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Build a solid foundation from which to grow

Our agency’s mission is to help you and your organization build a more solid foundation from which to grow. We focus our work with organizations who are building a better future for all of us. The Folding Chair Group are practitioners in organizational development – the science and art of improving organizational capacity through strategy (where you’re going and why), structure (governance) and culture (people).

The Folding Chair Group is primarily located in beautiful New Brunswick, though we partner with collaborators across the country and deliver to clients across Canada. We’re people and results-oriented. When you’re ready for real change, we bring a folding chair to your table.

Vanessa Paesani, Founder & Principal

Vanessa’s mission is helping great organizations build more solid foundations.

Her specialties are helping you get clear on strategy, finding the capital to resource new projects, setting up structures and processes to monitor your organization, as well as coaching and leadership development.

Vanessa is a certified executive coach, certified teacher, and has completed certification in non-profit financial stewardship at the Harvard Kennedy School, certification in sales through MDBi, and has raised millions for clients during the last 10 years. She has successfully executed a number of projects with clients doing diverse work from a large music festival to raising a million dollars for an impact-focused manufacturing company.

“I want the world to know how appreciative and grateful the Dialogue NB Team is regarding your collaboration on a number of projects with us these past few months. You are an outstanding professional who brings tremendous value to the project, whether big or small. We could not have pulled off our events in September without your assistance, especially as Conference Curator of Dialogue Day 2021. You executed upon our vision and brought it to life without flinching when we were face with challenges along the way. You are an extraordinary leader, ally, and community-minded citizen who exemplifies strategic clarity and social impact. On behalf of the team and board, thank you so much for your help and especially for being the wonderful person that you are. It was a delight to work with you and I hope we will have other projects we can collaborate on in the near future! Merci beaucoup Vanessa pour tout!”

Nadine Duguay-Lemay, CEO

Dialogue NB

“I was looking for support to communicate more efficiently, effectively, and professionally. My desired areas of focus on communication revolved around presentation skills, executive presence, organizational storytelling, message development, and motivation for both internal and external audiences. Through Vanessa’s coaching I was able to achieve this, in addition to increasing my self awareness, identify gaps in my management skills, and make more discerning decisions.”

Richard Wilson, CEO & Lead Engineer

Moodie

“Vanessa is an inspiring executive coach whose assistance and support was instrumental in the career transition and life changes I was navigating. Her professionalism, the questions she posed, and the perspectives she shared will have a lasting impact. Vanessa’s positive approach and kindness shone as she reminded me to celebrate my accomplishments and the internal progress I was achieving. I consider myself fortunate to have received guidance from Vanessa that helped me confidently determine next steps and make informed and reflective decisions while forging a new path.”

Jeff Baxter, instructional designer & former school principal

“Vanessa has a quiet, insistent way of probing to the heart of an issue. With her strategic mind and extensive business experience, she’s able to tease at just the right threads of a challenging situation, until the whole tangle suddenly unknots. She’s able to do this so deftly that my perspective on a business problem would often do a 180-degree turn in a single session. Confusion became clarity, just like that. I highly recommend Vanessa to anyone who’s looking for a coach to bring out the best in their problem-solving and decision-making abilities.”

Dawn Henwood, PhD