Hi, I'm Elliott, the mini dachshund, and I proudly serve as the company mascot at Break the Norm Leadership. Most days, you'll catch me "sleeping on the job," but that's because I believe in embracing a relaxed and joyful approach to leadership. My presence reminds everyone to break away from the conventional and create a stress-free, inclusive workplace that values camaraderie and comfort. BARK the Norm!

I started Break the Norm Leadership after working as a leadership and development consultant in corporate America. I realized that true leadership development needed to start much earlier than when adults age into management positions. I believe that every person is a leader with unique strengths and by starting to develop leaders at a young age, we can create the change in the world we want to see. Leadership skills are life skills. My favorite food is ice cream because you can eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner because it has dairy in it ;)

I work because I am a helper at heart. I started working as a middle-school history teacher, and for more than 20 years I have developed leaders in multiple sectors. That includes supporting performing arts management leaders for 5 years while I worked at The Kennedy Center, 10 years working with aerospace engineering leaders while I worked at NASA, and for the last 2 years working at The Executive Leadership Council where I  help Black corporate professionals advance towards the C-Suite. My areas of expertise include program evaluation, talent development, imposter syndrome, psychological safety, and work groups and teams. I am motivated by an indefatigable desire to help people who do the work to learn and grow. My core belief is leadership development be a team sport - not a solo sport.

I believe that leadership is unlocked in everyone when given the right opportunities, support and resources. BtNL provides students with the opportunities to learn, the support to grow in their confidence and the resources to make a difference in their community. It is important to develop leaders at a young age who are self-aware, creative, and active around the issues that affect them. Young people need to learn how to work together for a common goal and how their unique strengths and passions are essential to a team’s success. 

I prefer a bag of Sour Patch Kids to ice cream or chocolate.

Dr. Peter A. James is a certified executive and leadership coach with over two decades of diverse leadership experience, ranging from military service as a U.S. Army officer to chairing a university's Business School and entrepreneurship. With a background in sales and marketing at a Fortune 100 company, along with military multitasking and project management skills, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his coaching practice. His tenure as a Faculty Chair and professor has deepened his ability to unlock leaders' potential, emphasizing that leaders can find their own solutions but benefit from a coach to expedite their growth. Specializing in leadership development, transformational change, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Peter's true passion lies in helping leaders achieve once-seemingly unreachable goals through executive coaching.

Ariela is a globally experienced leadership coach and training expert with over two decades of expertise in designing and delivering learning and leadership programs across diverse regions, including Africa, Central & South America, the Middle East, Asia, and the United States. She collaborates with leaders, teams, and organizations to foster greater awareness, inclusivity, and trust, driving purpose-driven transformations. Ariela specializes in crafting large-scale solutions such as management training, executive leadership programs, mentorship initiatives, and inclusive leadership programs. With a background as Vice President of a global non-profit, she provides strategic partnership to empower leadership potential. Her international living and work experience, intercultural mindset, and commitment to inclusive learning inform her approach to leadership development. Ariela holds certifications in leadership coaching, is qualified to administer various assessment tools, and incorporates mindfulness and meditation practices into her coaching process. She holds a master's degree in international development from Brandeis University and is fluent in Spanish.