I'm founder and president of World View Services, which specializes in diversity, conflict, and organizational consulting. We help our clients remove organizational barriers to success, whether it be about people, processes or productivity. Often, an organization, such as a company or a school, contacts me to solve a problem they are having. I go in, assess the problem, recommend a solution, and then help them implement that solution. This often requires bringing people who have not been getting along together and engaging them in dialogue. I've worked with all sorts of diverse groups who are experiencing conflict, including police/communities, parents/ school administrators, managers/subordinates, and government groups. As my clients often say, I bring peace and harmony - I am a peacemaker.

EDUCATION | BA in mathematics

HOW TO GET STARTED | For a person considering a degree, there are programs in conflict resolution, diversity and systems development. Even more importantly, find projects and organizations doing the work you're interested in and start by volunteering. Talk to people who are doing what you want to do. Just start doing it- if it makes you feel good and you are good at it, then you'll know it's the field for you.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Optimism. Tenacity. Analytical skills, the ability to see patterns. Creativity. High curiosity. A thirst for discovery, a thirst to solve problems. Excellent listening skills.

how I got started | In the 70's I was a math teacher, and in the 80's I worked in software. I left that job in 1990, as Director of International Support and Training. Not long afterwards, I was flying back from vacation in Australia, had a medical emergency on the plane, and had to be rushed to the nearest hospital. I recovered, but a few weeks later it hit me hard. I realized that I could have died, and I started to think about what they would have put on my grave stone. I then spent some time deeply questioning why I was here and what my legacy would be. I wanted it to be about more than just being financially successful. I wanted the rest of my time on the planet to be about creating a better, more peaceful world.

why this job?| I am a grandchild of genocide survivors and my grandmother's stories are some of my earliest memories. Three of my grandparents survived the Armenian genocide, conducted by the Turkish government during World War I, when 2/3 of the Armenian population was killed. One of my grandfathers was captured three times, put on death marches- and escaped three times. Three times! My other grandfather came to America at 15. Not long afterwards, the rest of his family was wiped out. My brush with death made me wonder why I was here. I realized that for me to even exist was a miracle - and that I existed for a reason. So, I do this work because of that, to honor that miracle of survival. Also, through my training and work experience, I had learned that I was really good at quickly understanding how a "system" worked and solving problems, even when the situation was complicated and seemed impossible. I like solving "the impossible" - I like the challenge - and find it exciting!

why I love this job!| It makes me feel good to know I can help people feel better and live happier and healthier lives. Sometimes I'll run into people who've had the benefit of my work, through programs I've implemented, and they'll say things like, "Thank you for what you did. I want you to know that your work really made a difference and really changed this place!" or "That class you taught changed my life!" What an incredible feeling! Also, I believe everybody has the right to happiness, freedom and equality. That's achievable. We're at a place in our history where we can no longer afford to solve problems with violence; in order to continue our civilization, we have to choose new ways to find peace, and I believe we will. It won't happen in my lifetime, but I believe it will happen. We have no other choice.

my typical day| Every day is different. I may be in my home office, writing proposals and talking to clients about programs we're putting together. Or I may be giving a program, writing an article, or teaching a class. I may be going to a client site and consulting, hearing about their problems, developing solutions and implementing them.

what they are | Overcoming people's negativity and pessimism: getting them to believe something different is possible. Also, the work I do requires time and patience, and sometimes organizations feel they don't have the resources to be patient. They want quick fixes to long standing problems, which, of course, is highly unlikely. Also, as a business owner, juggling and keeping all the balls in the air can be a challenge.

all about growth | The need is definitely there. During economic downtimes, a lot of organizations may feel the need to only spend money on the bread-and-butter issues.

my website| www.WorldViewServices.net