The People
Crystal Schaffer
Crystal Schaffer is a seasoned learning and development leader, strategic consultant, and executive coach with three decades of experience helping people and teams get unstuck, level up, and prepare for what’s next. Her expertise lies in solving the messy problems that sit where leadership, learning, and change intersect by designing data-driven solutions to align leaders with strategic goals and develop future-ready capabilities.
Founding Nu U Consulting
In 2007, Crystal founded Nu U Consulting on a simple principle: nuance over noise — because it’s the small, sustainable shifts in behavior and mindset that lead to lasting impact. Since then, she has collaborated with various clients ranging from the U.S. Navy to early-stage startups, guiding them through growth, change, and the integration of AI. Her work often involves teaming with experts from Harvard’s Digital Data Design Institute (D^3).
Professional Background
Before founding Nu U Consulting, Crystal spent 14 years with the Harvard Business School Publishing family of companies. She also spent 13 years at Capgemini Group, where she designed and delivered enterprise-wide development programs for Fortune 500 firms, coached executive teams through disruption, led functional teams and workforce research, and equipped thousands of experienced leaders with next-level skills.
Education and Passions
Crystal is a proud graduate of Rutgers University. She is also a New York University-trained life coach and a Master Certified iLead™ Individual, Team, and Project Coach. Her workplace passions include trend and signal scouting, design thinking, and keeping curiosity flowing.
Erika Toomey
Erika Toomey is a facilitator, consultant, and business leader who specializes in talent management, executive development, individual and team coaching, succession planning, and board readiness. In 2015, she founded Toomey Leadership Solutions, LLC, to help companies develop executive teams and enhance organizational strategy and effectiveness.
Career Background
Erika worked for 14 years at the Harvard Business School Publishing family of companies, where she partnered with Fortune 500 companies to deliver innovative and practical leadership development programs for clients in the healthcare, consumer products, telecommunications, and financial services industries.
Before that, she spent 15 years with the consulting practices of Ernst & Young (E&Y) and Capgemini, pioneering several innovative learning programs for global executives and managing and leading research for a global trends consortium. She also helped launch new consulting services as a director at E&Y's Center for Business Innovation.
Before that, she spent 15 years with the consulting practices of Ernst & Young (E&Y) and Capgemini, pioneering several innovative learning programs for global executives and managing and leading research for a global trends consortium. She also helped launch new consulting services as a director at E&Y's Center for Business Innovation.
Community Engagement
Outside her work as a business leader, Erika volunteers with Silver Lining Mentoring, an organization focused on helping young adults aging out of the foster care system. She serves on the board of the National Charity League's Middlesex Chapter. She is also an active member of several local and national community organizations.
Education and Certification
Erika holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and French from Denison University. She is also a Certified iLead™ Individual and Team Coach.
Vincent Letizia
From the dystopian corridors of Westworld to the neon-lit noir of Rian Johnson’s Emmy-nominated, Peabody-winning Poker Face, Vincent Letizia knows how to turn sprawling ideas into stories viewers can’t look away from. His production résumé spans marquee series for HBO, Netflix, and Peacock, where he has served as associate producer, post-production supervisor, and all-around narrative wrangler.
His Contributions to Nu U Consulting
Between production shoots, Vincent leverages his Hollywood-grade skills to help us communicate and innovate for our clients. He brings the writers’ room discipline — and a ruthless edit button — to our CoLab space and everything we build. Whether he’s shaping content, storyboarding concepts, or injecting cinematic energy into an executive off-site, he ensures every deliverable has a clear arc, emotional punch, and measurable payoff.
Brett Schaffer
Brett Schaffer is a tech and AI generalist with a background in IT and informatics, and a passion for helping clients navigate emerging technologies. A recent graduate from Rutgers University, he brings hands-on experience in tech support, troubleshooting, and user experience from his time at Apple Retail, where he specialized in helping customers explore and understand new technologies like the Apple Vision Pro.
Role at Nu U Consulting
Brett supports cross-functional teams by exploring practical applications of AI tools, assisting with technical research, managing our tech ops, and ensuring our solutions are both user-friendly and future-ready.
Interests
Brett has a keen interest in the intersection of human-computer interaction, network systems, and generative AI.