ABOUT ME
Welcome. My name’s Yecelica (they/them), and many know me as yjv.
I’m a leadership practioner, healing-centered coach, facilitator, and organizational consultant, and the founder of Shift(ed) Leadership.
This work centers BIPOC, queer, and trans leaders, and anyone stepping into leadership, navigating responsibility and want to do so with care. My work is grounded in relational leadership, embodied practice, and values alignment. And a deep belief that we can create more dignified and human leadership practices and organizations.
Shift(ed) Leadership was created to offer what I once needed: a grounded, relational practice space shaped by values-alignment, authenticity, accountability, and care, centering marginalized leaders and tapping into our breadth of strengths, vulnerability, and connection. Not centered on perfection but the small, intentional shifts that expand what leadership can be.
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I grew up in Central Washington in a mixed-status home. For over 20 years Seattle, on occupied Duwamish Territory, has been my political home where I grew into adulthood, relationship, and community. I identify as queer, non-binary, fat, and mixed Latinx/Mexicanx, and those lived experiences shape how I’ve grown to understand leadership and power.
Early in my career, I was trusted with responsibility before I had the language or support to name my needs. I cared deeply about the work and often felt overwhelmed and unsure. That tension between autonomy and isolation stayed with me.
Being introduced to generative somatics shifted everything. I learned there was a type of leadership I wanted to embody that was relational and could be practiced, not something you are either ready for or not. Over time, I took small, imperfect steps toward leadership, led teams, led an organization, organized alongside community, and grew into roles that stretched me.
Shift(ed) Leadership emerged from 15+ years of experience and the deep belief that many of us long for and need other ways of leading that ultimately, allow us to be more human with one another.
Curious? Let’s connect
I’m so glad you’re here.