My Journey to Coaching

 

Before pursuing formal coaching training, I spent more than a decade in senior leadership roles—most recently as the Deputy Chief Communications Officer for the NIH All of Us Research Program.​

 

When I first transitioned from middle manager to leader of leaders, I realized it was no longer my goal to be the smartest person in the room. (Not that this was ever realistic working alongside so many truly brilliant people!) Instead, my job was to ensure everything the communications team did advanced the larger goals of the organization, and to help our managers feel more confident making independent decisions. 

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I couldn’t quite articulate it then, but it meant shifting from communications expert to coach. ​

 

That idea took hold when I started working with an executive coach and experienced firsthand what coaching really is: a partnership that helps people find clarity, confidence, and new possibilities. Rather than giving advice, coaches use curious, powerful questions to spark reflection, challenge assumptions, and uncover new insights clients might not reach on their own.

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It was a game changer. Coaching helped me reconnect with my larger purpose, navigate my self-doubt, and see my strengths more clearly. It also helped me define what kind of leader I wanted to be and shaped how I led. I learned to ask better questions, resist the urge to jump in with solutions, and create space for people to unlock their own solutions. The result was a more engaged, creative, and empowered team—and less pressure on me to feel like I had to have all the answers.

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Today, I draw on everything I learned on that journey. And I’m leaning even further into the power of curious questions to help mission-driven professionals explore what matters most to them, step into their full potential, and create lasting impact. If you’d like to see if my coaching approach is right for you, I’d be glad to connect.​​​​

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