About The Author

Kristina Crystal

"I want to give young professionals the map I had to draw myself — one hallway conversation at a time."

After 30 years in the trenches — from 22 years at Accenture doing strategy and management consulting, to the C-suite as COO and CAO of a $1B global media company — I've seen what works and what doesn't. I've made the tough calls, navigated complex organizational dynamics, and learned almost everything that mattered by simply being in the room.

Then remote work happened. And that invisible pipeline of learning — the hallway conversations, the airport debrief, the "let me show you how this actually works" moments — just stopped. For an entire generation of early-career professionals, the informal education system that corporate America had relied on for decades disappeared overnight.

I watched it happen in real time, both as a leader and later as an adjunct faculty member. Smart, hardworking young professionals weren't failing because they weren't capable. They were failing because no one put them in the room.

"
This isn't a motivation problem. It's a proximity problem. And proximity problems have solutions.
22 yrs
Accenture — Strategy & Management Consulting. Curriculum development, client delivery, and learning by watching the best in the business do their thing.
C-Suite
COO & CAO, Deluxe Entertainment Services — $1B global Media/Entertainment company. Also: Senior Director of Brand Experience, CRO at a top-10 US fine arts museum, and Head of Client Experience & Sales, North America for a Swiss consulting firm.
Current
Adjunct Faculty, State College of Florida + Leadership Development Consultant + Author. Helping individuals and organizations tackle their toughest challenges — without the fluff.

I'm direct and results-focused, but I also understand how to navigate complex organizational dynamics. My approach balances fresh thinking with respect for your established practices and culture. No junior consultants learning on your dime. No theoretical advice from people who've never sat in the hot seat.

Office Osmosis is my attempt to replace luck with intention — to give every early-career professional, regardless of where they work, the same map that proximity used to provide. Five skills. Deliberate practice. No office required.