It’s not just you.

I've been working in the nonprofit sector for over three decades and I want you to know that with all that's happening right now, it's not just you. This recognition is an important step in becoming the leader that you want to be, the leader that your organization is looking for, the leader that we all need to become. I have no silver bullet or simple solution. If it was easy, you would have already figured it out. What I do have is a mission to help leaders grow into their full potential and method of co-creation to help you realize the leadership, the organizational excellence, and the client outcomes you've been seeking.


Executive leadership is often all consuming and deeply isolating.

Executive/senior leadership in the nonprofit world, and most specifically the role of Executive Director is inherently isolating and lonely. I know this first hand.  You can have a great relationship with your board, but they are still your boss and don’t (hopefully) experience the day-to-day nuts and bolts of the job nor the emotional and relationship dynamics that inevitably required this work. You can have amazing self-aware staff who respect you. But at the end of the day as their boss there are some things that  just can’t be shared with direct reports.  And when they are at a loss, they have to have you to turn to, to help make a decision: you. As the E.D., don’t likely have a person to turn to.

A coach will not make a decision for you. Your coach is there to ask the right questions, help you see your strengths and growth areas, and help you sort out the best course of action.  

As your coach, I will be there to support the best leader you can possibly be.

Who Am I

I have benefited greatly from working with a coach.

My nonprofit leadership started out as many of us do, I started in nonprofit leadership as many of us start: figuring it out as we go along. My approach to learning was to take what I liked from leaders I admired and not do what those I didn’t admire did.

But, that got me only so far. 

When I became an executive director, I started employing as many resources as possible: leadership books, trainings, and consultants around specific topics. 

Those got me a bit further.

But it wasn’t until I started working one-on-one with an executive coach many years ago, that I began to actually step more fully into my potential and feel more of a leader. WIth the help of a coach I was able to tie all of my extensive experience together and  start to fill in gaps that previous resources missed.

With my coach I was no longer alone with my leadership.

Coaching provided me the mirroring and guidance I needed to realize that I was already a leader, and that I just needed to acknowledge and sharpen my skills.

Let me share another realization that coaching helped me understand: being a leader is an ongoing process. Leaders make mistakes.  AND, they acknowledge them. They don’t get weighed down by them, and they learn from them.

Leadership coaching was key to developing that understanding and skill.

My career

For over 30 years I have worked in various leadership positions in the nonprofit world in Western Massachusetts and Vermont.  For the last fifteen years I have led two nonprofit agencies as an Executive Director for two different agencies.

The nonprofits I have worked for represent a wide-swath of mostly human services: child welfare, restorative justice, homelessness, teen empowerment, domestic violence, anti-bullying, education, public health, and supporting immigrants.

I was an adjunct Sociology Professor for over 15 years.  And, I hold a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from Antioch New England Graduate School.

I have created healthy, great, and sustainable work environments. I have balanced agency budgets. I have forged an equitable relationship between union and management. I have recruited smart, very competent leaders to work with me. I have advocated for the needs of nonprofit work at the state and federal level. 

There is no recipe for leadership. There is no guide book.  No silver bullet. What we bring to leadership is ourselves.  Coaching provides a sounding board which helps me sort out what is important and to trust myself to find the right course of action: self as instrument.

Services Offered

Leadership coaching

All of what I offer starts with 1:1 coaching.  While getting to know you, I learn about the work and the agency you lead. 

With that context, I can then also offer these trainings to your organization, if needed or desired:

  • Leadership 101

  • How to create a great place to work

  • Communication and conflict resolution 

  • Strategic planning support

Process

Coaching starts with a free 60 minute introductory session, giving you the opportunity to check out coaching.  

The next steps after that are up to you. This is based on your needs.  I am flexible.  We can do this based on what you want.

No commitment of time.  No specific cadence.  We can meet weekly, monthly, or as needed. Usually, clients meet with me for 60-90 minute sessions on a weekly or biweekly schedule.