Our Mission
At Anna Besch Consulting, we empower organizations by fostering ethical resilience, human-centered leadership, and transformative education. This approach equips institutions to effectively navigate the ever-changing landscape of modern service, care, and public impact. Our guiding principle, Esse Quam Videri, or “to be, rather than to seem,” underscores our belief that true leadership is rooted in authenticity, integrity, and meaningful action.
Our Founder
Anna Besch is an educator, consultant, and organizational leader with extensive experience in curriculum development, public engagement, and institutional leadership. A recognized early leader in the anti-human trafficking movement, she founded and directed an international anti-trafficking education organization, where she developed training curricula for corporate, governmental, and law enforcement audiences and led educational initiatives focused on prevention and awareness.
With more than a two decades of experience in education, Professor Besch developed a strong foundation in classical and interdisciplinary learning. Her work included educational program development, community organization, and the facilitation of academic and cultural initiatives throughout the Hampton Roads region.
As Director of the Father James Kauffmann Theological Library in Norfolk, Professor Besch has led the revitalization of the institution into an active center for scholarship, public programming, and community engagement. Under her leadership, the library expanded its workshops, reading groups, and educational events while also serving as a mentoring site for university interns and emerging professionals.
Professor Besch’s work is grounded in a commitment to thoughtful leadership, intellectual inquiry, and meaningful community impact. Her interdisciplinary background in philosophy, theology, education, and organizational development informs the strategic and human-centered approach she brings to consulting and collaborative projects.
Get to know the team
Kim Phan
Strategic Development Consultant
Sophia Hawbaker
Executive Assistant
Bernardo Figueiredo
Defensive Tactics Master Instructor
Silas Alexander
Mass Communications and Media Intern
Ivan Rodriguez
Research Analyst
Amaya Bagby
Strategic Communications & Research Intern
Our Story
Anna Besch Consulting (ABC), founded in 2026, is a woman-owned educational consulting and training firm based in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. We serve organizations across the Mid-Atlantic with a focus on ethical resilience, leadership development, and workforce education for high-stakes environments.
At ABC, we believe that modern institutions deserve more than just transactional training. In an era characterized by ethical uncertainties, workforce instability, the rapid advancement of emerging technologies, and the ever-changing public expectations, organizations require spaces that foster thoughtful conversations and promote psychologically informed growth. ABC seamlessly blends innovative perspectives with extensive experience to help organizations navigate the complexities of the human dimension of contemporary institutional life.
As a growing thought leader in Moral Injury education, ethical leadership, and workforce resilience, we provide specialized training and consulting services for public-sector organizations, veteran-serving institutions, healthcare professionals, educators, public safety teams, and mission-driven workplaces operating in complex environments.
Our work integrates philosophy, psychology, ethics, leadership development, and practical facilitation to create experiences that are intellectually grounded and relevant. We specialize in translating cutting-edge ideas into accessible learning opportunities rooted in reflection, awareness, integrity, and sustainability.
ABC’s flagship training explores Moral Injury, an increasingly recognized issue affecting military personnel, veterans, healthcare workers, first responders, humanitarian professionals, and public servants. While often confused with PTSD, Moral Injury focuses on the emotional and psychological impact of ethical conflict, moral distress, and experiences that challenge an individual’s deeply held beliefs, sense of meaning, and institutional trust.
ABC approaches these conversations with a nuanced, interdisciplinary perspective designed to empower organizations to foster healthier cultures, strengthen leadership response, and support long-term workforce resilience. As the organization grows, ABC is expanding into additional areas, including ethical leadership, institutional trust, organizational wellbeing, and the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence.
The ABC team reflects this interdisciplinary spirit. Founder Professor Anna Besch brings extensive experience spanning philosophy, ethics education, anti-human trafficking advocacy, curriculum design, theology, and community leadership. Executive Assistant Sophia Hawbaker and Strategic Communications & Research Intern Amaya Bagby are both psychology students passionate about mental health, ethical leadership, and human-centered systems. Team member Ivan Rodriguez, a 2025 Urban Planning graduate, contributes systems-based thinking informed by community development, organizational structure, and public-sector awareness.
ABC also collaborates with professionals whose expertise spans leadership, resilience, and real-world performance. Bernardo Figueiredo, a Jiu-Jitsu black belt, entrepreneur, and law enforcement defensive tactics instructor based in Virginia Beach, has extensive experience in leadership development, tactical instruction, and performing under pressure. As the head coach and master instructor at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Virginia Beach, his work centers on developing practical systems that enhance safety, confidence, and long-term organizational outcomes.
Together, the ABC team combines intellectual curiosity, public-sector insight, and creative problem-solving to deliver thoughtful, forward-thinking education tailored to the realities of today’s institutional challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Anna Besch Consulting serve?
We partner with public-sector organizations across the Mid-Atlantic, including public safety teams, healthcare professionals, educators, and veteran-serving institutions operating in high-stakes environments.
What is your approach to training?
Our training integrates philosophy, ethics, and psychology to move beyond transactional checklists. We create intellectually grounded spaces for reflection, integrity, and psychologically informed growth.
What are your core service areas?
We specialize in Moral Injury education, ethical resilience, workforce wellbeing, and leadership development. We are also expanding into the ethical use of AI and institutional trust building.
How does ABC address workforce resilience?
By translating complex ethical concepts into practical strategies, we help organizations foster healthier cultures and support long-term sustainability for employees facing moral distress.