about
Strategic Sparring Partner and Coach
I’m a classically trained MBA and a seasoned people leader with over 15 years (and counting) of experience across publicly traded and privately held companies. My favorite questions are “what if?” and “why not?” and I’m on a mission to revitalize the world of work, life, and the definition of success beyond “should.”
Life is too short for the status quo. I support people managers, high performers, and fast-growing organizations in imagining and charting a better path forward.
This isn’t your usual compliance CYA training module. And we’re definitely not throwing you into the fight without a plan.
I cultivate a protected space for sparring: controlled, partner-based preparation that simulates the real thing to try new ideas, beat up old ones, and develop your skills, timing, and confidence before heading into the real arena.
What If? Why Not? What’s Possible?
We’ll ask what others won’t and give voice to your deepest truths
Over my years of experience, I’ve learned three fundamental things:
01
- Being human means having questions and doubts about life, work, and everything in between
In those vulnerable moments, it’s invaluable to have a dedicated space to explore and formulate your opinion and your path forward without the judgment, bias, and baggage (however well-intentioned) that our family, friends, and colleagues can bring.
02
- Nobody is trying to be a terrible boss
But, without support, training, and a different way to handle tough situations, managers copy the only models they know (the bad bosses they’ve endured) and perpetuate the cycle of toxicity.
03
- Generic advice fails in messy reality
Generic advice is okay at best and downright terrible at worst because it makes all sorts of incorrect assumptions about your circumstances, available resources, real constraints, and most damning of all, your goals.
I don’t believe in rigid answers, boilerplate training, or generic advice. Instead, we will hold dedicated space and explore potential solutions informed by best practices, always subject to your specific situation. If a particular idea doesn’t land right or sit well, it’s not the right idea, and we’ll adjust it or find another.
15+ Years and Still Leading in Today’s Workplace
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Trusted by first-time managers through SVPs
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Trained in evidence-based coaching. Real-world proven.
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UCLA Anderson MBA | UC Davis Credentialed Coach
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When you look at career regrets, the big one is not being bold enough – playing it safe.
Dan Pink, Author, The Power of Regret
I Stopped Climbing The Career Ladder Everyone Said I Should
The moment I realized it was leaning against the wrong wall
I spent my early career leaning in, standing out, and climbing the corporate ladder. I said yes to every opportunity and excelled. People told me I could be CEO someday and I believed them without questioning if I actually wanted that life.
Spoiler alert: I didn’t. And still don’t.
The doubt crept in when I earned my first promotion to people manager.
I’d hit the milestone, but the success on paper came with some steep hidden costs:
- The brutal realization that a 100-hour work week was not just investment banking or big law lore
- 18 months without a vacation because I was terrified of failing as a new people manager with a challenging team
- Moving to a new city and struggling to find community while senior leaders bragged about relocating 8 times in 10 years like it was a resume achievement instead of a lifestyle red flag
I realized I was heading straight for golden handcuffs on this trajectory, with career success artificially limiting my personal success.
I quietly explored what I actually wanted, plotted out my next moves, and developed the courage to follow through. I said no thank you to the next promotion and held firm when the “shoulds” came.
This deliberate shift, a zig, put me on a wildly different trajectory of success on my terms toward joy, fulfillment, and delight in the day-to-day with a deep sense of enough.
Everything I learned from that experience – the clarity, the strategy, and the courage – that’s what I bring to our work together in making your own zigs. Life’s too short to spend it on someone else’s ladder.
Your Zig Isn’t Going To Happen By Itself
You’ve read this far because something in my story resonated. What are you waiting for? Clarity comes from action, not endless thinking. You don’t need permission to want something different. You don’t need all the answers before you start. You just need to stop stalling since time will pass regardless. Let’s figure out your next move together.