Musical Beginnings

I’m grateful for the many experiences in life that have given me new eyes - fresh ways of seeing the world, people, and myself.

Similar to you, perhaps, I wanted to become a professional musician. I studied the clarinet and earned an undergraduate degree in music from the University of Colorado and enjoyed further musical studies at Aspen, Banff, and Yale.

But during graduate school I decided on a different career path. I still had this dream of serving the arts world in some way. 

The Corporate World

After earning an MBA from the Wharton School, I served in leadership and business development roles in capital markets with Bank of America and Wells Fargo for over 20 years. I then transitioned from corporate finance to personal finance so I could positively impact people’s lives more directly.

I’ve seen great leaders and ineffective leaders in the corporate world. I’ve been a fine leader myself and had plenty of learning experiences.

Why Coaching?

I’ve always been an empathetic, caring person and have found personal satisfaction in deeply listening to others. Simply by caring, listening, asking insightful questions, and not telling people what to do, I realized I’d been coaching informally for quite a long time.

I came to recognize that compassionate listening, coupled with my professional experience, would serve me well in helping others. I pursued the study of ontological coaching with the Newfield Network, where my eyes were opened to the dramatic ways incorporating the whole person – body, emotions, and language – creates profound personal change.

Service to Others

I love that I get to work creatively with others to help them achieve transformational and lasting change. They say that our conversations allow them to be completely honest with themselves and to do and accomplish things that align with their needs and core values. It’s truly gratifying for me to witness others see things in new ways that open up new possibilities in their lives.

Arts Leadership

Here I am, all these years after leaving The Yale School of Music, proudly serving as board president for the Chicago-based Fifth House Ensemble. I am also a dedicated practicing clarinetist again and grateful to be a part of an extended musical family.

As a musician, I know how music inspires people in lasting ways. I’m fascinated by the power of non-verbal emotional communication among musicians and between the performers and the audience. 

I love helping creative people see their leadership potential with new eyes and realizing their most ambitious dreams.