Ph.D. · Scholar-Practitioner

Dr. Kristal D.
Garia-Augier

HR & OD Executive  ·  DEI Strategist  ·  Caribbean Business Advisor

Bridging doctoral-level conflict research with over a decade of hands-on consulting for Caribbean and international organizations — turning complex human dynamics into sustainable strategy.

10+
Years Consulting Experience
3
Caribbean Organizations Served
77% / 30%
Family businesses = 77% of Saint Lucia's economy. Only 30% survive past Gen 1. — Original Dissertation Research
About

Scholar. Practitioner.
Trusted Advisor.

Ph.D. — Conflict Analysis & Resolution
Nova Southeastern University
2025
Master of International Business (M.I.B.A.)
Nova Southeastern University
2016
B.Sc. — Marketing
The University of Tampa
2014
Dissertation

Generational Conflict and the Effects on Succession Planning in Family-Owned Businesses in Saint Lucia — A Phenomenological Research Study

I help organizations resolve the conflicts they can't quite name — generational tension in family businesses, culture gaps slowing transformation, and leadership transitions that quietly derail succession.

With a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and over a decade of cross-functional consulting experience, I bring something rare: doctoral-level research rigor combined with on-the-ground practitioner instincts honed across Caribbean manufacturing, retail, and service businesses.

My work spans HR strategy, organizational development, DEI, conflict coaching, mediation, and succession planning — with deep expertise in the cultural and relational dynamics unique to Caribbean family-owned enterprises.

Based in South Florida. Serving the US, the Caribbean, and internationally.

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Services

What I Offer

01
HR Strategy & Organizational Development
End-to-end HR consulting for organizations navigating growth, restructuring, or cultural transformation. Includes HR policy modernization, performance management systems, employee relations, and workforce planning tailored to Caribbean and international contexts.
02
DEI Strategy & Implementation
DEI strategy grounded in cross-cultural conflict research — not just compliance checkboxes. Design and deliver diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks, training programs, and culture diagnostics that create measurable organizational change.
03
Conflict Coaching & Mediation
Individual conflict coaching, workplace mediation, and facilitated resolution for interpersonal disputes, leadership conflicts, and systemic organizational tensions. Trained mediator with experience across corporate, legal, and academic settings.
04
Succession Planning & Family Business Advisory
Research-backed advisory for family-owned businesses navigating generational transition. Drawing on original doctoral research, I help organizations build succession-ready cultures, resolve inter-generational conflict, and create governance structures that survive leadership change.
05
Leadership Development & Training
Custom training programs on communication, empathy, conflict skills, and cross-cultural management. Designed and delivered for corporate teams, law firms, graduate programs, and Caribbean SMEs. Available in-person and virtually.
06
Caribbean & Saint Lucia Business Advisory
Comprehensive business consulting for Saint Lucian and Eastern Caribbean organizations — spanning operations, talent management, procurement, market research, and strategic planning. Deep understanding of the cultural and economic landscape of the region.
Research

The Work Behind
The Practice

My doctoral dissertation — completed at Nova Southeastern University in 2025 — investigated generational conflict and succession planning in family-owned businesses across Saint Lucia using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.

The research produced a predictive model linking cultural values to conflict behavior — now available for licensing, DEI strategy applications, mediation, and multinational HR advisory engagements.

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77%
Family-owned businesses constitute 77% of Saint Lucia's economy — yet the sector remains critically understudied and underserved in terms of governance and succession infrastructure.
30%
Fewer than 30% of family firms survive beyond the first generation. Generational conflict and the absence of structured succession planning are the primary drivers of failure.
IPA
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to surface lived experiences of conflict within family businesses — producing insights unavailable through quantitative methods alone.
Publication

Coan, A., Garia, K., & Sabuncu, P. (2018). Birth Order Theory and Habit Formation: A Literature Review. Obrazovanie lichnosti, (3), 37–45.

Academic & Teaching Experience

Scholarship in
Practice

My time as a Graduate Research Assistant and Consultant at Nova Southeastern University wasn't just academic — it was where theory became practice. I negotiated learning environments, coached emerging practitioners through real conflict scenarios, and helped design programs that shaped how the next generation of conflict resolution professionals think and work.

Negotiation & Conflict Coaching

Provided individual and group conflict coaching to students and practitioners navigating interpersonal and organizational disputes. Designed and led communication and empathy training for a law firm — translating academic conflict theory into negotiation skills professionals could apply immediately. Moderated a mediation webinar for Turkish legal professionals and graduate students, facilitating cross-cultural dialogue across jurisdictions.

Research & Program Development

Developed and coordinated curriculum for Ph.D. and master's-level Reflective Practices courses, integrating phenomenological research methods with practitioner-facing content. Designed and executed a three-day Group Dynamics Experiential Laboratory — a full-scale learning program bridging group behavior theory with live organizational dynamics. Co-authored a published literature review on Birth Order Theory and Habit Formation (2018).

Mediation Facilitation & Teaching

Co-facilitated mediation course content for Syracuse University's summer program, moderating sessions on interpersonal conflict skills for graduate-level participants. Served as Group Dynamics and small-group consultant, facilitating experiential learning on shifting relational patterns in organizational contexts — bridging classroom frameworks with real-world team dynamics.

Scholarly Contribution & Publishing

Contributed to and edited peer-reviewed journal articles on organizational conflict, mediator effectiveness, and the role of organizational ombuds. Conducted full doctoral dissertation research using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) — a methodologically rigorous qualitative approach — producing original findings on generational conflict and succession in Caribbean family-owned businesses.

Negotiation Conflict Coaching Research Program Development Curriculum Design Mediation Facilitation Qualitative Research (IPA) Cross-cultural Training Group Dynamics Academic Publishing Graduate-level Instruction Workshop Facilitation Reflective Practice
Speaking & Training

Topics I Speak &
Train On

Generational Conflict in Family Business

Drawing on original doctoral research, this talk explores why family businesses fail across generations — and what leaders can do to break the pattern. Available for business conferences, family office forums, and Caribbean economic summits.

DEI as Conflict Prevention

Reframing diversity, equity, and inclusion as a proactive conflict management strategy rather than a compliance requirement. Designed for executive teams, HR leaders, and organizational culture change initiatives.

Cross-Cultural Conflict in the Workplace

Practical frameworks for navigating conflict in culturally diverse teams, drawing on cross-cultural communication theory and Caribbean organizational research. Ideal for multinational firms and Caribbean-diaspora organizations.

Succession Planning as Organizational Strategy

Moving succession planning from a reactive crisis response to a proactive organizational capability. Covers governance, conflict resolution, and the human dynamics that determine whether succession succeeds or fails.

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Contact

Let's Work
Together

Whether you're navigating organizational conflict, planning a leadership transition, or building a more equitable workplace — I'd love to hear from you.

Gariakristal@gmail.com
954.854.2896
Miramar, FL  ·  Saint Lucia, WI