Annie Sanchez

Culture Strategist | Capacity Builder | Business Coach
New Mexico | anniesanchez.co/contact

Multidisciplinary leader with 20+ years of experience translating vision into action.

As an equity-centered founder, strategist and leadership coach, I’ve advised executives, built operational systems from the ground up, and led large-scale programs end-to-end across the private, nonprofit and wellness sectors.

Known for clear thinking, compassionate leadership and getting things done — I bring strong judgment, heart and a bias toward action. I thrive in ambiguous, complex situations while navigating growth, transitions and competing priorities with calm, care and structure.

I’m seeking a remote, people-centered Operations or Organizational Culture role where I can help a creative, mission-driven team thrive.

SKILLS & STRENGTHS

  • Strategy & Growth: Account management, client retention/expansion, vision-to-roadmap design

  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaboration across design, comms, tech and operations

  • Operations: System building, process improvement, budget oversight, complexity management

  • Equity & Inclusion: DEI-focused program design, culturally responsive leadership

  • Communication: Compelling storytelling, precision writing, facilitation, influence

  • Relationship Building: High-trust partnerships, stakeholder engagement, consensus-building

Skills

PEOPLE

  • Equity-centered executive coaching, mentoring and strategic advisory services

  • Cultivate cohesive, high-functioning, non-dysfunctional teams

  • Facilitation of cross-functional teams to unblock and advance projects and programs

STRATEGIC PLANNING

  • Spearhead comprehensive, cross-functional initiatives, guiding process from vision to execution

  • Design and implement marketing and comms strategies to effectively engage audiences

  • Lead development of programs to enhance organizational growth and community outcomes

OPERATIONS

  • Highly organized, dependable and capable of managing complexity while getting tangible results

  • Financial oversight, program budget development and cash flow monitoring

  • Produce memorable events, workshops, trainings and experiences for internal and external groups

TOOLS & PLATFORMS

  • Asana and Monday.com onboarded and trained teams on both

  • Zapier, Converkit, Mailchimp, Stripe, QuickBooks, Google Suite, Squarespace, Canva, Slack, Figma, Miro, Acuitym Basecamp, Microsoft 365, Notion

Strengths

RELATIONSHIP & TRUST-BUILDING

  • Inherent curiosity and sensitivity to others

  • Genuine optimism helps others see their own value

  • Naturally see links among people and things

  • Disarm and win people over through authentic trust-building

VISIONARY THINKING

  • Powerful anticipation of the future, proactive in taking initiative and solving problems

  • Detect gaps, discrepancies and opportunities others often don’t see

  • Innovator in the midst of uncertainty

  • Quick thinker and learner, while including others 

  • Forward-focused view that accounts for everyone involved, from team to the end-user/customer

SHARP COMMUNICATIONS & INFLUENCER

  • Strong written/verbal skills, precision of thought, invites collaboration, good listener

  • Excellent at turning ideas into action and making things happen

  • Stirs enthusiasm that gets people & projects unstuck

  • Strong sense of self that empowers others

Assessment Results

  • Clifton Strengths (Top 5): Futuristic, Activator, Positivity, Connectedness, WOO

  • Kolbe A Index: 6 | 5 | 8 | 2

ENDORSEMENTS

“I value and trust your reasoning and logic. I always felt like I could own my work and come to you when I needed help.”

~ Former Boss, Senior Leader in Philanthropy

“‘Organized, strong project management, strong communications both verbal and written,’ — you see these things in job descriptions, but you are less than a handful of people I’ve seen who actually possess them. I'd trust anything with my name on it to you. I’d trust you to pop into my job, even over people on staff doing it for years.”

~ Former Direct Report, Manager in Government

“Annie is in a category all her own. Both smart and wise, with deep empathy and a knack for getting right to the heart of the matter. She has this uncommon ability to really listen and hear...even what's unspoken.”

~ Coaching Client, COO & Entrepreneur

EXPERIENCE

Professional

Founder, Strategic Advisor & Experience Designer
Mariposa Strategies | 2018–Present
Remote / National Client Base

  • Scaled a coaching and consulting practice from the ground up, growing revenue by 150–200% annually and advising 200+ founders, executive directors and emerging leaders.

  • Lead a diverse portfolio of nonprofit and business clients, delivering equity-centered, people-focused strategies to strengthen operations, improve team dynamics and balance growth.

  • Provide coaching and advisory support to leaders in the corporate, small business, social justice, arts and philanthropy sectors on operational and performance improvement, employee relations, performance management and organizational development.

  • Maintain 94% client satisfaction rate through customized strategic advising on organizational vision and purpose, change management and team realignment.

  • Design and facilitate 100+ retreats, strategic interventions and organizational assessments focused on leadership development, employee wellbeing, team dynamics, conflict resolution and strategic planning.

  • Facilitate leadership program serving members across 17 states and 2 countries

  • Manage all brand and marketing efforts, reaching audiences in the hundreds of thousands across multiple channels.

  • Develop original product lines and curriculums, with end-to-end ownership of the process.

  • Cultivate strategic collaborations with consultants nationwide to deepen client outcomes.

  • Built a tech-enabled, fully remote business using systems like Asana, Zapier, Converkit, Google Suite, Figma and Zoom—streamlining client onboarding, delivery and reporting.

Event Producer
Freelance Roles | 2004–2019
New York City, California and New Mexico

  • Produced high-impact events in the corporate, philanthropy and social impact sectors (up to 500 guests).

  • Directed employees and volunteer teams for clients.

  • Handled end-to-end logistics, creative direction, vendor, talent and volunteer management. 

  • Collaborated with stakeholders to align vision, manage budgets and deliver events that exceed expectations.

Business Advisor & Project Manager (contract)
Roanhorse Consulting & Rio Grande Community Development Corporation | 2018–2019
New Mexico

  • PM for cross-sector collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including two transnational tech partners and oversaw daily operations of a community innovation space.

  • Facilitated strategic planning meetings with stakeholders from public, private and nonprofit sectors to align goals and drive shared initiatives.

  • Led cross-sector, multi-stakeholder strategic planning initiatives centering equity and inclusion for civic innovation programs and community development projects.

  • Advised entrepreneurs on brand strategy, operational systems and marketing to support business growth and alignment.

Executive Director
Center for Nonprofit Excellence | 2016–2018
New Mexico

  • Scaled program from local to statewide.

  • Oversaw development of first equity, diversity and inclusion-focused training and technical assistance program in the state.

  • Catalyzed strategic merger, presenting unified value to stakeholders statewide.

  • Headed up creation of New Mexico’s Nonprofit Principles & Practices Guide, collaborating with 50+ experts and receiving endorsements from the Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of State.

  • Provided capacity-building advisory services to nonprofit leaders, including governance, advocacy and human resources best practices.

  • Managed cross-functional team; implemented operational systems, OKRs and SOPs.

Co-Founder & Operations Director
Giving Tuesday New Mexico | 2015-2018
New Mexico

  • Co-created statewide initiative aligned with the global Giving Tuesday movement.

  • Directed design and launch of centralized platform that enabled nonprofits statewide to participate, resulting in 200%+ increase in organizational participation.

  • Coached organizations statewide on marketing and communication best practices. 

  • Led PR campaigns, increasing nonprofit participation and community engagement each year, including local radio, television, newspapers and billboards.

  • Mobilized community outreach efforts across New Mexico, leading to a 300% increase in community engagement while expanding visibility for nonprofit partners.

Communications Manager · Development Officer · Office Manager
Staff & Freelance Roles | 2007–2015
New Mexico

  • Led strategic communications and digital campaigns for statewide organizations shaping messaging, fundraising efforts and volunteer engagement.

  • Built internal systems and SOPs that helped streamline operations and support organizational growth.

  • Developed strong analytical and research skills to support organizational excellence.

Hospitality Leader & Consultant
Union Square Hospitality, Myriad Restaurant Group and others | 1998–2012
New York, California, New Mexico and Hawaii

  • Managed, trained, onboarded and off-boarded employees while maintaining exceptional standards under pressure, and cultivating team and guest loyalty.

  • Delivered exceptional service standards and built trust quickly under pressure, earning consistent guest and team loyalty.

Education

  • University of New Mexico, BFA in Art Studio, in progress

  • New York University, Heyman Center for Philanthropy & Fundraising, Certificate in Fundraising, 2007

Certifications

  • Certificate in Yoga Nidra and Subtle Body Wisdom, Empowered Life Circle, 2023 — Mindfulness and resilience facilitation tools

  • Certificate in Coaching, Altitude, 2019 — Executive and personal leadership coaching methods

  • Certificate in Business Advising, GrowthWheel, 2018 — Frameworks and strategies used by the Small Business Administration

Volunteer Leadership

  • Advisory Board, Building Movement Project, 2016-2018

  • Event Producer, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, 2012-2013

  • Chair, Fundraising Committee, Planned Parenthood NYC, 2007-2012

  • Market Liaison, GrowNYC (Union Square Farmers Market), 2006-2008

Professional Development

BUSINESS

  • Business Coaching Recipient, 2021-2024

  • Business Finances, 3-week training, 2023

  • Business Fundamentals, 9-week training, 2019

  • Digital Strategy, 3-day training, 2016

  • Fundraising Finesse, workshop, 2014

  • Online Engagement, workshop, 2014

  • Mindful Fundraising, workshop, 2013

LEADERSHIP

  • Rest Revival, 9-month mastermind, 2024

  • Devoted to Rest®, 6-month mastermind, 2022

  • Leadership & Project Management, course, 2017

  • Leadership Coaching Recipient, 2016

  • Building Bridges to Work With Native Nonprofits, workshop, 2015

  • Volunteer Recruitment, Retention & Recognition, workshop, 2013

  • Drawing the Line Between Board & Staff Roles, workshop, 2012