Casa Alternavida

What if you’ve been looking at leadership all wrong?
Leadership isn’t just about what you do; it’s about the mindset you bring. Every thought, emotion, and action creates ripple effects that shape your experience, your team, and your culture. Yet few leaders take time to see how their limiting beliefs quietly weaken performance, trust, and collaboration.
Many leaders today are at a breaking point. Disengagement has become the norm, draining trillions worldwide and leaving teams burned out and disconnected. The answer isn’t working harder or exerting more control, it’s learning to lead differently.
 
Amplify Your Leadership shows you how. Drawing on personal stories, science-backed practices, and two decades of facilitation, Yancy Wright reveals the hidden forces shaping how leaders influence culture and performance. Through practical tools rooted in emotional intelligence, well-being, and nature-based wisdom, this book offers a clear roadmap to shift reactive patterns, build high-performing teams, and create positive change in your world. 

Whether you’re a CEO guiding a company, an HR Director building a team, or just beginning your leadership journey, this book is your invitation to evolve into the leader you were always meant to be. Because when leaders shift, culture shifts. And when culture shifts, the world does too.

Book Author

We create a world where leaders and teams embrace a profound sense of purpose, boundless empowerment, and harmonious collaboration, all inspired by nature's wisdom. Our sanctuary Casa Alternavida stands as a beacon of transformation, empowering leaders to lead with authenticity and grace, while teams forge unbreakable bonds as they navigate challenges and celebrate triumphs together.

We envision a world where self-care is not just a fleeting moment, but an integral part of every leader's journey, fostering resilience, clarity, and personal growth. Our commitment to conscious leadership creates a ripple effect, as these empowered leaders inspire their teams to reach new heights of creativity and collaboration, bringing positive change to organizations and communities worldwide.

Through our unparalleled experience of transformational team building in nature, we envision teams that seamlessly blend individual strengths, unlock collective potential, and foster an unwavering sense of camaraderie and trust. As our retreat center becomes a catalyst for positive global impact, leaders and teams alike will embody a deep connection with each other and nature, working in unison to create a sustainable and thriving world for generations to come.

Together, we embark on a journey of endless possibilities, Casa Alternavida serves as a guiding light, illuminating the path towards a future where leaders and teams flourish, inspire, and shape a world that cherishes both humanity and nature.

Headquartered on the US island of Puerto Rico, we enjoy using our local rainforest, beaches and great climate to create transformational experiences with individuals and teams. We also travel to support our great clients in international locations. http://www.yancywright.com

Founder / CEO

CEO - CASA ALTERNAVIDA - Wellness Retreats for leaders on a mission

Sellen Construction

Created and managed team of green building specialists doing sustainability consulting and training across the US. Led Sellen Construction to become the largest green building contractor in Washington State. Authored innovative curriculum, partnering on grants to train over 2,500 construction workers, developing the first in the nation “green building safety” curriculum, and evolving the construction industry across the US.

Director - Sellen Sustainability

Created and directed company-wide sustainable initiatives, oversaw LEED projects, and managed a wide variety of teams to successfully deliver more than 40 green building projects (LEED) for world-class clients like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft, GSA, Amazon.com, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. www.sellenconstruction.com

Sustainability Director / Project Engineer 

Schuchart

Managed a team of craftspeople, focused on closing out high-end residential homes

Project Manager - Special Projects Division

Miscelaneous Jobs

Completed masters degree in Architecture with Penn State University in Rome, Italy. Fell in love with Europe and worked many jobs in effort to gain legal status to stay and work in Europe. The result, was a worldly education.

Instructor, Architectural Designer, Construction Administration, Artist

Ambassador of what’s possible.
I’m the facilitator leaders call when they’re ready to stop playing it safe and do the deep work.

Over the past decade, I’ve led 500+ nature-based retreats and guided high-impact leaders to confront blind spots, shift limiting beliefs, and unlock their full potential. My work goes beyond strategy and results. I help CEOs and teams examine how their well-being, energy, and mindset create ripple effects that quietly shape culture and performance.

After burning out as a leader in the green building industry, I founded Casa Alternavida, a transformational retreat center in Puerto Rico. Here, we design immersive experiences that reconnect leaders to their purpose, presence, and authentic leadership, using nature and adventure as powerful catalysts for world change.

Certified in somatic coaching, conscious communication, resilience, and forest therapy, I blend business acumen with emotional intelligence and embodied practice. The result? Leaders who evolve from the inside out, amplifying the ripple effect they have on their companies, relationships, and lives.

I’ve had the privilege of working with purpose-driven organizations such as CBRE, Blanchard, Money Group, Discover Puerto Rico, Interface, and others, helping their leaders and teams reduce stress, strengthen collaboration, and achieve measurable ROI.

Yancy Wright

🌱 Here's a simple truth: You can’t lead well if you’re unwell.

So many leaders push through exhaustion, convincing themselves that slowing down means falling behind. But the truth is, leadership isn’t just about driving results, it’s about the energy and awareness you bring into every room.

What if your next breakthrough didn’t come from doing more but from being still enough to listen?

Still enough to feel your own breath.
Still enough to notice what your team really needs.
Still enough to remember why you started leading in the first place.

When leaders pause, they reconnect to their purpose, to their people, and to themselves.
Because the most powerful influence doesn’t come from force… it comes from presence.

And sometimes, the greatest act of leadership is choosing rest before the world demands it.

#Leadership #MindfulLeadership #CasaAlternavida #ConsciousBusiness #WellbeingAtWork #PurposeDrivenLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence

Helping Teams 7x Performance, Reduce Burnout, & Drive ROI by Transforming Leadership & Culture | Executive Retreat facilitator, Coach, & Author.

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🌿 Alone time isn’t loneliness, it’s medicine.

When you step outside, away from the noise of meetings, deadlines, and constant notifications, something shifts. The trees don’t ask anything of you. The river doesn’t care about your title. The sky doesn’t measure your productivity.

Nature simply reminds you: you belong, just as you are.

For many leaders, the most powerful insights don’t come from a boardroom. They come from a quiet walk under the canopy, a moment sitting by the water, or breathing deeply in the stillness.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your team is to give yourself the space to listen, to your body, your thoughts, your heart.

💭 When was the last time you gave yourself real alone time in nature?

#Leadership #SelfAwareness #NatureHeals #MindfulLeadership #PersonalGrowth #RestIsProductive #ConsciousLeadership #WellbeingAtWork #StressRelief

Watch how trees bend in the wind, flexible, not fragile. 🌬️

They don’t resist the storm; they dance with it. That’s how they survive.

Leadership works the same way. When we hold too tightly to control, we snap under pressure. But when we allow flexibility in our plans, our people, and ourselves, we stay grounded even as everything moves around us.

Adaptability isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom in motion. 🌳

💭 How are you learning to bend without breaking?

#LeadershipResilience #EmotionalIntelligence #ConsciousLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeader #MindfulLeadership #CasaAlternavida #NatureAsTeacher #AuthenticLeadership

For too long, we’ve been told to leave emotions at the door to lead with logic and suppress what’s real.
But emotions are not distractions. They’re data.
They show us what we value, where we’re misaligned, and what truly needs attention.

Leadership isn’t about staying unshaken, it’s about staying aware.
The most grounded leaders don’t avoid emotion; they meet it, learn from it, and let it guide them forward.

#EmotionalIntelligence #AuthenticLeadership #ConsciousLeadership  #LeadershipPresence

Leadership isn’t limited to CEOs or managers. It shows up in parenting, in communities, and in how you influence the people around you.

At its heart, leadership isn’t about directing others, it’s about leading yourself first. When you show up with balance and authenticity, influence flows naturally without forcing, and those around you feel more at ease.

What kind of leader are you becoming right now?

👉 Read more here: https://bit.ly/4o0DaGX 

#ConsciousLeadership #AuthenticLeadership #LeadYourself

Let me know if you want me to schedule these, and if there are any particular days you prefer they go out.

Do you know why great leaders coach more than they command?

In today’s fast-moving workplace, traditional command-and-control leadership is losing its edge. Employees don’t just want to be told what to do, they want to be challenged, developed, and supported.

The best leaders know this: coaching beats commanding in the long run.

When you coach instead of command, you’re not giving up authority, you’re building trust, autonomy, and long-term capability.

✅ Commanding delivers compliance.
✅ Coaching builds commitment.

So what does coaching leadership look like?
- It’s asking, not telling.
- It’s listening more than talking.
- It’s helping people find their own answers instead of giving them yours.

You’ll hear questions like:
“What do you think is the best approach here?”
“What did you learn from that experience?”
“What support do you need to move forward?”

These moments don’t take long, but over time, they shape confident, capable teams who own their growth.

The long-term payoff? Stronger engagement, higher retention, more innovation, and a culture where people feel seen and valued

Great leaders don’t just manage tasks, they develop people.
They don’t just command outcomes, they coach for growth.

Because leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about helping others realize they’re smart too and giving them the space to prove it.

How are you incorporating coaching into your leadership today?
Let’s share ideas in the comments. 💚

Fire transforms everything it touches, just like leaders who act with passion and purpose. 🔥

But even the brightest flame needs care. Too much fuel, and it burns out. Too little, and it fades.

Leadership is the same. Your inner fire needs tending with rest, reflection, and connection so it becomes a steady source of warmth and light, not exhaustion.

True power comes not from burning harder, but from burning wisely. ✨

💭 How are you tending your inner fire this week?

#LeadershipEnergy #MindfulLeadership #SelfCareForLeaders #EmotionalIntelligence #ConsciousLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeader #CasaAlternavida #InnerWork

When a team goes on a nature-based retreat, it’s not just about bonding exercises or stepping away from work.

It’s about noticing the little things: how people walk at different paces on a trail, who naturally pauses to help another cross the rocks, or who finds joy in leading the way through the forest.

These small moments, unseen in the office reveal truths about leadership, collaboration, and patience that no meeting agenda could ever capture.

Nature doesn’t just host your retreat, it teaches it.

The question is: are we slowing down enough to notice the lessons right in front of us? 🌊🍃

#Leadership #TeamRetreat #NatureWisdom #ConsciousLeadership #TeamGrowth

Real team building goes beyond icebreakers and happy hours.

When teams step into nature, slow down, and connect differently, walls come down, communication opens up, and culture resets.

The result isn’t just “team bonding.” It’s stronger cohesion, deeper trust, and practical tools that last long after the retreat.


How does your team currently build trust?

👉 Explore more here: https://bit.ly/3WpsHsE


#TeamBuilding #LeadershipDevelopment #MindfulTeams

In leadership, as in nature, resistance isn’t always strength.

When water meets a rock, it doesn’t force its way through. It pauses, redirects, and finds another path forward. Over time, its persistence shapes even the hardest stone, not by pressure, but by presence.

What if leadership was the same?
Instead of meeting challenges with resistance or control, what if we learned to flow, to adapt, observe, and trust movement over force?

Adaptability isn’t giving up. It’s the wisdom to know when to shift, when to pause, and when to allow what’s unfolding to teach you something new.

💧Flow doesn’t mean weakness, it’s how the strongest leaders lead with grace.

#Leadership #Adaptability #MindfulLeadership #NatureWisdom #EmotionalIntelligence #CasaAlternavida #ConsciousLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeaders

In today’s world, speed is often mistaken for success. We celebrate productivity, multitasking, and constant motion as if slowing down means falling behind. But true leadership isn’t found in how fast we move; it’s revealed in how deeply we connect, reflect, and choose our next step.

We’ve seen how powerful it can be when leaders give themselves permission to pause. In that stillness, the noise of constant doing fades, and clarity begins to surface. The pause becomes a sacred space where intuition strengthens, priorities realign, and creativity flows naturally again.

Slowing down isn’t a luxury; it’s an act of courage. It takes bravery to stop in a culture that glorifies exhaustion and to lead from presence instead of pressure. Yet when leaders model this, they send a quiet but transformative message: it’s safe to breathe, to think, and to reconnect.

When a team sees their leader honoring rest and reflection, they too begin to move with more authenticity and intention. Progress doesn’t disappear, it deepens.

Because sometimes, the most powerful way to move forward… is to slow down first. 🌿

#EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipPresence #PurposeDrivenLeaders

Burnout doesn’t arrive suddenly, it whispers before it roars.
It builds quietly in the skipped meals, the late-night emails, and the moments you tell yourself, “I’ll rest when this is done.”

But when leaders ignore their limits, the cost is steep, creativity fades, empathy dulls, and connection breaks down.
Rest isn’t a retreat from responsibility; it’s what makes responsibility sustainable.

Prevention starts with one brave act: slowing down before life forces you to. 🌿

#LeadershipWellbeing #ResilientLeadership #CasaAlternavida #ConsciousBusiness #WorkplaceWellness #EmbodiedLeadership #MindfulWork

After every storm, nature pauses. The sky clears. The air softens. The world exhales.

As leaders, we often rush from one challenge to the next carrying tension long after the storm has passed. But true resilience isn’t found in constant motion; it’s found in our ability to pause, breathe, and let clarity return.

Stillness isn’t laziness. It’s recovery. It’s recalibration.
It’s the moment when we remember what truly matters and lead from that place of calm presence once again.

🌿 When was the last time you allowed yourself to pause after the chaos?

#Resilience #LeadershipPresence #WellbeingAtWork #NatureReflection #ConsciousLeadership #CasaAlternavida #MindfulLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence

When a leader cultivates inner calm, the whole team feels it.
Their presence shifts the room, conversations slow down, clarity returns, and trust deepens.

Stillness isn’t passive. It’s a quiet strength that creates psychological safety and opens space for creativity and connection.

In a world that often equates leadership with urgency, stillness reminds us that impact doesn’t always come from doing more, it comes from being more present.

✨ The way you lead is the way you ripple.

#Leadership #MindfulLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #CasaAlternavida #ConsciousBusiness #TeamCulture #Presence #PurposeDrivenLeaders #WellbeingAtWork #InnerLeadership

We often admire the height of a tree, its branches stretching toward the light but rarely do we think about the roots holding it steady through storms.

Leadership is the same.
What sustains you isn’t always visible. Your values, rest, inner clarity, and emotional wellbeing are what keep you grounded when challenges arise.

It’s easy to chase growth upward, goals, results, recognition but real resilience comes from deepening your roots.
Because when your foundation is nourished, you don’t just grow taller, you grow stronger, steadier, and more alive.

🌿 What’s one “root” you want to nurture this week?

#LeadershipGrowth #SelfAwareness #ConsciousLeadership #InnerWork #MindfulLeadership #CasaAlternavida #EmotionalIntelligence #PurposeDrivenLeaders

In today’s leadership culture, we often equate busyness with success. Our calendars overflow, our inboxes never empty, and somewhere along the way, we begin to measure our worth by how much we can fit into a single day.

But here’s the truth: constant motion doesn’t equal meaningful progress. When every moment is filled with doing, we lose connection to being and that’s where real insight, creativity, and purpose live.

True leadership isn’t defined by how much you accomplish, but by the depth of awareness you bring to what you do. It’s not about moving faster, but about moving with intention.

✨ What if slowing down became your most productive move?

#MindfulLeadership #LeadershipWellbeing #CasaAlternavida #PurposeDrivenLeadership #ConsciousBusiness #StillnessMatters #LeadershipClarity

🌿 In nature, stillness isn’t absence, it’s preparation.
The forest rests before it blooms. The soil pauses before it gives life again.

Maybe your next spark of clarity or inspiration isn’t waiting in your to-do list, but in the quiet space between breaths.
Sometimes the most powerful progress happens when we stop trying to make it happen.

Because even in stillness, growth is quietly taking root. 🌱

#LeadershipReflection #RestIsProductive #MindfulLeadership #CasaAlternavida #NatureWisdom #WellbeingAtWork #SlowLeadership

We often think of massage as a luxury, something you “treat” yourself to after months of stress. But in reality, massage is one of the simplest ways to bring the body back into balance. 💆‍♀️

Massage isn’t just about relaxation. It:
✨ Supports circulation and lymphatic flow
✨ Releases tension stored in the muscles
✨ Lowers stress hormones and calms the nervous system
✨ Invites the mind to slow down and reconnect with the body

For leaders, it’s more than comfort, it’s capacity. The clearer and lighter you feel in your own body, the more grounded and present you can be with others.

The question isn’t, “Can I make time for this?” The real question is, “What shifts when I do?”

#LeadershipWellbeing #MindfulLeadership #StressRelief #WellbeingAtWork #HolisticHealth #NervousSystemRegulation #EmbodiedLeadership

In moments of pressure, it’s easy to react to defend, control, or rush into decisions just to ease the discomfort. But reaction often comes from fear or fatigue, not clarity.

True leadership begins when we learn to pause long enough to respond instead.

That pause, even just one conscious breath creates space for awareness.
It’s where empathy replaces reactivity.
It’s where intuition meets intention.
It’s where trust is built.

When we shift from reaction to response, we lead from presence instead of pressure.
And that presence ripples through conversations, teams, and entire cultures.

✨ What would change if, in your next moment of tension, you paused before responding?

#MindfulLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #CasaAlternavida #ConsciousLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #Presence #SelfAwareness #TeamCulture #InnerLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeaders

Firm. Grounded. Unmoving yet shaped gently by time and water.

Rocks remind us that true strength isn’t about resisting change; it’s about trusting the process that shapes you. Over time, even the hardest surfaces are softened by flow, not force.

In leadership and in life, we’re constantly being refined by the elements around us, challenges, relationships, transitions. The question is: do we resist them, or let them shape us into something wiser, smoother, more grounded?

Because strength isn’t rigidity. It’s grace in motion.

💭 Where in your life are you learning to stay steady while still evolving?

#AuthenticLeadership #SelfDiscovery #NatureAsTeacher #CasaAlternavida #MindfulLeadership #ResilientLeaders #InnerStrength #EmotionalIntelligence

Impactivo Consulting

Impactivo is a social impact consulting firm that specializes in the field of health and healthcare, childhood and education and philanthropy. We produce solutions that translate research and policy to action and build systemic, operational and strategic funding capacity.

Impactivo offers a wide array of services in Strategic Funding, Financial Sustainability, and Program Management to support leaders at the forefront of social innovation in making strategy and organization decisions that lead to exceptional results. We are dedicated to the development of projects that improve the health status, educational attainment, and general wellbeing of the people of people who live in Puerto Rico and abroad.

CEO & Founder

Stanford University School of Medicine

The Health Leadership Labs recognizes the need for more and better research, education, and initiatives that apply management approaches to solve problems in health care delivery and promote health. Organizations that deliver health and health care benefit from organizational approaches that promote evidence-based leadership and learning-, systems-, and team-oriented environments in which to deliver health services; operational approaches that optimize care delivery; and systems engineering approaches to inspire disciplined problem analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of innovations. To address these issues, the Lab fosters collaboration among colleagues from across the University, including the Schools of Medicine, Graduate School of Business, Engineering, Law, and Humanities.

HELIO Labs Affiliate

Triple-S

(NYSE:  GTS)	Work with the President of Puerto Rico's largest health insurance firm on the implementation of special projects focused on improving the health of the company's members. Projects included work on the strategic planning process, building performance management systems, improving data analysis and reporting capabilities, identifying opportunities in federal funding and recommending best practices in health care management.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Affiliate Special Advisor on Quality

Harvard Kennedy School

Teaching Fellow for Professor Christopher Stone's course:  Strategic Management of Non-Profit Organizations

Teaching Assistant for Professor Dean William's course Exercising Leadership:  Mobilizing Group Resources

Teaching Fellow & Assistant

Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates

Worked with the CEO, CMO and CIO to document the group's transition towards a accountable care.

Intern

Chana & Samuel Levis Foundation

Managed the foundation's $2 million budget, advocated for public policy, managed public relations in the media & political environments & procured funds & fiscal resources. Planned & implemented the Foundation's programs & administrative mechanisms from start-up, including: Conflict Resolution & Prevention Programs in Public Schools, IDA Savings Demonstration Project for Children, Federal Government Contract providing Technical Assistance for homeless service providers resulting in the attainment of $12 million in new federal funding & the first online homeless management information system in the Caribbean, linking dozens of service programs.

Founder & Executive Director

US Department of Health and Human Services

Team to the Policy Academy on "Improving Access to Mainstream Services for Chronically Homeless Persons" Appointed by the Governor of Puerto Rico, to coordinate an Island Wide Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.

Co-Lead

Maria’s experiences living in Puerto Rico and working in under-resourced areas in the U.S. have been a driving force behind her mission to empower leaders to move health forward. Her experience as a responder to some of the most challenging natural disasters in recent history, and her own personal health emergencies have only strengthened her resolve to make a difference in the World. 

As a Harvard-trained expert in health reform and social entrepreneurship, Maria has worked with thousands of physicians, primary care centers, and health systems to design and implement effective technologies for addressing community health needs. She has led projects funded by prestigious organizations, including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. She is also certified as a Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner, Patient-Centered Medical Home Content Expert, and Fundraising Executive.

Maria’s innovative approach to personalized care and education has earned her a patent and recognition as one of the Top 10 Women Visionary Leaders in Healthcare, Top 100 Innovators & Entrepreneurs, and Top 100 Healthcare Leaders.  She has also authored multiple books focused on putting people first in healthcare.

Her passion for people and using data as a vehicle for change makes her a refreshing source of light. Maria is the proud mother of a kind-hearted, mindful surfer who brings joy and balance to her life.

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