When April and Shawna founded Allen & Unger, they set out to equip leaders and teams to thrive in today’s challenging and fast-changing environment. Their focus: people strategies that turn differences and the inevitable challenges into a catalyst for growth. They understood that those differences and conflict can actually be used to build trust across the organization, and strengthen leadership at every level.
Their collaboration began in a large, complex healthcare system where April and Shawna worked side-by-side to transform outdated practices, reshape culture, and address the root causes of organizational friction. From the outset, they realized their differences were their advantage. Blending insight, humor, lived experience, and practical tools to break down barriers and inspire meaningful change.
As April recalls:
“When we worked together, we saw how we could bring clarity, understanding, and even comfort into tense situations, creating not just results, but genuine shifts in how people saw and valued one another.”
Over the years, they noticed a recurring challenge: leaders often lacked both the space and the skills to navigate difficult truths, whether those came from front-line staff, middle managers, or peers. Without the right framework, organizations risked avoiding the conversations and true dialogue that could drive the greatest breakthroughs.
As Shawna explains:
“Many leaders and executives want the best for their people, but hearing hard truths can be challenging. We help translate those realities into clear, actionable strategies, so leaders can respond effectively and staff can feel genuinely heard.”
Driven by this shared vision, April and Shawna stepped out of their internal leadership roles to form Allen & Unger. Their work bridges organizational divides, helping leaders and teams move from reactive problem-solving to proactive, conflict-intelligent leadership that builds resilience and improved performance.
At Allen & Unger, they believe difference is not just a challenge—it’s a superpower. With the right strategies, skills, and support, leaders can harness that difference to create stronger relationships, more engaged teams, and workplaces where people can do their best work.
