We're not conventional communications consultants. Our focus is on providing learning, engagement and communications services to support change - because experience and research show that change can't happen without these key processes.
We choose to work with story for several reasons. It's a proven and powerful tool for facilitation and management. It's what people consistently want more of. And, a story-based approach complements our strong background in documentary production and adult education.
Our strategic framework is rooted in Appreciative Inquiry (AI), an established, participatory change management process. Through AI, we focus on achieving desired goals (what you actually want) rather than solving existing problems (what you don't want).
Denise Withers is the principal and voice of Watershed Stories.
About Denise
Education
Expertise
Awards
Passion
Denise has 25 years of practical
experience working with story for change, as well as a graduate
degree focussed on generating engagement.
During her career, she has served a diverse client base that includes CIDA, IDRC, NASA, United Nations, David Suzuki Foundation, Simon Fraser University, Nortel, DND, Natural Resources, Parks and Fisheries & Oceans Canada: as well as major media chains (Discovery Channel, CBC & CanWest national newspapers).
As an award-winning educator and documentary filmmaker, Denise has crafted stories about everything from GMOs - to fire prevention - to environmental citizenship. Through public outreach programs, she's tapped the power of story to build communities of women with HIV, bring suicidal teenagers into counselling, and inform public policy. Inside government, business and not-for-profit organizations, she's created story strategies to enhance employee engagement, re-engineer design processes and research product requirements.
Over the years, Denise has managed projects on four continents in tough environments like the jungles of Barbados, oceans of the Arctic, labs of NASA, townships of Zambia, boardrooms of Beijing and barracks of Belleville.
These days, she works mostly on social & environmental projects.
During her career, she has served a diverse client base that includes CIDA, IDRC, NASA, United Nations, David Suzuki Foundation, Simon Fraser University, Nortel, DND, Natural Resources, Parks and Fisheries & Oceans Canada: as well as major media chains (Discovery Channel, CBC & CanWest national newspapers).
As an award-winning educator and documentary filmmaker, Denise has crafted stories about everything from GMOs - to fire prevention - to environmental citizenship. Through public outreach programs, she's tapped the power of story to build communities of women with HIV, bring suicidal teenagers into counselling, and inform public policy. Inside government, business and not-for-profit organizations, she's created story strategies to enhance employee engagement, re-engineer design processes and research product requirements.
Over the years, Denise has managed projects on four continents in tough environments like the jungles of Barbados, oceans of the Arctic, labs of NASA, townships of Zambia, boardrooms of Beijing and barracks of Belleville.
These days, she works mostly on social & environmental projects.
Master of Science,
Interactive Arts & Technology
Thesis: Appreciative Inquiry - Designing for Engagement in Technology-Mediated Learning.
Simon Fraser University.
Certificate in Adult & Continuing Education
University of Victoria.
Certificate in Public Relations (in progress)
University of Victoria.
Bachelor of Applied Arts, Radio & Television Arts;
Ryerson University.
Thesis: Appreciative Inquiry - Designing for Engagement in Technology-Mediated Learning.
Simon Fraser University.
Certificate in Adult & Continuing Education
University of Victoria.
Certificate in Public Relations (in progress)
University of Victoria.
Bachelor of Applied Arts, Radio & Television Arts;
Ryerson University.
Niche
skills
• Story-sharing.
• Learning design.
• Engagement design.
• Research & analysis.
• Facilitation.
• Appreciative Inquiry & Planning.
• Digital media & web production.
• Creative & business writing.
• Public speaking.
Denise also has a working knowledge of French, can start a fire in the rain and makes a mean chocolate cheesecake.
• Story-sharing.
• Learning design.
• Engagement design.
• Research & analysis.
• Facilitation.
• Appreciative Inquiry & Planning.
• Digital media & web production.
• Creative & business writing.
• Public speaking.
Denise also has a working knowledge of French, can start a fire in the rain and makes a mean chocolate cheesecake.
Bronze
Apple,
National Educational Media Awards.
Award of Merit,
Association for Media Technology in Education.
Platinum Remi,
35th Worldfest - Houston Film Festival.
Chris Award,
Columbus International Film and Video Festival.
Bronze World Medal,
New York Festivals.
Award of Merit,
South African Film Festival.
Silver Plaque,
Chicago International Film & Video.
Best Director,
REEL Awards.
National Educational Media Awards.
Award of Merit,
Association for Media Technology in Education.
Platinum Remi,
35th Worldfest - Houston Film Festival.
Chris Award,
Columbus International Film and Video Festival.
Bronze World Medal,
New York Festivals.
Award of Merit,
South African Film Festival.
Silver Plaque,
Chicago International Film & Video.
Best Director,
REEL Awards.
For fun and fulfillment, Denise
serves as a Director for the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC, fosters the official "spokescat" for the
SPCA,
plays ice
hockey, races
outrigger canoes and explores the coastal wilderness in her
kayak.
