Astrid Baumgardner

I’ve spent countless hours in mediocre professional development settings, chocked full of “buzz-words,” that like a gourmet meal, leave you temporarily sated, but then hungry for substance. Astrid was the exception. The sessions spent with her have left me completely inspired and armed with relevant techniques on time management, conflict resolution, how to tap into my areas of passion and strength, …

Astrid has a great gift of seeing the beauty in each person and allowing their strengths to come through. — JC, New York, NY

Working in a field where big personalities often clash, I feel that Astrid’s seminar on conflict management was a fantastic boost to my own ability to skillfully manage conflicts.  I feel like I have a much better awareness of my own conflict management style, and most importantly I feel that I can more deftly identify the most appropriate path forward …

‘Astrid has an incredibly positive yet focused energy that she dedicates towards helping individuals and organizations discover their best selves.  I’ve been fortunate to work with her on several occasions and I cannot tell you how much I value her wisdom, guidance, and encouragement. — Paul M, New York, NY

Thank you so much for your engaging leadership development sessions at the OPERA America Leadership Intensive last week.  It was such a pleasure to meet you and participate in the program.  The entire week was wonderfully organized and packed with so many important facets of arts management, but the two days spent with you were particularly personal and useful (at …

Brava!  Thank you so much for sharing your gifts, experience, and depth of knowledge with us.  Your presentations truly anchored the program.  I really appreciate the time and thought you put into tailoring the information to the opera world and to their personal experiences.  That really made the difference.  I look forward to the rest of the week with this …

[Opera America hired Astrid to lead two workshops for our 2013 Leadership Intensive.]  Astrid’s background in nonprofit management and ongoing work with performing arts organizations meant that she was able to tailor the leadership workshops to the specific needs of opera leaders.

I was introduced to Astrid’s method by way of prep work to be done ahead of session two of a two-part leadership intensive. Having participated in a number of trainings and intensives, I came into the workshop with a commitment to being “open”, but also expecting a little more of the same thing, packaged in a different wrapper. What I found within five minutes of the workshop was a feeling of excitement, enthusiasm, and engagement as Astrid began the process of guiding the group through a dynamic two day presentation of leadership training. 

Astrid is one of the most inspiring people I know, having been incredibly successful in both her first career as a lawyer and her family life, while maintaining one of the most upbeat, optimistic, and forward-thinking personalities out there. Through innovative thinking, genuine care and concern, and an immensely organized approach, Astrid has helped me refocus my core values, reshape …

The best thing about Astrid is [her] energy and positive attitude. …Thank you for all your help, Astrid. You really help break things down and put it in a light that makes it realistic and possible. . Thank you for that and for showing such a great interest in me. I appreciate it. — ACG, New York, NY