Onokpe is a graduate of the University of Ibadan and is currently studying for his MA in Education Management and Leadership at the Metropolitan School of Business, UK. In 2020, he joined Narrative 4 as a Master Practitioner and now leads our operations and expansion work as Narrative 4 Africa’s Regional Manager in Nigeria.

    Prior to joining N4, Joseph worked as a Program Officer for the Ovie Brume Foundation, as well as Director of the Barack Obama American Corner, a library and information resource centre hosted by the Ovie Brume Foundation in partnership with the American Consulate.

    Joseph is a community development enthusiast and an advocate for quality, inclusive education. He believes that, while play is the shortest route between children and their creative calling, inclusive early childhood education is the pathway to a better, more progressive society.

  • Director of Africa OperationsView Bio

    Buchi Onyegbule

    Director of Africa Operations

    Buchi Onyegbule has been the Head of Africa Operations for Narrative 4 since 2020 and lives in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital City. Buchi is a broadcast journalist, writer and editor. As a student, he studied English and literature at the University of Benin, Benin City. He started his career in sales for Heineken, before switching to the mass media. Buchi was the host of the Morning Mojo on WEFM 106.3, one of Abuja’s Premier talk shows on politics, governance and social/national issues. A founding Director of the Abuja Literary and Arts Festival (ALitFest), he runs Afi, the Spill Sessions, a mini literary festival that examines societal issues via the lenses of literary works. He can usually be found where there is plenty of coffee and craft beer.

Global Team

  • Chief Financial OfficerView Bio

    Ryan Alexander

    Chief Financial Officer

    Ryan Alexander is the Chief Financial Officer at Narrative 4 and has extensive experience scaling nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Most recently at Civic Builders, Ryan oversaw the Facilities Investment Fund, a groundbreaking $300 million loan fund in partnership with the Walton Family Foundation committed to improving facilities financing for high-performing public charter schools in communities where the need is greatest. Previously, Ryan was Co-Founder and President of LightSail Education, where he grew the company to serve 500 schools representing more than 300,000 students at the time the company was acquired. Ryan also served as the CFO of Success Academy Charter Schools and helped manage the rapid expansion of NYC’s highest-performing and fastest-growing charter organization. Earlier in his career, Ryan was Managing Partner at real estate developer Argyle Holdings, was President and COO of the enterprise messaging company Omnipod Inc. until its sale, and worked for several years in financial services.

  • Southeast Regional ManagerView Bio

    Evan Barker

    Southeast Regional Manager

    Evan Barker is a Southeast Manager of the United States, responsible for TN, KY, WV, VA, NC, and SC. He began his career as an orchestra musician before accidentally becoming a bookseller and then an English teacher, coming to N4 after eight years in the secondary classroom. He believes that language is humanity’s greatest achievement and hopes to spend his whole career propagating the word in the service of understanding and peace. He holds a B.M. in Viola Performance and a B.A. in English from Middle Tennessee State University and a M.A. in Teaching English from the University of Kentucky. He lives in Richmond, Kentucky with his wife and two children.

  • Director of Marketing and CommunicationsView Bio

    Felice Belle

    Director of Marketing and Communications

    Felice Belle consumes and creates stories to make sense of the world and her place in it. As a poet and playwright, she has performed at the Apollo Theater, Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, TEDWomen and TEDCity2.0. Her writing has been published in several journals and anthologies including Oral Tradition, Bum Rush the Page, and UnCommon Bonds: Women Reflect on Race and Friendship. Playwriting credits include Other Women, Game On! and It Is Reasonable to Expect. She is a lecturer in the low-residency MFA program at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY and Director of Marketing and Communications for the global nonprofit Narrative 4. Her poetry collection Viscera is forthcoming from Etruscan Press (Spring 2023).

  • Pacific Northwest Regional Associate & Lead TrainerView Bio

    Sean Cain

    Pacific Northwest Regional Associate & Lead Trainer

    Sean Cain is a Lead Trainer and the Pacific Northwest’s Regional Associate for Narrative 4. A multidisciplinary artist and tabletop game designer, Sean is passionate about exploring the intersections between narrative performance and community change. They are the cofounder of an arts-and-politics collective focused on screening movies, playing games, publishing zines, and hosting residencies, all in service of collective struggle. While Sean’s primary career has focused on education, he has also worked as a filmmaker and photographer, a house party DJ, and, briefly, as a cleaner of alligator cages.

  • Operations Manager, N4 MexicoView Bio

    Maru Castañeda

    Operations Manager, N4 Mexico

    Maru Castañeda was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. She studied Public Relations and holds an M.A. in Science and Multidisciplinary Studies from SUNY Buffalo and an M.A. in Education from la Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas. Community service is a crucial part of Maru’s life. For 25 years, she worked as a Spanish teacher. She strives to help and support anyone who believes that a change is possible in our lives. Maru has been part of Narrative 4 since 2015. Three years ago, Maru successfully implemented the Narrative 4 program in grades K-12 at American School of Tampico (ATS) and advised the school’s N4 Student Ambassadors. Maru loves spending time with her children, Luis Andrés and Valeria, and taking walks with her yorkshire, Lola.

  • Executive Director, Narrative 4 GlobalView Bio

    Kandice Cole

    Executive Director, Narrative 4 Global

    Kandice Cole brings 15 years of experience working with educational institutions and nonprofit organizations to create impact. After earning degrees in Psychology and Teaching from the University of Chicago, Kandice taught in elementary classrooms in Chicago and Sacramento.  In 2013, Kandice was introduced to Narrative 4 and managed their early programmatic efforts. Kandice has a built a successful consulting practice, having worked with an array of clients including BUILD Initiative and University of Chicago’s Urban Teacher Education Program. Kandice is also passionate about empowering people to create sustainable wellness practices and has designed corporate wellness programs centered around self care, leadership, and creativity. She is a Chopra Certified Health Teacher and author of The Joyful Woman’s Guide to Self Care. Kandice serves as Executive Director for Narrative 4. She resides in Houston, Texas with her family.

  • Global Director of Information TechnologyView Bio

    Ly Lo Cong

    Global Director of Information Technology

    Born and raised in France, Ly then lived in Canada during his university years and graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Computer Engineering Degree and from HEC Montreal with a Certificate in Business Management. He then returned to Paris for 14 years to work in several digital agencies as a manager, project director and digital consultant. During his professional experience, Ly has acquired a technical expertise that allows him to master both the coaching of technical teams and the support of business teams in all phases of a project. He has driven growth and innovation for a wide variety of companies through their digital and organizational transformation, and aligned their strategies with the company’s business goals, always keeping in mind the return on investment. Ly lives with his wife and two children in Montreal.

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  • CEO & Co-FounderView Bio

    Lisa Consiglio

    CEO & Co-Founder

    Lisa Consiglio is CEO and Co-Founder of Narrative 4, which she launched in 2013 but began envisioning in 2004. For over thirty years, she has dedicated her career to developing powerful organizations that transform the lives of their clients and constituencies. She has applied her leadership skills – in management, fundraising, marketing and business communications – to a wide web of organizations that is connected by a dedication to humanistic ideals. Deeply committed to a belief in the power of stories, her professional experience spans the arts, education, technology, cancer research, public policy and honoring WWII veterans. She has lived in Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Georgia, Washington, DC, France, Hong Kong, Australia, Colorado, Illinois, and is now happily ensconced in New York City.

  • Programme Assistant, N4 IrelandView Bio

    Oisín Cooke

    Programme Assistant, N4 Ireland

    In 2023 Oisín received his undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Limerick. He completed an internship with N4 back in 2021 and worked with them part-time throughout the rest of his studies. He recently took up a full time role as programme assistant with N4 Ireland. He is passionate about finding ways to build connection and community, as he believes they are essential to people’s wellbeing and sense of belonging. Oisín also loves sport, and is a rugby player with Garryowen FC in Limerick. He currently lives in Tipperary, in the south-west of Ireland.

  • Administrative AssistantView Bio

    Frankie Cullen

    Administrative Assistant

    Frankie Cullen graduated Newbury College with a BA in Psychology and spent five years working in education—applying her curiosity for human behavior and love of learning to building impactful relationships with young children. She has a passion for fostering connection and empathy through the arts and can often be found encouraging her students to share their stories through visual, musical, and written expression. 

  • Marketing InternView Bio

    Deonte Clarke

    Marketing Intern

    Deonte Clarke is a recent Florida State University graduate with a bachelors in political science and minor in communications. Deonte is now studying Integrated Marketing with a concentration in Brand Management at New York University starting fall 2024. During his time at Florida State, Deonte facilitated several story exchanges, and led a storytelling for community class driven by virtues found in Narrative 4. Deonte considers himself an artist, creating content on Youtube and Instagram since 2022 and storytelling through music and storytelling. Deonte seeks to inspire people to build community through creativity, musicality, and self confidence. He is now interning with Narrative 4, using his skills to better the community and make his mark on the world. He currently lives in Manhattan, New York and continues to dedicate his time, energy, and passion into bettering the world around him.

  • Programme Assistant, N4 IrelandView Bio

    Laura Duff

    Programme Assistant, N4 Ireland

    Laura is a graduate of UCC Cork and an award winning artist. She was selected as the Paul Clancy Songwriter of the Year at 2015’s Irish Youth Music Awards, and as Circuit Festival’s Music Project Awardee and Arts Council Agility Awardee more recently, in 2021. Following her debut EP, “For Your Company”, she released her sophomore EP, “Heavy Summer” in December 2021, another taste of her own brand of charismatic alternative pop.

Funders