Welcome

Well, friend, you’re not alone. These are all-too-common barriers to reaping the rewards of partnerships.

That’s where I come in.

I can help you develop a thriving ecosystem of partners to increase impact (and avoid the potential pitfalls).

As productivity expert David Allen says “You can do anything, but not everything.” I learned early in my career that I didn’t have the time or expertise to do everything that needed to be done to achieve my dreams and goals. I needed others. I needed partners.

Partnerships bring organizations and individuals with compatible dreams and goals to the table. They share their knowhow, their connections, their people, their money, and their spaces to meet congruent goals.

Human enterprises are hardwired for community, for partnership.

Sure. Partnerships sound awesome when they work, but what about when they don’t?

Good point. Harvard Business Review reports that a full 85% of companies say partnerships are vital to growth. Yet, about 60-70% of partnerships fail with only 35% reporting that they achieve the intended results.

Let that sink in.

That’s why partnerships can feel risky. Yet, with so much potential reward, they’re worth investing in. Smartly.

If you’re want to achieve more through partnerships, I can help. I’ve developed a partnership framework and proven process that gets results.

Hello. I’m Tracey Blustein, a natural connector and creative, sometimes known as Partnership-Maker Extraordinaire.

I assist businesses, government agencies, and non-profits define their partner needs and put profitable partnerships in place.

Translation: You spend your time on your core services, while I help advance your partnership goals.

It’s true — I love me some partner work. But it’s not all I do by any stretch.

In fact, I’ve come to be known as an Expert Generalist…

I know… that sounds a little oxymoron-ish. But it’s a thing:

• I’m expert in the quick-study — sponging up the language and drivers of different industries and sectors in no-time flat.

• I’m expert in understanding organizational ecosystems with the ability to straddle different disciplines.

• I’m expert in tending to the big picture, while caring for the detail, because details matter.

Expert Generalist here, reporting for duty.

Seriously, though, I bring to every engagement a complement of skills; a 360-degree approach and 30+ years experience as a consultant and leader on the ground. Let’s just say, I’ve seen everything. And I’ve seen it through.

Perhaps you’re curious about what my services actually look like in the field… My work includes:

• Facilitating over 100 meetings in the span of one year to connect and re-connect four workforce development regions with their partners.

• Establishing memorandums of agreement for service delivery and cost sharing between partners that set a foundation for fruitful partnerships.

• Interviewing partners to spot emerging trends, concerns, and successes that informed regions about partners’ needs, goals, and opportunities for successful joint initiatives.

• Increasing the number of agreements by 70% in one region, expanding capacity.

• Instituting partner meetings to deliver training and information sharing for partners that made the difference in better, smarter collaboration.

• Managing partnerships for Colorado’s workforce system that made it possible for job seekers to get the support and skills they need to meet their career goals.

When it gets right down to it, we’re all more than a resume. We’re a unique combo of learning and experience and interest, seasoned by the twists and turns of life.

A few lesser-known things about me…

I hold ….

• A Bachelor of  Fine Arts degree in dance: Creativity;

• A master's in real life situations: Practicality; and

• A strong sense of purpose and a life-long meditation practice (because, you know…life): Tenacity 

My work tells a story of creativity, practicality, and tenacity, aided by dynamic work, incredible clients and partners, and perpetual (sometimes too perpetual) learning.

But more importantly, my work tells the story of great organizations and great partners doing great things.

Let’s explore if I could partner with you to contribute to the success story of your work and organization.