About Us
We are a design and facilitation partner for leadership teams and organizations across industries. From executive teams and boards of directors to cross-functional staff, we help you bring clarity to complex challenges and turn strategy into meaningful action.
Let’s talk about how we can support your goals.
Meet Our Founders
We are experienced workshop designers, facilitators, and problem solvers with a track record of strategic work across diverse sectors, including education, financial services, hospitality, insurance, artificial intelligence, emerging tech, and consulting.
Our backgrounds span high-level strategic planning and hands-on implementation. That means we understand both the big picture and the practical realities our clients face. We are certified in design thinking and leadership coaching — we blend structure and creativity, reflection and action in every engagement.
We Believe:
Co-Founder
Mia Locsin
Mia brings over two decades of experience guiding organizations through complexity and change — helping teams align, adapt, and act with purpose. She has held leadership roles across a range of organizations, from Fortune 500 companies like PayPal and Visa to mid-sized firms and tech start-ups. Her work spans the fintech, education, hospitality, government, non-profit and other sectors, where she has led strategic initiatives, shaped high-impact partnerships, and built programs that strengthen collaboration and accelerate innovation.
Known for her clarity, empathy, and strategic lens, Mia specializes in aligning teams around shared goals and enabling them to move forward with confidence. Her expertise in design thinking, learning and development, and Conversational AI (Artificial Solutions) uniquely positions her to support both people and systems in evolving together.
At Manresa, she partners with Mary to co-design and facilitate strategy sessions that create the structure and momentum for change. Together, they help leadership teams gain clarity, build trust, and take decisive action on what matters most.
Mia currently serves on the Board of Reel (reel2e.org), an education-focused nonprofit, where she contributes to governance, advancement, and partnership strategy.
Certifications, Trainings & Credentials
- LUMA Human-Centered Design Practitioner
- Transforming the User Experience through Artificial Intelligence, Stanford School of Engineering
- REEL Neurodivergent Experience Workshop Facilitator
Co-Founder
Mary Scanlan Smith
Mary Smith brings over two decades of experience in strategy, facilitation, and leadership development — helping teams navigate complexity, align around shared purpose, and move forward with clarity. She has supported executive teams, educators, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations across sectors, co-creating engagements that unlock collaboration and generate lasting momentum.
Mary began her career at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, supporting hundreds of high-stakes client sessions in the firm’s Accelerated Solutions Environment (ASE). Since then, she has partnered with leading consulting and facilitation firms — including PwC, 8 Works, the Difference, Wonder Spark Labs, Wild Works, and Imaginal Labs — contributing to strategic workshops and leadership development initiatives across the U.S.
Known for her grounded presence and co-creative style, Mary integrates a range of facilitation tools, coaching frameworks, and human-centered practices into her work. Her approach blends structure with creativity — enabling teams to think clearly, act decisively, and stay aligned through periods of change.
At Manresa, she partners with Mia to co-design and facilitate strategic engagements that clarify priorities, build trust, and transform collective insight into meaningful action.
Certifications, Trainings & Credentials
- Certified FLOW Coaching Practitioner (ICF-accredited program)
- Certified Positive Psychology Practitioner
- Licensed Resilience Program Leader
- Certified Scrum Master
- Transformation Coaching Method Certification
Co-Founder
Mia Locsin
Mia brings over two decades of experience guiding organizations through complexity and change — helping teams align, adapt, and act with purpose. She has held leadership roles across a range of organizations, from Fortune 500 companies like PayPal and Visa to mid-sized firms and tech start-ups. Her work spans the fintech, education, hospitality, government, non-profit and other sectors, where she has led strategic initiatives, shaped high-impact partnerships, and built programs that strengthen collaboration and accelerate innovation.
Known for her clarity, empathy, and strategic lens, Mia specializes in aligning teams around shared goals and enabling them to move forward with confidence. Her expertise in design thinking, learning and development, and Conversational AI (Artificial Solutions) uniquely positions her to support both people and systems in evolving together.
At Manresa, she partners with Mary to co-design and facilitate strategy sessions that create the structure and momentum for change. Together, they help leadership teams gain clarity, build trust, and take decisive action on what matters most.
Mia currently serves on the Board of Reel (reel2e.org), an education-focused nonprofit, where she contributes to governance, advancement, and partnership strategy.
Certifications, Trainings & Credentials
- LUMA Human-Centered Design Practitioner
- Transforming the User Experience through Artificial Intelligence, Stanford School of Engineering
- REEL Neurodivergent Experience Workshop Facilitator
Co-Founder
Mary Scanlan Smith
Mary Smith brings over two decades of experience in strategy, facilitation, and leadership development — helping teams navigate complexity, align around shared purpose, and move forward with clarity. She has supported executive teams, educators, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations across sectors, co-creating engagements that unlock collaboration and generate lasting momentum.
Mary began her career at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, supporting hundreds of high-stakes client sessions in the firm’s Accelerated Solutions Environment (ASE). Since then, she has partnered with leading consulting and facilitation firms — including PwC, 8 Works, the Difference, Wonder Spark Labs, Wild Works, and Imaginal Labs — contributing to strategic workshops and leadership development initiatives across the U.S.
Known for her grounded presence and co-creative style, Mary integrates a range of facilitation tools, coaching frameworks, and human-centered practices into her work. Her approach blends structure with creativity — enabling teams to think clearly, act decisively, and stay aligned through periods of change.
At Manresa, she partners with Mia to co-design and facilitate strategic engagements that clarify priorities, build trust, and transform collective insight into meaningful action.
Certifications, Trainings & Credentials
- Certified FLOW Coaching Practitioner (ICF-accredited program)
- Certified Positive Psychology Practitioner
- Licensed Resilience Program Leader
- Certified Scrum Master
- Transformation Coaching Method Certification