ABOUT ME

I am an Idaho mountain girl and first generation college graduate. I grew up in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains which is where my love of nature originated - waterskiing, camping, biking, hiking, fishing and snow skiing. Later in life I met my husband in college and he introduced me to whitewater rafting.

This black and white photo is a testament to my journey of growth, discovery and confidence. Until just recently, only my closest family members had ever seen this photo because it’s been hiding. I mean, just look at those big buck teeth! 😁 Ever since my dad took this “god-awful” photo, he wanted to frame it and display it in the living room but I wouldn’t allow it. I hated the way I looked and always felt internal pressure to look or be different than who I really was, no matter how much encouragement my parents gave me. Living small felt safe and so I hid (myself and the photo). Until now.

I’ve come to adore this photo now, not just because it captured me in a rare state of youthful contentment, but because nothing feels better than embracing your authentic self, big buck teeth and all. Once I discovered the confidence to show up as me, every day, everywhere I go, I became unstoppable.

This is why I coach.

Here’s how I got here.

After college and a European backpack tour, I worked for a start-up investment advisory firm with three of the most respectable professionals in the business. They taught me all about building quality relationships and inspired a work ethic I still hold today. They empowered me by pouring into my professional development and letting me guide my own career path. I became a Series 65 and Series 7 Representative, trading equities and fixed income. I prepared for the CFA.

At the same time, my husband and I began to grow our family. It was while I was pregnant with our third, that I realized I was not in alignment with my values. I was sacrificing family time for my career. I had planned to “do it all” just as I had seen it modeled for me, but parenting was not as straightforward as I anticipated. Our kids had unique challenges that I was totally unprepared to handle. As parenting and life grew more hectic and complex, I felt the lingering fear of failure. I had already experienced two divorces in my childhood so I was motivated to do everything I could to avoid another one. And so what happened next was a total overhaul in my brain - I would leave my 10 year career and commit myself to the work of building a healthy family foundation, even though I didn’t really know what all that entailed.

It was the hardest job I have had to date. I found myself pondering how I could know in my heart that I was doing the right thing, while simultaneously feeling uncertain and anxious. I stayed very busy and poured everything I had into my family, but I can’t say that I ever allowed myself to feel fulfilled. Wow, the guilt. I was in my own way and I had no idea how to get out of it. Thankfully, somehow, amid my internal turmoil, I took away many valuable lessons, thanks to my kids. They taught me more about myself than I ever knew. Parenting has a way of opening up scars you may or may not be aware that you have. As awareness expands, we develop the skills to heal those wounds. I am so grateful for these lessons. My kids will always and forever be my most influential and inspiring teachers.

When the time was right, and with my family’s support, I went back to work part-time. I poured my heart into a small family business and by the time I was done, we had record sales and modern processes. This reignited a quieted belief that I still had more to give beyond my season of nurturing. I was ready to go check that out.

I never considered the barriers I would face when I decided to return to work after my eight year career break. There exists a tangible stigma against individuals who temporarily step away from the workforce. After months of trying to break back in, I felt discouraged, frustrated, alone and irrelevant. My 12+ years of professional experience, education and my strong work ethic seemed to be overshadowed by the career gap on my resume. It seemed that my career break was a career-breaker. My confidence tanked. I mostly kept these feelings to myself because I felt ashamed that I was unable to help my family the way I wanted to. I was small again.  

Discouraged but still ambitious, I decided that upskilling could help me get back on track so I applied to the MBA program at the local university. I enrolled in a full-time program that allowed me to take classes during the day so that I could be home at night with my kids. More than anything, going back to school re-awakened my love of learning and my confidence returned. In addition, I was showing up for my family more mindfully and authentically. I felt stronger and more capable than I had in years. One night at dinner, my third grader said, “Mom, you are so determined.” Her insightful observation kept me going on the most hectic of days and also reminded me that I was making a valuable impression - that a mother can be both nurturing and ambitious; honoring her whole self.

While in the MBA program, I studied the intersection of psychology and business. I became obsessed with understanding why some people thrive in their roles while others don’t. What is happiness and can it grow? I dove into mindfulness, employee engagement, company culture, leadership, talent development.

In addition, I wanted to prove that taking time to nurture your family doesn’t have to derail your career. It can be a strategic shift in priorities where one continually learns and expands.

After graduation, I found my jam - a career in leadership and people development. This led me to coaching.

My passion for human potential has been evident my entire life. Despite whatever I was going through internally, people have always come to me for advice on big decisions and it has been my privilege to provide guidance. My friends and family will laugh and show you the countless personal development books that I gifted them over the years. I can’t help it, growing is exciting to me! Whether it is capitalizing on their strengths, leaning into their intuition, or making connections, I see their potential and am motivated to help them unleash their greatness.

But first I had to unleash it in myself.

As a Personal and Executive Coach, I serve individuals and leaders at all stages of their lives and careers, partnering with them so that they can clearly identify their goals and then uncover their strengths and confidence, leaving comfort zones and finding joy in expansion and growth.

If you are serious about accelerating your growth and reaching your potential, I can help. ❤️