MEET
THE TEAM
Alessa is an Engagement Manager at CLA and leverages her background in industrial-organizational psychology to empower leaders to transform themselves, their teams, and their organizations’ culture and employee experience. Prior to CLA, Alessa worked in Talent Management at Johnson & Johnson, as well as in Pfizer’s Learning & Development practice. Alessa has experience coaching at a variety of levels, with a particular focus on leveraging assessments, inquiry, and science-backed practices. She has taught courses in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Psychology of Career Development and Planning at the City University of New York (CUNY) where she holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Her research focuses on the integration points between leadership, development, positive psychology, and inclusion.
Get to Know Alessa
What is your favorite assessment and why?
One of my favorites is the Leadership Versatility Index (LVI) 360. It’s incredibly actionable, using a “Goldilocks” scale to show if a leader is doing something too much, too little, or just right. It also considers leadership context, helping leaders see how different stakeholders may need different things from them. It’s a powerful tool for building versatility in today’s complex world.
Which of CLA’s service offerings do you most enjoy talking about?
I love diving into leadership development, culture transformation, and both team and individual coaching.
When you're not helping clients navigate complex leadership challenges, where might we find you?
Teaching karate (I’m a 5th degree black belt!), reading just about anything I can get my hands on, or catching a live show in NYC.
What’s one idea or resource that has deeply influenced your work?
Two that stand out: Byron Katie’s "The Work," a powerful coaching tool for examining limiting beliefs, and Schneider’s ASA (Attraction-Selection-Attrition) model, which reinforces my belief that real culture change begins with individuals.
