My Journey
My life’s journey has taken me from coast-to-coast. I was born and raised in Connecticut, having lived in the Midwest and now reside in California. This geographical span gave opportunity to observe and live in three distinctly different cultures. In those places I have found myself in diverse roles – small business owner, fund-raiser, executive assistant, pastor’s wife and mother. This experience in diversity helps me in both life and coaching.
My experience of more than two decades as a Senior Sales Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics shaped me in three significant ways. I learned how to sell, how to develop and operate a business, and how to train and empower others. It was while working in Mary Kay that my passion for helping others grow and achieve their objectives gained intensity. That desire to train and empower others has long out-lived my career in Mary Kay.
In order to grow in my ability to run my own business and to better help others, I returned to college in 1992. In 1994 I graduated with honors and a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Studies. I had the rare privilege of marching just ahead of my younger son as we both received our bachelor’s degrees on the same day from the same college.
Recent years have found me in the field of development, raising funds for three organizations – the Southwest Baptist Conference, Interdev (an international mission agency) and UniReach International (a public charity doing humanitarian work in Asia).
As a pastor’s wife, I have been around not-for-profit organizations all my adult life. I have served in numerous ministry and leadership roles and am intimately aware of how non-profits operate.
My journey cannot be described without talking of my love affair with books. A life-long, voracious reader, I count Henri Nouwen, C. S. Lewis, Brennan Manning, Oswald Chambers, Eugene Peterson, Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, Thomas Merton, John Ortberg, and Philip Yancey among my literary friends.
My journey into coaching has been surprising. Over the years many women have allowed me the privilege of mentoring and coaching them unofficially. Whenever someone encouraged me to become a coach, I dismissed it thinking, “I will leave the coaching to my husband.” Over time I was approached by a growing number of women with requests for coaching. With experience came evidence that I not only enjoyed coaching, but I am effective in that role. It has been easy and natural to transition into a coaching career.
My Philosophy
Neither an expert nor a counselor, I am a fellow traveler and a partner with you in your growth. I ask more than I tell. Without a doubt we learn our most enduring life lessons by discovering the answer to an insightful question. Without a doubt we discover our best answers when guided by an understanding, experienced, effective coach. My task as your coach is to listen well, ask the right questions, point you to helpful resources, provide the benefit of my own experience, and hold you accountable to your own stated coaching goals.
I would love to meet you and walk the path of growth with you.
My husband Bill is the President of NexStep Coaching and Consulting. We have been married 37 years and have two married sons and one grand daughter.