About Dr. Satterfield
Experience and leadership philosophy
My leadership philosophy
I started in the classroom, where I learned something that has guided my work ever since: there is far more potential in a room than most people realize, and it grows the moment someone invests in it. That belief became my throughline. Every person deserves a clear path to grow, and a steady partner while they walk it.
Later, as an elected leader, I governed under real pressure and delivered results that meant moving whole systems, not simply having good ideas. I saw that bold vision becomes real progress when leaders have the right support to carry it.
That is why I built Advancing Lives. I work with leaders and the organizations investing in them, in the space between a bold vision and real results, and it is my favorite place to be, because that is where growth happens. I bring research, lived experience, and practical tools into every engagement, along with a conviction that the people in front of me are more capable than they know.
My doctoral work turned that belief into a discipline, and it continues to shape how I coach, facilitate, and speak. Leadership is not about having all the answers, but about building the systems where the right answers can emerge.
Credentials
Harvard
Doctorate
I hold a Doctorate in Education Leadership from Harvard, with a focus on systems-level change. My guidance rests on rigorous research and results that hold up in practice.
Systems Leader
I have led complex organizations through real change, aligning people, strategy, and execution. You gain a partner who has carried hard decisions from idea to outcome.
Elected Leader
I served as an elected official and chaired a superintendent search. I have governed under public scrutiny, and I bring that composure to the leaders I coach.
Social Worker
I am a trained social worker, which means I lead with the whole person in view. The human side of change stays central to the work.