Available for Select Fractional Engagements
I find where a team's lost the thread, and I rally them back around the goal.
Fractional leadership across AI enablement, change management, and business operations.
I bring 20+ years of operational experience to organizations navigating growth, change, and new ways of working, bringing structure to complex work without losing sight of the people responsible for making it happen.
What I Do
Where I Come In
Organizations usually bring me in when something important needs to work better.
A team is adopting AI but doesn't know where to begin. A major change is coming and the people affected need clarity and direction. A growing function has outpaced its systems. Or important work spans people, tools, and priorities, but no one has a clear view of the whole.
I step in, find where the work is breaking down, and build the structure that gets people moving in the same direction again.
01
AI Enablement
Co-led operations for Microsoft's first AI Skills Accelerator in my organization. What began with approximately 100 participants expanded across three organizations serving more than 60,000 employees, with 40% of participants completing at least 75% of a non-required course.
02
Change Management
Led change management alongside Real Estate & Facilities for a $100M campus renovation affecting roughly 1,700 employees, including 950+ engineers. A post-move survey reported 67% approval from a historically skeptical population.
03
Operational Systems
Built a seven-pillar OKR framework used for quarterly senior leadership reporting across nine business groups.
04
Programs at Scale
Produced All Hands Meetings as the organization scaled past 40,000 employees, grew the production budget from $400,000 to $1.4 million, and expanded a global admin network from 1 to 135 professionals.
Fractional Leadership
Fractional Leadership
For organizations that need experienced leadership, operational structure, and forward movement without adding full-time headcount.
Available for select fractional opportunities in:
- AI Enablement & Adoption
- Change Management
- Business Operations & Program Leadership
Remote or hybrid | Phoenix/Chandler, Arizona
Explore Fractional Services
About
About Genise Dawson
I have spent more than two decades working in the space between strategy and execution, where a good idea only matters if people can actually make it work.
My career has crossed operations, program leadership, organizational change, employee experience, AI enablement, communications, and community-building. The common thread has always been the same: bringing structure and clarity to complicated work and helping people move it forward.
That range is intentional. I understand how systems, people, communication, and execution intersect because I have worked across all four.
Today, I bring that experience to fractional leadership, advisory engagements, and select project work through Genise Dawson LLC.
Sometimes the problem is the system. Sometimes it's the process. Sometimes people have simply lost the thread. My job is to find it.
“I find where a team's lost the thread, and I rally them back around it.”
Experience
Career Timeline
Founder
Operations Consulting Practice
Business Program Manager
Microsoft
Co-Founder & Chair
ERG Leadership
Senior Executive Assistant
Microsoft
Administrative Assistant
Microsoft
Benefits Administrator
Microsoft
Fractional Services
Senior operational expertise, without adding full-time headcount.
Fractional and project-based engagements for organizations navigating growth, AI adoption, operational complexity, or change.
Non-Technical Program Management
- The Challenge
- Important work spans people, systems, and priorities, but no one owns the full picture.
- How I Help
- I establish the operating rhythm: ownership, priorities, checkpoints, reporting, and the structure required to keep the work moving without everything depending on one person.
- Engagement
- Structured around the size, scope, and needs of the program.
AI Adoption & Enablement
- The Challenge
- Your team knows AI could improve the way work gets done, but the right starting point isn't clear.
- How I Help
- I identify repetitive, dropped, or inefficient work, determine where AI, automation, or process improvements can make a practical difference, and build a plan your team can actually use.
- Engagement
- Available as a focused AI Adoption Package or through ongoing fractional support.
Change Management
- The Challenge
- A significant change is coming, but the people affected are skeptical, uncertain, or disconnected from the decision.
- How I Help
- I bring structure to the human side of change, creating the communication, feedback loops, stakeholder engagement, and reinforcement needed to move people from awareness to adoption.
- Engagement
- Structured around the scope and complexity of the change.
Engagements run as short-term contracts or extended retainers.
When the work gets complicated, bring in someone who knows how to untangle it.
Let's talk through what's happening, what's getting in the way, and whether I'm the right person to help.
Start the ConversationRecommendations
What leaders say
“Genise simplifies complexity, strengthens leadership, and builds culture. Her clarity and judgment elevate every team she supports.”
Rajesh Jha, EVP
“One of the most effective and inspiring professionals I've worked with.”
“She turns intent into action and builds durable communities.”
“She sees around corners and solves complex problems with creativity and pragmatism.”
“A rare coach and mentor who helps people realize their potential.”
“One of the smartest and most capable professionals I've ever worked with.”
“She managed major programs with excellence and strengthened employee experience.”
“She inspires people to deliver their best and executes flawlessly.”
“She empowered me to advocate for myself and created opportunities that changed my trajectory.”
“She managed budgeting, recruiting, procurement, and events with excellence.”
Leadership Beyond the Role
Consulting & Community Leadership
Genise Dawson LLC
Founder, Strategy, Operations, and Executive Coaching Consultant
Operations strategy, program design, and executive coaching for growth-stage businesses and emerging leaders. Serve clients across education, beauty, federal contracting, and real estate sectors. Executive coaching clients include National Chairpersons of the Board for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), supporting organization-wide board leadership.
Catalyst Coded Foundation
Co-Founder and COO
Arizona-based nonprofit accelerator supporting underrepresented founders building AI-driven businesses.
Community
Volunteer & Community Leadership
- Microsoft E+D BAM
- Junior League of Seattle
- Valley Black Collective
- The Perfect Push Foundation
A Lean In Circle for women 40+ thinking through their professional pivots. We provide support, advice, and guidance to walk them through their journey.
Credentials
Certifications
- Chief of Staff Certified Professional
- Artificial Intelligence for Business & Prompt Engineering
- Certified Project Manager (CPM)
- The Coaching Habit, Organizational Teams
Core Capabilities
Technology I Work Across
Anthropic
OpenAI
Microsoft
Other AI & Build Tools
Business & Design Platforms
Project Services
Focused projects. Practical outcomes.
Beyond fractional and advisory engagements, I take on a limited number of focused projects where my experience in positioning, communication, systems, and digital tools can create a meaningful result quickly.
Career Positioning
Your experience, positioned for what comes next.
Resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn refinement designed to make the value of your experience easier to see and align your story with the opportunities you're pursuing.
Explore Career ServicesDigital Presence
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Explore the CollectionLet's Talk
Tell me what is breaking.
Whether you need fractional leadership, a focused advisory engagement, or help moving a defined project across the finish line, let's start with what isn't working.
Then we can figure out what it needs.