George Mason University

Heather Walter

Heather L. Walter, EdD, helps education organizations, family businesses, and start-ups navigate relational dynamics and lead through change — without losing the relationships, history, and identity that built them.

As an Associate Professor of Education, and the founder of Heather Walter Consulting, she partners to strengthen leadership transitions, team effectiveness, and untangle the dynamics that quietly shape every decision. Her approach—Unpack, Unfold, Sustain—embeds strategies into daily work rather than layering programs on top of already full plates.

A first-generation doctoral graduate, Heather brings 15+ years of experience across education, organizational psychology, and family systems—including extensive work in crisis management, multidisciplinary teams, and partnering with neurodivergent individuals. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Special Education and Senior Scholar at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Wellbeing, and as Board Chair at Green Acres School. Heather is known for making complex ideas feel doable—and for believing that the best strategies are the ones you’ll still be using six months from now.

• From Pitch to Purpose: A Focused Introduction to Moving from Performance to Presence (Speaker: Heather Walter)
• Play Action Leadership: Learning Strategic Change Moves (Speaker: Heather Walter)
• The Unfold Lab: Leaders Turning Potential Into Motion (Speaker: Heather Walter)