Strategic Advising
An objective, experienced thought partner for executives and boards — strategy, change, workforce, and governance, with AI readiness built in when you need it.
Leadership · Teams · AI strategy
Stronger leaders. Stronger teams. AI‑ready when you are.
The Growth Group Academy is a trusted advisor to executives and mission-driven organizations. We help you set direction, develop leaders, and build teams that work well together — and, when the time is right, adopt AI with confidence. Our AI expertise is an advantage you can draw on, not a prerequisite for working with us.
Free, 30-minute call · No obligation · Virtual or in person
Experience across
- Private-sector leadership teams
- Nonprofits & associations
- Federal agencies
- Higher education
- Individual leaders
Where we help
We meet your organization where it is.
Some organizations are ready to put AI to work. Many are still focused on setting direction, developing leaders, or getting a team pulling together — and that is exactly the right place to start. We help with all of it, and bring AI into the conversation when it serves your goals.
Direction is unclear
Leadership teams and boards need to agree on priorities, trade-offs, and what to stop doing — with or without AI in the picture.
People are stretched
Roles, skills, and expectations keep shifting. Staff need clear direction, strong communication, and leaders they trust.
Change feels risky
New strategies, structures, and tools — AI included — go better with a plan, sensible guardrails, and people who are brought along.
What we do
Advisory first. Practical support behind it.
AI Adoption & Implementation
When you're ready: policies, priority use cases, and staff training that turn AI strategy into everyday practice.
Team Strengthening
Birkman-based sessions that help teams understand one another and adapt together.
Facilitation
Structured sessions for strategic planning, retreats, boards, and AI-readiness conversations.
Executive Coaching
Practical, action-oriented coaching for leaders stepping up to lead through change.
Training & Learning
Live programs and online courses, including AI for Nonprofit Leaders on Udemy.
Free tool
Ready for AI — or not yet?
Answer 12 quick questions across strategy, people, guardrails, and practice. You'll get your readiness stage, your biggest gap, and a recommended next step — instantly, with no sign-up. If the answer is “not yet,” that is useful too: it shows where to strengthen the foundations first.
Exploring
Interest without direction.
Experimenting
Pockets of use, no map.
Scaling
Guardrails and early wins.
Leading
AI shapes how you work.
Your advisor
Natalya H. Bah
- PMI-CPMAI®
- PMP®
- Certified Birkman Consultant
- M.S. Project Management, GWU
Natalya advises leaders on strategy, leadership, team effectiveness, and change. She brings deep experience in leadership development, project management, and organizational change across government, nonprofit, international development, higher education, and the private sector — and, as one of the early professionals to earn PMI's Certified Professional in Managing AI credential, helps organizations adopt AI responsibly when they're ready.
She teaches leadership, project management, and AI at Montgomery College and Graduate School USA, serves on the George Washington University Board of Advisors for the M.S. in Project Management program, and is co-author of the six-book Power of… series.
Read Natalya's full story
More ways to grow
Courses, tools, and community
AI for Nonprofit Leaders
Move from AI curiosity to responsible adoption: screen use cases, set clear staff guardrails, and plan a 30-day pilot.
Workbooks & tools
Practical workbooks and templates for leaders — coming soon to the GGA Etsy shop.
Community Learning Opportunities
Six months to a year of virtual learning with monthly meetings, learning resources, and the chance to learn from other leaders.
Questions
Frequently asked
Who does The Growth Group Academy work with?
We work with nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, international development institutions, academic institutions, and private-sector executives and leadership teams. Our background also includes extensive work with government agencies.
Do we need to be ready for AI to work with you?
No. Many clients come to us for executive coaching, team development, facilitation, or strategic planning with no AI agenda at all. AI expertise is an advantage we bring when it serves your goals — not a requirement to get started.
Do we need technical expertise to start using AI?
No. Most AI adoption challenges are leadership and change challenges, not technology problems. We help leaders understand AI well enough to use it effectively, evaluate it critically, set sensible guardrails, and bring their people along — without needing to become engineers.
What does strategic advising involve?
It depends on what you need. Typically: an initial review and executive briefing, strategy sessions with your leadership team or board, a look at workforce, governance, and (where relevant) AI implications, and a prioritized roadmap — with ongoing advisory support as you put it into practice. We scale this to your size and pace.
What is the Birkman Method and how do you use it?
The Birkman Method is a validated assessment of behavior, interests, needs, and stress reactions. Natalya has been a Certified Birkman Consultant since 2013 and uses it in executive coaching and team sessions to strengthen self-awareness, communication, and collaboration.
Do you work virtually or in person?
Both. Advising, coaching, and most training are delivered virtually via Zoom or Teams. Team sessions, retreats, and workshops can be delivered in person in the Washington, DC region or elsewhere by arrangement.
How do we get started?
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. We'll discuss your goals and constraints and recommend a sensible first step — whether that's a briefing, an assessment, a team session, or a longer engagement.
Not sure where to start?
A 30-minute discovery call is the fastest way to find out. We'll talk through what you're trying to accomplish, where AI and leadership fit, and whether GGA is the right partner — no obligation.