EQUITY-CENTERED CONSULTING AND COACHING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
Founded by Joana Dos Santos and Eric Rodríguez, cosyn [prononuced co-sine] emerged from a commitment to equity-centered transformation, recognizing the need for authentic and inclusive cultural and systemic change in higher education, design, and the nonprofit sector. We also work with individuals to live values aligned in all aspects of life and embed equity in their decision-making processes.
As a women- and minority-owned consulting and coaching firm, we aim to address systemic inequities and foster social change through collaborative and innovative approaches.
Our mission is to invigorate hope and possibility through personal and organizational transformation for social change.
Our work is grounded in values that reflect our commitment to sustainable growth and authentic relationships:
Growth
We embrace lifelong learning and sustainable growth, recognizing the importance of balance between expansion and maintenance.
Trust
We cultivate trust in our processes, partners, and ourselves, building reciprocal relationships that are foundational to our work.
Joy
We create space for connection, centering joy and presence in our interactions.
Fun
We celebrate progress and the journey itself, infusing enjoyment and energy into each step.
Abundance
We approach challenges with an open, resourceful mindset, fostering a culture of possibility.
cosyn’s unique approach integrates co-creation, Appreciative Inquiry, and equity principles
Co-Creation
This collaborative process invites multiple stakeholders to actively shape shared visions, values, and ways of relating. By emphasizing shared decision-making and diverse perspectives, we foster shared ownership and alignment with collective values.
Appreciative Inquiry
An organizational development process that identifies and grows what makes a human system and person thrive. In strategic planning, we use this approach to guide organizations in exploring when they are at their best and what changes can be created to live their potential, with a plan to implement them. That doesn’t mean the collective will always be happy with all decisions or that there will not be discomfort in the process of having a more inclusive culture. It means that organizations will be equipped to be with this discomfort and able to live from shared values. In coaching, we use this process to dream when you are at your best and how you can live from that place – and take action to make it happen.
Equity in Process and Practice
We incorporate principles from community organizing, social justice, and racial justice to ensure that all voices—especially those most affected by systemic inequities—play active roles in shaping outcomes. People need to be resourced to provide their expertise to shape policies, practices, and programming. One way we do this is by acknowledging these needs and offering deep facilitation to ensure all members have the time to participate. One-on-one meetings and coaching may be necessary to support individuals in their role with the collective. We acknowledge that not all communities have the same level of access and need to use multiple approaches to ensure accessible and sustainable change. This commitment is essential in dismantling exclusive norms, addressing power imbalances, and fostering justice, liberation, and love.
Psychosynthesis Coaching
Rooted in transpersonal psychology, psychosynthesis invites us to manifest what is calling us in alignment with our spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental aspects holistically. We partner with individuals to ensure their personal and professional goals have a deep sense of purpose and meaning. When goals are aligned with one’s values they can create greater harmony and team cohesion for each member of the collective.
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Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer
Pronouns: she/they
Pronunciation: SHO-AH-NAHello! My name is Joana Dos Santos (pronounced SHO-AH-NA). I use she/they pronouns and identify as a cisgender woman with light skin, brown hair, and blue eyes. Born in Uruguay—the land of the Charrúa people—I reclaimed my name after years of anglicizing it, with the support of friends and colleagues who encouraged me to embrace its original form.
My Role at cosyn
I co-founded cosyn because I wanted to do work that aligned with my values and brought me joy. I’m most fulfilled when engaging in deep, vulnerable conversations that foster healing and growth while advancing social and racial justice. At cosyn, I facilitate coaching and strategic planning partnerships grounded in personal and organizational transformation for social change.
How I Got Here
My career began in non-profit finance, but my desire for a more direct impact in communities of color led me to racial justice organizing. As a non-profit executive director, I collaborated with universities, museums, governments, law enforcement, and more to shape policies and practices that give all people, regardless of background, a voice in decisions affecting them. Along the way, I developed a coaching-based leadership style focused on individual and team growth, tailored to meet people where they are.
As a chief diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officer at an architecture and urban planning college, I led a co-created culture change process that engaged individuals across roles, building shared values and establishing actions and accountability to live by them. I managed DEI strategic planning initiatives, organizational values development, and inclusive hiring practices, creating a more transparent and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. I believe that designing processes involving community members at all levels leads to sustainable, positive change and a stronger shared future. I also coached people across the organization to embed equity into their work and teams, work in a values-aligned way, and community-enaged processes.
In addition to my experience, I hold a Master’s degree in Applied Communications. I’m also a Certified Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator, Board Certified Coach, and Psychosynthesis Life Coach.
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Co-founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer
Pronouns: he/him/his
Hello! I’m Eric Rodríguez. I use he/him/his pronouns. I’m a cis-gender man with light brown skin, curly black hair, and brown eyes. I’m from the land of the Nipmuc people (Massachusetts, United States) and a descendant of Boriken (Puerto Rico).
I’m a connector, strategist, and advocate for co-creation in all aspects of work and life.
My Role at cosyn
At cosyn, I focus on bringing people together in dynamic, creative ways, often by asking deeper questions that help shape shared meaning for individuals and groups. I co-lead cosyn’s strategic partnerships and facilitate co-created plans that drive growth and transformation. This involves creating strategic plans, engaging communities meaningfully, and acting as a thought partner for growth.
How I Got Here
I started my career as a racial justice community organizer, where my experiences and identity inspired me to embed co-creation into all levels of decision-making. I then transitioned to public policy, advising cities across the U.S. on equitable policy engagement and co-creation strategies. My work also included leading building electrification policy development in the energy sector and advancing decarbonization efforts across Silicon Valley. I co-founded cosyn to push beyond policy to the cultural change necessary for lasting organizational impact.
Always eager to deepen my understanding of the “why,” I obtained an undergraduate degree in philosophy and public policy from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan.
