ABOUT US

Cultivating Confident Leaders and Passionate Teams 

Executive Coaching and Talent Acquisition Services for
Nonprofits and Government Organizations

WHAT IS BONSAI?

As a nonprofit organization, you’re working to change the world. And at Bonsai Leadership Group, we understand every leg of this journey, from the staffing pains experienced by a rapidly-growing start up, to the hiring goals of an NGO looking to bring on bold new voices.

No matter where you are, Bonsai Leadership Group gives you the support you need to boldly lead your team and transform your organization into an unstoppable force for good.

RECRUITING

We support nonprofit and government organizations by securing the talent they need to reach their goals. When you attract and retain passionate and aligned employees, your organization thrives along with them. 

Our goal is to help you build highly impactful teams. What makes our approach unique is that we take the time to research and identify top talent in order to create racially diverse candidate pools for you to choose from. 

This approach not only benefits employers, who are able to elevate their organizations and teams with diverse, innovative thinkers, it helps candidates live happier, more fulfilling lives – professionally and personally – by connecting them with career opportunities and teams that align with their career goals, talents and passion.

EXECUTIVE COACHING

At Bonsai, we know that you are qualified, that you are good enough, and that you can use your unique perspective to make an impact in your organization!  

With our personalized approach to executive coaching, we’ll be there to guide you on every step of your journey to reaching your professional goals.  

MEET OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

LATRESSE SNEAD

FOUNDER

LaTresse Snead has establish herself as a multi-faceted leader and visionary changemaker. A Certified Executive Coach and Birkman Certified Professional, she has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and business sectors and a reputation for being bold, authentic, and transparent. Known for sharing difficult truths in a sensitive, but direct way, LaTresse is passionate about environmental and social justice issues. 

  • Driven by a deep desire to influence and build diverse, nonprofit talent, LaTresse launched Bonsai Leadership Group LLC, with the goal of developing leaders and helping nonprofit executives cultivate inclusive, dynamic and high performing teams to succeed in an increasingly complex workplace. As Bonsai’s principal, she offers executive coaching, talent acquisition and strategic nonprofit consultation.

    She most recently served as chief program officer of the National Park Foundation (NPF), raising her profile as a vocal champion of equity and inclusion in outdoor spaces. At NPF, LaTresse drove awareness and engagement in the national parks system while overseeing more than $55 million in program investments to protect its wildlife, history, and culture. Prior to the National Park Foundation, LaTresse spent seven years at The Nature Conservancy, during which time she steadily amassed more responsibility. She began her career there as director of volunteer programs and community outreach and went on to become global director of the Healthy Cities program, leading an all-remote team of scientists, program leaders, environmental educators and project managers in developing global solutions to the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. She has also held leadership positions at the American Red Cross, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

    LaTresse is a dedicated volunteer leader with deep ties to a number of local, regional, and national nonprofits. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Birds Georgia and the North American Association of Environmental Educators.

    LaTresse earned a master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Administration from Georgia State University and bachelor’s in Black Studies from San Francisco State University. She and her family currently reside in the Washington, DC metro area.

lamar pipkins

managing director

With over 15 years of expertise in orchestrating and guiding large-scale teams, La Mar Pipkins brings an impressive commitment to excellence in operations, human resources, strategy, and program implementation. His journey is defined by a relentless pursuit of cultivating environments where individuals thrive and organizations flourish. 

  • La Mar excels in navigating the intricacies of organizational dynamics, steering teams toward success amidst challenging landscapes. He specializes in developing high-performing teams that operate inside complex structures. Driven by a passion for fostering employee well-being, La Mar crafts strategies that promote healthy behaviors within organizations. He delves deep into understanding the nuanced factors influencing employee motivation and engagement, orchestrating initiatives that bolster organizational cohesion and vitality. 

    As a Certified Executive Coach and Birkman Certified Professional, La Mar is adept at harnessing the power of personality and self-awareness to catalyze transformative growth in leaders. Through tailored executive coaching sessions, he empowers leaders to unlock their full potential, propelling both personal and organizational growth to new heights. 

    In his role, La Mar champions diversity, equity, and inclusion as cornerstones of effective leadership. His commitment to fostering inclusive environments is underscored by his Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate from the esteemed Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations. La Mar is a distinguished graduate of Georgia State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Aviation Management and holds postgraduate degrees in Aeronautical Science and International Relations from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Webster University, respectively. 

    Beyond his professional endeavors, La Mar finds solace in his home base of Washington, DC, where he indulges his passions for travel, aviation, and the perpetual pursuit of home improvement projects. He is also a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, which helps fuel his passion for promoting diverse and inclusive workplaces.  

MEET OUR EXPERTS

Bonsai works with a diverse group of experts to help you reach your goals. Whatever your organization needs, our qualified and experienced consultants are on hand to provide you with direction.  

LAUREN MIURA

CAREER COACH

Lauren Miura specializes in career development coaching and career transition coaching. As a Certified Professional Coach and Birkman Certified Professional (BCP), she is passionate about supporting leaders who are solving problems and creating positive change in their communities and the world. With her background in nonprofit marketing, communications and fundraising and a master's in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit management, Lauren is uniquely equipped well-suited to support Bonsai Leadership Group clients.  

  • Lauren believes that everyone has gifts to contribute to the world and that it is important to spend our lives doing fulfilling work that our communities and planet urgently need. To utilize their passions to make a greater impact, Lauren helps her clients identify their individual strengths and guides them in developing a plan and taking bold action to achieve their career goals. 

    For Bonsai Leadership Group, Lauren guides clients through career development coaching and career transition coaching so they can gain clarity, feel more fulfilled, and inspire those around them. She brings a deep understanding of social impact careers and the importance of service to her coaching practice, as well as the challenges of working mothers.  

    Lauren creates a supportive coaching environment for her clients to explore possibilities, think big, and keep moving toward their goals. She teaches her clients how to best communicate their professional narratives, giving them a strategic advantage in the job search. With Lauren's support, clients have landed their dream jobs, launched creative projects, started businesses, gained clarity on their long-term career goals, and more. 

    In addition to coaching, Lauren has also led workshops and spoken on a variety of topics related to career development, including Creating Your Career with Intention, 5 Steps to Relaunching Your Career, Launching Your Service-Based Business, and Relaunching Your Career in a Virtual World.  

    Lauren is based in New York City and serves clients across North America. She has served as the 2022 Director of Communications and board member for the Los Angeles chapter of the International Coaching Federation.  

Dr. Jermaine M. Davis

COMMUNICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND TEAMWORK KEYNOTE AND WORKSHOP SPEAKER

Dr. Jermaine M. Davis is a Communication, Leadership, and Teamwork Keynote and Workshop Speaker working with Bonsai Leadership Group to help teams and organizations develop healthy work environments so all employees can thrive and succeed. 

  • Dr. Jermaine is an international speaker, leadership coach, and communication strategist who engages audiences with his unique presentation style known as edutainment, a fun combination of education and entertainment. Prestigious organizations like 3M, Best Buy, Sam’s Club, Land O’ Lakes, Prudential, Wells Fargo, West Point Military Academy, John Deere, Caterpillar, Microsoft, Medtronic, Yale University, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car regularly seek out Dr. Jermaine’s expertise in the areas of increasing employee engagement, leading positive change, thriving as a team, communicating with influence, and overcoming workplace burnout. 

    Before receiving the prestigious College Instructor of the Year Award, Dr. Jermaine M. Davis worked in corporate America for IBM, Keebler Cookies, and Frito-Lay in sales, marketing, and management. Now, he’s an award-winning Professor of Communication Studies at Century College and Organizational Leadership at St. Catherine University in Minnesota. Dr. Jermaine is the best-selling author of 10 books including, Get Up Off Your Butt & Do It NOW, Leading with Greatness, and Leading and Working with an Inclusive Lens.  

    Dr. Jermaine holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Speech Communications, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. He is the proud recipient of the College Professor of the Year Award, Cornell University Certified Diversity Professional, and the Minnesota Speakers Association Hall-of-Fame Award. 

    Dr. Jermaine lives in the Twin Cities and enjoys watching his son Zion play football, attending stand-up comedy shows, and eating all-you-can-eat crab legs.