Teamwork Matters - Shanna Kabatznick

Just as a puzzle requires strategy, vision, and persistence to complete, so does the process of cultivating a team that excels together.

Creating high-performing teams matters more than ever.

Are you a team leader who is . . .

Picture a Team Where All the Pieces Fit Together

In today’s fast-paced work environment, the key to a smooth and productive team is connection and collaboration.

Think of it as putting together a detailed puzzle – you start by laying out the edges, and then, piece by piece, you fit the intricate parts together. Every single piece is crucial to finishing the whole picture.

That’s the power of our team-building approach. First, we recognize each team member’s unique contributions and perspective. Then, we focus on how these pieces come together to create a complete picture.

The result is a team that appreciates one another, works well together, and their performance rocks!

Hi, we’re Shanna Kabatznick and Mariana Marko!

Shanna Kabatznick

To learn more about Shanna, click here

Mariana Marko

To learn more about Mariana, click here

We are your puzzle masters. We transform teams. Together, we bring expertise in team dynamics, communication, and exceptional performance. Our 30+ years of experience with government agencies, large corporations, non-profits, and small businesses means we understand the needs of teams of every shape and size.

In short, we work with teams so teams can work.

"You can tell that Shanna is passionate about what she does. It's not easy to keep a room full of salespeople engaged for a whole day. Kudos! "

~ Sales Training Participant/ large insurance company

"I would like Shanna to come back for additional classes. She easily built a rapport with the participants and proved she was a great fit for this organization."

-Team Building Training/Government Agency

What makes us different?

Our approach begins well before training.

First, we have a discussion to assess what is happening with your team and understand what a high-performing team looks like for you. We also take time to understand your team culture and organizational goals.

Next, we design an interactive, engaging workshop experience that aligns your team’s strengths, styles, and goals, ensuring that each member is contributing to the final picture. This is where transformation happens.

And it doesn’t end there. We meet with you after training to review and affirm your team’s progress. We provide you with strategies and simple tools to reinforce their positive relationships, proactive collaboration, and exceptional performance.

“Mariana was excellent. I enjoyed her way of teaching and that it wasn't just a PowerPoint presentation. The hands-on activities allowed me to get to know my colleagues better and come together as a team.”

-Team Building Participant /International Pharmaceutical Company.

“Mariana was a great facilitator! She engaged each of us right from the beginning and led us in discussions about high-performing teams. She was also able to lean into some hard topics that moved us forward."

-CEO/Large Non-Profit.

Mariana is an experienced trainer and gifted facilitator. She is passionate about creating strong organizations and helping leaders align their workplace behaviors with strategic goals, objectives, and values. Her human resources background includes work in performance management, employee engagement, and leadership development.

Mariana’s warm style combined with her outcome-driven mindset make her a favorite of organizations that have specific challenges they need to tackle. She is known for bringing an individualized approach to transformation through coaching and executive advising, team building and facilitation, organizational development, and conflict management.

Clients

Mariana has worked with a wide range of organizations: large corporations, universities, private business, not-for-profit entities, faith-based groups, and government. Groups she has served include AstraZeneca, Intuit, CarMax, the US Army, the US Space Force, Workday, Lockheed Martin, and Virginia Tech.

Professional Background

Mariana began her career in an executive training program with a large financial bank in the Washington, DC area. Subsequently, she spent several years in the financial services industry with leadership roles in retail banking, commercial lending, mortgage services, and training.

Building on her work in training, Mariana joined a boutique consulting firm. There, she designed, developed, and facilitated sessions for individual contributors, mid-level managers, and senior leaders on such topics as conflict resolution, interpersonal skills, and team dynamics.

She believes in the process of encouraging self-awareness, understanding and intentionality as it applies to individual, team and organizational success – and ultimately leads to greater employee engagement, lower turnover, and more highly motivated and committed employees.

In a recent role with a large international nonprofit organization, she developed training plans through needs analysis and stakeholder evaluation, designed talent development plans, facilitated strategic planning and team development sessions, restructured performance management approach, and coached employees and leaders of all levels. She also created the framework for an organization-wide leadership development program.

Education and Certifications

Mariana earned a BA in interdisciplinary studies with a focus in arts management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also holds an MA in management and leadership from Liberty University.

She is certified to facilitate several professional development assessments, including CoreClarity (using CliftonStrengths), Predictive Index, and DISC. Mariana is also a certified ELC3 coach.