From Executive Leader to Consultant & Coach

When our company was sold, my executive role ended. One day I was on point, on call, and fully engaged—just as I had been for more than twenty years—and the next day, I was not. There was no go-forward role for me. I handed off the baton, mission accomplished. For the first time in my professional life, I did not immediately create a plan or set goals. I allowed space for reflection rather than reaction. What emerged from that time was profound: a renewed understanding of the privilege of leadership, a deep sense of gratitude, and a realization that I still had meaningful work to do. In fact, I believed I had not yet done my best work.

When the Role Ends—and Identity Shifts

Leading teams and functions in fast-paced, complex environments had defined me. I have spent years managing through disruption, building culture, integrating acquisitions, and helping others lead with clarity and empathy. It was rich, demanding, and deeply fulfilling. I learned, achieved, failed, recovered, and grew. I would not trade a moment of it.Yet when the role ended, something unexpected happened. The question was not “What’s next?”—it was “Who am I now?” That moment of stillness became the doorway to something new.

The Aha Moment

Initially, I began interviewing for Chief People Officer roles. It felt like an automatic next step. Recruiters called, I accepted the meetings, and I was curious. But nothing fully resonated. Then, in one interview with a CEO seeking a new CHRO, something shifted. As we spoke, I found myself suggesting that I might help the incumbent succeed rather than replace her. It was a clarifying moment—the kind of insight that changes everything.

Re-Grounding and Re-Building

I realized I did not need another executive seat. I wanted to use my experience differently—to support those now leading through transformative and tumultuous times. To do that well, I returned to my consulting roots, refreshing my approach and enrolling in a rigorous Evidence-Based Coaching program. That process, along with pursuing ICF accreditation, helped me integrate decades of leadership experience with the art and science of coaching.As projects began to find me, my path became clear. I was no longer leading inside organizations; I was helping others lead better within them.

A Shift in Perspective

Two realizations emerged that continue to shape my work today:1. My time as an executive leader was invaluable—but it was complete. It was time for others to take the helm.2. I am uniquely qualified to consult and coach leaders in real time. I’ve been in their seat, balanced competing stakeholder agendas, and navigated results-driven complexity while keeping people at the center.

NextGen People & Culture Solutions

That clarity gave rise to NextGen People & Culture Solutions—a practice dedicated to helping leaders and organizations align people, culture, and business strategy to achieve meaningful, sustainable results.

Transitions are rarely tidy. But they often open doors to deeper purpose. For me, the transition from executive leader to consultant and coach reaffirmed a belief I hold at my core: creating capability is the most important role we play, and there are so many ways to answer that call.