Creating a Team Culture of Continuous Learning

Dr. Alan M. Barstow is a distinguished author, consultant, and educator specializing in organizational design, change processes, and sustainable development. He serves as the Director and Senior Scholar of the Organizational Dynamics Program at the University of Pennsylvania and co-founded INTERACT: The Institute for Interactive Management in 1986, where he also served on the Board of Directors. Previously, he was a Faculty Research Associate at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Barstow engages with executives and professionals to help them rethink strategic goals and develop effective change strategies. A Fulbright Scholar, he earned his PhD in Anthropology from Columbia University.

Affiliated Faculty, Organizational Dynamics; Co-Academic Director of the Evidence Block of the Chief Learning Officer Program, Graduate School of Education; Fellow, Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the Wharton School Dr. Dana Kaminstein has served as an Affiliated Faculty member in the Organizational Dynamics Program for 18 years and has been a Fellow at the Wharton School's Aresty Institute of Executive for more than 20 years. Dana also maintains a private consulting practice through which he works with organizations at the group and systems levels, focusing on team effectiveness, organizational diagnosis, needs assessment, leadership development, executive education, conflict resolution and executive coaching. A primary focus of his current practice is working with organizations on improving the effectiveness and functioning of teams. He has led and facilitated groups and teams in multiple settings for more than 40 years. Dana received his PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Amrita V. Subramanian is an accomplished executive coach and senior consultant, with a focus on leadership development and organizational growth. As a doctoral candidate (Ph.D., 2019) at the University of Pennsylvania, Amrita brings a wealth of academic and practical experience to her work. She is passionate about helping organizations and individuals create a culture of continuous learning, enabling teams to thrive and adapt in today's fast-paced world. Through her courses, such as "Creating a Team Culture of Continuous Learning," Amrita guides leaders and organizations in fostering environments that prioritize ongoing development, collaboration, and innovation. With a blend of academic rigor and real-world expertise, Amrita empowers individuals and organizations to unlock their full potential.

Ramya Kumar is an organizational psychologist, organizational development professional, and executive coach with over 20 years of progressive, cross-industry experience in organizational development, change management, and leadership development. Ramya is passionate about helping individuals, groups, and systems navigate complex organizational challenges and developing leadership competencies in today’s executives via executive coaching, team coaching, process consulting, and experiential learning. In her current role as the Associate Director of the Executive Education Programs in Change and Consultation at Teachers College, Columbia University, Ramya provides strategic leadership in the design, delivery, and evaluation of the Executive Master’s Program in Change Leadership. She also leads the coaching studios and peer coaching sessions for a diverse group of experienced senior-level and C-Suite professionals in the program. Additionally, Ramya is an adjunct in the Social-Organizational Psychology master’s program and the executive master’s program in change leadership at TC and maintains a private practice of organizational consulting and coaching, specializing in working with diverse, multicultural, virtual, and hybrid teams. Ramya has an MSOD from the University of Pennsylvania, an MPhil and a PhD in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. She holds SHRM-SCP, Prosci, Hogan, and KELP certifications. Her recent publication, Behind the Screen of Virtual Teamwork: A Systems Psychodynamic Approach to Revealing What Really Makes a Virtual Team Work (Management Consulting in the Era of the Digital Organization, 2023), explores implicit dynamics impacting virtual teamwork, and her recent research work focuses on examining the role of group processes in developing organizational change readiness.