“When I started working with Kathy as my coach, I was struggling to take the next step in my career. I was taking on new and bigger responsibilities and finding success, but I wasn’t delegating enough of the previous responsibilities, and it was taking a toll. 

At the same time, after years of being open to a broad range of professional opportunities, I was ready to develop a more intentional career vision. Initially, I brought discrete and immediate issues to the table, like salary negotiation and how to delegate tasks effectively, but soon Kathy encouraged me to think bigger: What are my main career objectives in the next 6 months? Why are they important to me? And how could coaching conversations help me achieve those objectives? I had a sense for where I saw my career going and had been setting goals for myself accordingly, but working with Kathy on a regular basis made me more successful at achieving the career developments I targeted. 

Eventually, we tackled even bigger questions, moving beyond near-term and top-of-mind topics to consider overall career vision, core values, and career strategy, which would serve as the backbone to an important career transition that brought me more in line with my career strategy. I’ve found that it’s powerful to pair self-reflection with conversation, especially with someone as genuine and patient as Kathy. She meets me where I’m at, is an excellent listener, and never fails to celebrate progress. I always end our calls feeling lighter and more optimistic and would wholeheartedly recommend Kathy as a coach.”

—(Shared with permission, name withheld for privacy)

"Working with Kathy has been a transformative experience. She is a truly special and gifted coach with a rare passion for listening to and understanding people. Her guidance was invaluable in helping me navigate my journey, overcome obstacles, and grow both as a professional and a person. I am so thankful to be working with her."

—Chris Rutledge

Range Light Client Profile:
Mid-career professional in a leadership role within a mission-driven organization
(Shared with permission; name withheld for privacy)

The Challenge

When this client first sought coaching, she described her work life as marked by a persistent, low-level “misery.” She felt disconnected, unsupported, and unfulfilled. “I had this baseline discomfort,” she recalled, “and I didn’t really know why.” She believed the solution might be a new job—something external to escape the discomfort.

The Coaching Experience

What began as a search for a career strategy evolved into a deeper journey of self-discovery and perspective-shifting. Through structured reflection, guided inquiry, and a supportive coaching relationship, the client:

• Recognized her own agency: Rather than being handed answers, she was encouraged to uncover her own. “You told me I already had the answers,” she said. “That was powerful.”

• Untangled mental clutter: She described her mind as an early version of a detective’s “evidence board” – with lots of red string and little connectivity. Coaching helped her lay out her thoughts, make connections, and see the bigger picture.

• Reconnected with her values: By stepping back from the daily grind, she was able to articulate what truly mattered—not just in work, but in life—and how those values could guide her decisions.

Client Insights

Throughout the coaching process, the client experienced several key insights that reshaped her approach to work and leadership:

• The answer wasn’t “out there”: She entered coaching believing the solution was to leave her organization. Instead, she discovered that by shifting her perspective and actions, she could create a more fulfilling experience right where she was.

• Work and self are inseparable: She realized that her personal values, emotional well-being, and sense of identity were deeply intertwined with her professional life. Bringing her “whole self” into coaching allowed her to make more authentic and sustainable decisions.

• Creating space for others creates space for self: By intentionally fostering a safe, collaborative environment for her team, she found that she too began to thrive. “Even if some external [to the team] things were still difficult,” she said, “this ‘bubble’ that was created was actively positive for everybody—including me.”

• Perspective is power: Coaching gave her the tools to step back, reflect, and make intentional choices—rather than reacting from a place of stress or urgency. “It helped decrease the desperation,” she noted, “and that made all the difference.”

Tangible Results

• Leadership in action: Following coaching, she led a major program that was both high-profile and high-impact. Drawing on insights from her coaching engagement, she intentionally created a psychologically safe, collaborative environment in which team members could thrive.

• Team success: The program was a success not just in outcomes, but in how the team functioned. “It was deeply fulfilling for me and for the team members too,” she said. 

• Vision for the future: She is now growing her team. She created a new role for and hired a standout intern—an act of leadership and vision that reflects her renewed sense of purpose.

Intangible Shifts

• From reactive to intentional: She now evaluates opportunities based on alignment with her values, rather than reacting to discomfort.

• From isolation to impact: Even though some organizational challenges remain, she has created a “bubble” of positivity and safety around her work—and it’s growing.

• From burnout to belief: “I feel like I have more energy and vision,” she said. “And I can see a path forward—not just for me, but for the people I lead.”

How Coaching Made a Difference

“Coaching gave me the space to pause, look up, and gain perspective. It was like opening a window—a bit of pressure release and fresh air. It helped me untangle the weight I was carrying and be more intentional about my next steps.”

She now advocates for coaching as a vital tool—not just for career transitions, but for mental, emotional, and professional well-being. “Everyone should have the opportunity to step back and say, ‘This is what’s important to me.’ That’s how we create healthier, more fulfilling paths forward.”

Range Light Client Profile:

Senior consultant in engineering with more than 30 years of experience. (Shared with permission; name withheld for privacy)

The Challenge

After decades of success and leadership, this client faced a turning point. Personal circumstances prompted reflection to ask: What’s next? Initially, the client believed the answer could come from reading retirement guides or finding a single "right" solution. "I thought I would read a book and would be able to formulate the answer for how to navigate the next phase of my career and life," the client said. "But I realized I needed a more structured process to figure out what comes next."

The Coaching Experience

What began as a search for clarity evolved into a journey of exploration and reframing. Through regular coaching sessions, structured reflection, and practical exercises, the client:

• Created a process for progress: Coaching provided focus and accountability—regular meetings and action steps maintained forward progress.

• Explored possibilities without hesitation: Instead of clinging to one "perfect" answer, the client learned to try things and experiment with what was positive and use unfavorable experiences to refine goals.

• Reclaimed professional identity: Mock interviews and résumé work with the coach for a position adjacent to the client’s experience helped to reconnect with accomplishments and strengths.

• Combined imagination with structure: “Coaching gave me the freedom to imagine—and the guidance to make it reality.”

Client Insights

During the coaching engagement, the client experienced the following key insights:

• There isn’t just one answer: “I started out thinking there could only be one answer. Coaching helped me see I could try things on and learn as I go.”

• Doing leads to knowing: Experimenting with new roles, volunteer work, and business ideas clarified what truly mattered.

• Freedom paired with structure: “It’s the freedom to imagine and the structure to put things into action.”

• Reframing, not clinging: Learned to let go of paths that held no value.

Tangible Results

• Career experiments in action: Applied for roles outside the client’s previous industry, engaged in volunteer activities, and began building a new consulting business.

• Practical progress: Updated résumé and customized for new potential roles outside of the industry, practiced interviews, and developed marketing strategies for a new business venture.

• Business development: Actively networking and refining business concepts based on real-world feedback.

Intangible Results

• Shift from hesitation to freedom to explore: “Trying things removed the hesitation. I realized there’s no ‘end zone’—just continuous progress.”

• Renewed confidence and clarity: Reclaimed pride in past achievements and integrated them into future vision for what comes next.

• Mindset of possibility: Embraced curiosity and openness, seeing career as an evolving journey rather than a fixed destination.

How Coaching Made the Difference

“Coaching gave me the space to imagine and the structure to act. It felt like having a partner who supported me, reminded me I could do it, and helped me turn ideas into reality. If you’re stuck, coaching gives you the freedom to imagine—and the guidance to make it happen.”