Silvia Austerlic
Silvia Austerlic is a dedicated Intercultural Bilingual Facilitator and Organizational Consultant at Senti-Pensante Connections in Soquel, California, where she has been fostering inclusive and culturally sensitive learning environments for over nine years. With a rich background that spans education, bereavement coordination, and community outreach, Silvia expertly designs and leads programs on emotional intelligence, cultural humility, generative AI, and dignity in the workplace. Her work is deeply rooted in a commitment to shared humanity, creating spaces that empower individuals and teams to bridge differences with empathy and respect while enhancing collaboration and psychological safety in diverse settings.
Before her current role, Silvia served nearly a decade as Bereavement Coordinator and Latino Community Liaison at Hospice of Santa Cruz County. There, she introduced end-of-life care to monolingual Spanish-speaking communities, providing grief support across age groups and developing culturally relevant educational materials. She also facilitated community advisory groups and delivered presentations on cultural competency to healthcare providers, strengthening vital connections between Latino service agencies and healthcare institutions. Silvia’s educational journey includes studies in Counselor Education (M.A.) at San Jose State University, Whole Systems Design at Antioch University Seattle, and Graphic Design at Universidad de Buenos Aires, reflecting her multidisciplinary approach to transformational learning and organizational development.
Passionate about lifelong learning and empowerment, Silvia continually evolves her expertise to meet the demands of rapidly changing workplaces. Currently, she also consults as an Organizational Communication Consultant for the University of California, Santa Cruz. Silvia’s unique blend of intercultural facilitation and transformational learning positions her as a leading voice in advancing inclusive leadership and effective collaboration across cultures.
• San José State University, MA Counselor Education
• University of Buenos Aires, BA Graphic Design
• Cabrillo College, Digital Media & Web Design
• Metta Institute, End of Life Care Practicioner Program
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a deep commitment to lifelong learning and a genuine passion for helping others grow. Embracing empathy and cultural humility has allowed me to connect authentically with diverse communities and create meaningful spaces for dialogue and transformation. I believe that staying curious, adaptable, and open to new ideas—especially in training and development—has been key to empowering individuals and organizations to navigate change with confidence and purpose. Ultimately, it’s the trust I build through shared humanity and collaboration that fuels both my work and my personal fulfillment.