joanne@joannederr.com

It Started with Uncle Max

​

Many of us have an Uncle Max - the “odd one” in the family, the one invited to holiday meals and then everyone avoids. Uncle Max told unintelligible war stories, many of them in Spanish, and looked like he had no home. Joanne was fascinated by her uncle– how had he become who he was and how could she connect with her uncle so that he felt appreciated and loved? Determined to understand Uncle Max, she was able to create a deep bond with him throughout the rest of his life.  

​

Finding Her Superpower

​

From Uncle Max, Joanne realized that being able to truly connect with unique people was a superpower. In high school she volunteered with special needs kids, then earned her undergraduate degree in special education and graduate degree in vocational rehabilitation while working full time with adults with disabilities. She came to understand that people can succeed or fail based on the people, organization, and processes that surrounded them – the system they were part of. Helping to uncover people’s strengths and help create a system of success for every employee became her guiding principal.

​

Helping Individuals Succeed Inside a System

 

When Joanne launched her career in human resources a core part of her mission was to support and develop leaders, helping to ensure that employees were recognized for their strengths, and that support systems were put in place to help them succeed. She started coaching managers to become better leaders. That passion for helping individuals succeed inside a system they choose to work in is the lens Joanne brings to her clients.

​