Hello, there.
I’m Trina (she/her), an executive coach, equity expert, author, facilitator and trainer who has been leading teams and building content for over 20 years.
I love working with people and organizations that want to deepen their skills and live their values. I have a particular passion for navigating the complex intersections of race, gender, and the American workplace.
Photo by Anna Min
I’m white, 43, and queer. I am probably best known for co-creating “The Embodied Identity House”. It’s a model of intersectionality that paints the picture of current differences making a difference in how people living in the U.S. are talked about and treated. Raised by a family of artists and creatives, I value taking complex concepts and finding digestible and memorable ways to turn what we believe into how we behave. To this day, I am blown away by the number and reach of people and institutions who use this house.
I write constantly. I appreciate both short and long form ways of getting ideas and tools out into the world. I’d love for you to check out my book Hiring Revolution: A Guide to Disrupt Racism and Sexism in Hiring which I co-authored with my good friend Alfonso Wenker.
Keep scrolling to learn more.
Reach Out - Trina@TrinaOlson.com
What People Are Saying
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NICOLE D.
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I watched the last video with Trina Olson and had a number of epiphany moments -- it was so good! Trina explains subjects in such an approachable, understandable manner.
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TIM N.
“After the training there were hallway conversations happening and this morning, people were still discussing it – which is a huge kudos”
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AMANDA H.
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What an excellent facilitation yesterday, thank you!! You are a wonderful fit for us in this moment.
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JEN T.
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I actually had the chance to use some of my new knowledge literally within a few hours after the retreat. A new job posting was presented to me and I was able to make several suggestions based off of what we learned, so it was cool to get to put it into practice so quickly!
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MICAELA H.
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I just wanted to say thank you for the time we’ve spent together and that I enjoyed putting more tools in my toolbox for my next adventure.
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LAUREL H.
“Rich content that is both inspirational and practical, the best kind. And the flexibility you brought today was really effective I think. We had great retention and I saw how your learnings resonated with our members.”
What Else
Where do I work?
I work with clients all over the U.S. I’ve lived in 18 U.S. cities, including: Seattle, Washington DC, Los Angeles, New York, and Minneapolis. I enjoy supporting people and teams all across the country. Depending on what we’re up to together we can figure out a mix of remote and in-person support.
Who are my clients?
My clients are leaders who recognize that skillsets need to be gained and deepened all the time in order to traverse the modern day working context we find ourselves in. My clients want to increase their self awareness and readiness to harness positive opportunities and to interrupt when harm is being done. My clients care about equity and justice and strive to live their values day-to-day.
Why is this what I’m up to?
After decades working inside of 8 different organizations, twice as an executive director, in 2017 Donald Trump got inaugurated and I got a divorce. It was a transformative time where I took stock and wanted to make sure that I was well positioned to use all that I had learned in service of major movement building. As an entrepreneur, I am thrilled to now have the freedom and flexibility to work with people and teams whose missions I’m excited to support!
What do I teach?
I focus my facilitation and training on the intersection of our identities and modern day realities in the U.S. workforce. I often get asked to speak to groups about anti-racism, gender equity, and LGBTQ+ justice. I work with leaders in the C-Suite and teams of all different shapes and sizes. I work with HR departments, Talent Acquisition teams, Finance + Operations, Program departments and more.
What am I currently learning?
I am currently studying three related topics: 1) how those of us living in the U.S. can do a better job of learning from our history and our present in order to positively influence our future 2) what BIPOC leaders are positing in terms of land back movements, reparations, and alternatives to public safety 3) any and all topics related to the future of the workforce (ex. better benefits, a four day work week, what’s going to happen to office buildings, digital nomads, etc.)
How do I spend my time?
In addition to my work life, I love spending time creating art, listening to music, and enjoying podcasts. I also love hosting friends for fun filled nights of cooking, playing games, and hanging out in my garden.