Connection Works

What Connection Works does

Connection Works LLC is a Seattle-based, founder-led boutique organizational development (OD) consulting firm founded in 2013 by Shannon Patterson. The firm helps leaders and teams improve team dynamics, organizational culture, leadership capability, and the human side of AI adoption through facilitation, coaching, and consulting engagements. Its core services are Team Coaching (delivered through the Team Elements model and SNOW methodology), Organizational Culture Consulting, Leadership Development, Meeting Facilitation, and AI Adoption Consulting. The firm also sells structured cohort programs such as the 9-week 'Disrupting Our Practice: Understanding Whiteness,' the Soul Purpose 8-week Identity Mapping program, and demographic-specific Understanding Whiteness programs, alongside a flagship weekly podcast, 'Disrupting Our Practice.'

The firm's underlying technology is methodology- and framework-driven rather than software-driven; proprietary intellectual property includes the Relational Infrastructure Framework for AI Adoption, the SNOW team coaching methodology (See, Name, Own, Work), and an Anti-Racism Practice Disruption methodology, with delivery augmented by partners such as Machines-as-Partners, Team Elements/Bennett Bratt, Yostfish, Burwell Ventures, Erin Merrihew, and circl.aI/Greg Flynn. The business model is professional services and program-based: custom consulting engagements are quoted per project, cohort programs are fee-based with tiered duration (8, 9, or 10 weeks), and a freemium layer of free 90-minute workshops, a monthly newsletter, and a podcast feeds inbound inquiry. Distribution is direct, relationship-led, and content-marketing-driven; named customers include Remitly, NWPAIHB, Seattle Pacific University, a small manufacturing firm, a large library system, the Yukon government (8 teams), and a large non-profit.

Name

Connection Works

Legal name

Connection Works

Website

https://connectionworks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Connection Works is a Seattle-based boutique organizational development consulting firm that helps leaders and teams improve team dynamics, culture, leadership, and AI adoption through coaching, facilitation, and cohort programs, serving clients across the U.S. and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organizational Development Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Workplace & Collaboration Consulting (BPAHAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remote/Hybrid Work Readiness & Digital Collaboration (EDAAAKAL), Meeting & Conference Planning & Coordination (HSACADAA), Professional & Business Networking Communities (MPACAJAB)

Keywords

• Organizational development consulting
• Team coaching services
• Leadership development programs
• Culture transformation consulting
• AI adoption consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Organizational Development Consulting: Custom consulting engagements for organizations seeking support with team effectiveness, culture change, leadership development, and AI adoption. Engagements are tailored to client needs and typically involve on-site or virtual facilitation, coaching, and long-term partnership. Revenue is generated through professional service fees charged per engagement or project.
2. Team Coaching (Team Elements): Data-driven team coaching engagements using the Team Elements model, app, and methodology. Includes team assessments, coaching sessions, and longitudinal tracking of team performance metrics. Sold as project-based or recurring coaching engagements.
3. Programs and Workshops: Fee-based structured programs including the 9-week 'Disrupting Our Practice: Understanding Whiteness' cohort program, Soul Purpose program (8-week virtual learning journey), and specialized workshops. Some programs offered free with donation requests. Revenue generated through participant registration fees.
4. Individual Coaching: Personalized one-on-one coaching for leaders and individuals navigating transitions, leadership challenges, or interpersonal dynamics. Typically sold as hourly or package-based engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Connection Works is a boutique organizational development consulting firm that delivers team coaching, organizational culture consulting, leadership development, and meeting facilitation to help leaders and teams build stronger relational dynamics. The firm also runs fee-based cohort programs on anti-racism practice, identity mapping, and AI adoption, and produces the Disrupting Our Practice podcast.

Product overview

Connection Works is a boutique organizational development consulting firm offering professional services focused on team effectiveness, organizational culture, and leadership development. The core offerings include Team Coaching using the Team Elements model, Organizational Culture Consulting, Leadership Development programs, and Meeting Facilitation services. The company also runs educational programs including the Disrupting Our Practice: Understanding Whiteness (9-week program), Soul Purpose Program (8-week Identity Mapping program), and various Understanding Whiteness programs for different demographics. Additionally, they offer AI Adoption Consulting with a human-centered approach focused on relational infrastructure. Their Disrupting Our Practice podcast extends their educational mission. The company positions itself as mountain guides helping organizations navigate complex human dynamics through customized consulting rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Team Coaching Team effectiveness consulting using the Team Elements model, helping teams develop their ability to See, Name, Own, and Work through relational and operational dynamics through data-driven coaching.
• Organizational Culture Consulting Culture change consulting focused on small shifts in daily interactions and conversations, helping organizations unearth, amplify, and develop patterns of interaction that cultivate desired culture.
• Leadership Development Comprehensive leadership development including individual coaching, custom leadership programs, and experience-based learning designed around the 3 E's: Education, Exposure, and Experience.
• Meeting Facilitation Facilitation services for workshops, off-sites, and meetings focused on creating conditions for meaningful engagement, including purpose/vision/values work and collaborative problem solving.
• AI Adoption Consulting Human-centered AI adoption consulting focused on relational infrastructure—helping organizations build trust, collaboration, and change management capabilities to successfully integrate AI while strengthening organizational culture.
• Team Refresh Short team coaching engagement designed to help teams have the conversations they need to navigate dynamics and improve effectiveness.
• Disrupting Our Practice: Understanding Whiteness 9-week deep dive program for white-identified coaches, consultants, facilitators, and trainers who want to learn to see and interrupt how they unwittingly perpetuate racism, oppression, and harm.
• Soul Purpose Program 8-week virtual learning journey helping participants uncover their unique gifts and purpose through creation of a personal Identity Map to live in greater alignment with their true self.
• Men Connecting: Understanding Whiteness 10-week online program for white men interested in understanding how whiteness moves in and through them, seeking to become better antiracists.
• Understanding Whiteness: Connecting as Socialized Females 8-week online program for white-identified women or non-binary/gender non-conforming people socialized female who want to understand how whiteness moves through them.
• Cultivating Resilience Through Connection Retreat In-person retreat at Whidbey Institute focused on slowing down, connecting, and tapping into individual and collective resilience.
• Disrupting Our Practice Podcast Weekly podcast exploring what white-bodied leadership and organizational development consultants, facilitators, coaches, and trainers need to disrupt in their practices to stop unwittingly perpetuating racism, oppression, and harm.

Quantifiable outcome

• Team Elements engagement turnaround: from 9 strengths and 21 weaknesses to 26 strengths and 10 weaknesses for a 5-person team, with measurable gains in Safety, Trust, Openness, and Norms.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Machines-as-Partners (Michael P. Hemenway, PhD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichael Hemenway specializes in data integration, natural language processing, organizational design, instructional design, and ethical AI practices. He is Director of Design and Data Science at the Association of Theological Schools and Adjunct Instructor in Responsible AI at Case Western Reserve University. Michael co-founded the Experimental Humanities Lab and Artificial Intelligence Institute at the Iliff School of Theology. He is a key strategic partner for Connection Works' AI adoption practice, bringing deep technical AI expertise to complement the firm's human-centered relational approach.
• Team Elements (Bennett Bratt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBennett Bratt is founder of The Team Effectiveness Project and creator of the Team Elements® coaching method — a data-driven, transformative approach to building high-performing teams. Bennett brings 20+ years of experience as an HR executive and business leader. His model empowers teams to have meaningful, targeted conversations that drive results and foster engagement. Connection Works is a certified Team Elements coaching partner.
• Yostfish, LLC (Andy Yost, PhD, JD)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndy Yost co-founded Yostfish, LLC, a national consulting firm specializing in community-driven large-scale change. He holds BA in philosophy, MA in theology, JD, and PhD in the study of religion, licensed to practice law in Colorado and Ohio. Andy creates spaces where people flourish using humor, sincerity, design theory, and imagination. He serves as Community-Based Design Lead at the Center for Legal and Judicial Innovation (funded by U.S. HHS Children's Bureau). Partnered with Connection Works on complex, community-level organizational challenges.
• Burwell Ventures (Angie Burwell Kerr, MSOD)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAngie Burwell Kerr is a leadership coach and consultant using her transformational 'awakening change®' framework to help leaders embrace their authentic selves and create meaningful change. Her practice spans global learning and development, Six Sigma consulting, and executive coaching. She partners with Connection Works on manager and leadership training engagements.
• Erin Merrihew ConsultingsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerErin Merrihew is a Communication & Empowerment Coach specializing in conflict transformation, emotional intelligence, and genuine human connection. Certified Trainer in Nonviolent Communication, trained in Empathic Coaching, NLP, and The Clarity Compass leadership model. She partners with Connection Works on conflict resilience engagements, bringing expertise in communication skills that complement the firm's team and culture practice.
• circl.aI (Greg Flynn)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreg Flynn is a facilitator, coach, and collaborator with 20+ years of experience across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. He focuses on creating meaningful dialogue, fostering relational trust, and supporting teams to engage with challenges thoughtfully. Greg co-hosts the 'Disrupting Our Practice' podcast with Shannon Patterson and partners on team coaching and restorative circle engagements. He is also the creator of 'The Bind' podcast for men and runs 'Men Connecting' programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Clearing: The Clearing is a boutique management consulting firm specializing in strategy, organization design, and leadership development. Comparable to Connection Works as a similarly sized firm offering custom OD and change management services to mission-driven and enterprise clients.
• Barry-Wehmiller Leadership Institute: Barry-Wehmiller's leadership institute offers culture transformation and leadership development services grounded in human-centered principles. Comparable to Connection Works in philosophy and approach to culture/OD consulting for organizations seeking heart-led transformation.
• Interaction Associates: Interaction Associates is a consulting and training firm focused on collaboration, leadership, and meeting effectiveness. Comparable to Connection Works given shared focus on team dynamics, facilitation, and leadership development with a similar service-based boutique model.
• Reboot.io: Reboot is a boutique coaching and consulting firm that works with leaders and teams on culture, leadership, and self-management. Directly comparable as a similar-sized consultancy offering custom team and leadership development services with strong content/community GTM.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): CCL is a large, established leadership development research and education institution offering programs, coaching, and consulting. Comparable to Connection Works in leadership development and team coaching offerings, but operates at substantially greater scale and broader geographic reach.
• FranklinCovey: FranklinCovey is a global leadership and effectiveness training company offering consulting, coaching, and content. Comparable in leadership and team effectiveness focus but operates at much larger scale with a content- and licensee-driven model.
• Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm providing leadership development, talent management, and organizational strategy services. Comparable as a broad incumbent covering similar OD/leadership offerings, though much larger and more diversified than Connection Works.
• Deloitte Human Capital Consulting: Deloitte's Human Capital practice offers large-scale organizational transformation, leadership development, and change management. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in the same OD/leadership space but at vastly greater scale and scope than Connection Works.

Emerging players

• BetterUp: BetterUp is a tech-enabled coaching and leadership development platform combining AI with 1:1 coaching. Comparable as a competitor targeting leadership coaching and team effectiveness, though via a digital/AI-enabled platform rather than boutique consulting.

Others

• Team Elements / The Team Effectiveness Project: Team Elements is a team coaching methodology and certified partner network founded by Bennett Bratt, with whom Connection Works has a formal partnership. Comparable as both partner and adjacent competitor in data-driven team coaching engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=Disrupting+Our+Practice+podcast

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connection Works