Paola Deliz Felix Encarnacion is a transformational leader with 10+ years of experience in education equity, systems improvement, and organizational leadership. Known for combining innovative thinking with deep community engagement, she excels in translating complex problems into actionable strategies. She brings emotional intelligence and a unique ability to build trust, coach diverse teams, and drive large-scale change, making her an ideal partner for mission-driven organizations seeking alignment, clarity, and impact.

CORE STRENGTHS

Team Engagement & Coaching

• Extensive management experience; experience managing through layers & with matrixed organizations

• Successfully managed and coached teams from 7 to 70+; experience managing everyone from volunteers to individual contributors and people managers and department heads.

• Skilled at cultivating inclusive team cultures with a strong focus on retention and leadership development, particularly among staff of color.

• Experience designing and facilitating varied engagement and professional development experiences with an emphasis on reflection, belonging, shared leadership, and strategic outcomes

• Adept at problem-solving in complex environments; experienced working with fully virtual teams and addressing retention risks.

• Skilled at strategic culture-building, clearly communicating complex ideas, and helping managers establish role clarity for their teams.

• Strong coach for junior managers, with a focus on developing confidence, decision-making, and inclusive leadership practices.

Equity-Centered Improvement & Innovation

• Led the design and national implementation of a continuous learning strategy, directly impacting educational outcomes in underserved communities across 36 schools/3 districts

• Spearheaded solutions across multiple cities to improve 8th-grade success for students who are Black, Latinx, or economically disadvantaged

• Co-created intervention strategies grounded in data analysis and community context, helping partners adopt more human-centered, equity-focused approaches

• Skilled at designing engaging professional development and supporting organizations to build collective problem-solving capacity

• Experienced in guiding leaders to build learning organizations by identifying entry points, engaging in systems-level reflection, and fostering collaborative improvement

• Formally trained in adult learning principles and cultural competency; adept at helping leaders navigate culturally and generationally diverse spaces

Strategy & Storytelling

• Served at an executive level, developing and communicating vision and strategic direction across geographically and functionally dispersed teams and partner schools.

• Created and presented to executive stakeholders, weaving together metrics, community voice, and narratives to align diverse audiences around shared goals.

• Recognized for ability to lead with purpose, build alignment, and translate insights into measurable impact.

• Skilled at helping teams and organizations scale while preserving their core essence and culture, ensuring growth stays grounded in context.

• Guided leaders in translating complex ideas into clear visions, theories of change, and actionable strategies.