About Us
AMBIENT [am.bee.uhnt]
(adj.) the immediate surroundings of something; existing or present on all sides, encompassing.
Collaborate With Us
We are Ambient Collective, a Minneapolis-St. Paul based consulting practice that specializes in the design and management of social change. We exist to support foundations, nonprofits, city, state, and local governments in their efforts to create solutions to complex social challenges.
We are honest, thoughtful and adaptive in our work and desire to partner with organizations who value the same. Our vision is to empower solutions to your unique social challenges.
Our team
Isadora Collins and Steph Jacobs met while working at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs where they became trusted colleagues and friends. Since 2016, they have worked together to build equity, develop transformative leaders, and design innovative initiatives to address complex social issues. Together, Isadora and Steph bring their individual strengths, lived identities and shared values to form Ambient Collective.
Collectively, we will dream, think, create, plan, and build toward social justice for all.
Isadora Collins
Co-Director
Isadora Collins is an experienced project manager, innovation process designer and facilitator of systems redesign that centers the experience of Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities. Her practice utilizes qualitative research and developmental evaluation in the design and execution of projects to build intentional, responsive, and equitable community-centered solutions within community-centered organizations.
Isadora has spent the last 15 years of her career serving nonprofits, state and local governments, leaders, changemakers and higher education institutions throughout Minnesota. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communications from Metropolitan State University, a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and a Certificate in Project Management from the College of Continuing & Professional Studies at the University of Minnesota.
As a second generation Liberian-American born and raised in the Twin-Cities area, Isadora credits her passion for this work to her parents. In her freetime you will find her listening to an audiobook, in an airport lounge on the way to her next adventure.
Steph Jacobs
Co-Director
Adventure. Growth. Compassion. Connection. Justice. These are the values that guide Steph Jacobs. She strives to use them when making decisions in her everyday life and in the vision for her future. Steph is fueled by connecting people and facilitating conversations that lead to new understanding, perspective, and action. She believes in an approach to leadership that is open, inclusive, and based in abundance.
Steph is a graduate of St. Olaf College and has a master’s degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Throughout her career, Steph has created and facilitated programs on equity and inclusion, systems change, and leadership development for people working in state and local government and in nonprofit organizations.
She brings her knowledge and expertise in organizational development, emotional intelligence, change management, governance, and living systems to support the leaders she works with. She is a certified professional coach through iPEC, and she also serves on the board of directors of Metro Blooms.
Steph lives in south Minneapolis with her husband and daughter. She likes to keep her mind and hands busy by reading, knitting, gardening, and enjoying every season.
Associate Partners
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Sook Jin Ong
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT
Sook Jin Ong (she/her; first name: Sook Jin), brings her passion for facilitating important conversations and learning spaces for organizations and communities to her work. She wears many hats, including facilitator, graphic harvester, poet, strategist, trainer, and coach. She has more than a decade of experience working with state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations through rethinking and redesigning their programs, processes, and policies to be more equitable and community-centered.
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Jen Mein
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT
Jen shows up curious with an open mind and compassionate with an open heart. Leveraging technical and adaptive skills, she facilitates and captures meaningful conversations around important issues to deepen understanding, connections, and impact in order to shape a more inclusive, equitable, and just world. As a seasoned facilitator, Jen brings a warm, calm presence while being attentive to the needs of the group.
