Services
Career Consulting
What jobs and careers are out there? How should I choose?
Should I stay where I am or look for a new job – or a new career?
What should my resume say? Do I need a LinkedIn profile?
Do I have to network?
When should I compromise my goals and when should I stand firm about what I want?
Career Consulting shows you how to:
Win a job or promotion.
Recognize the signs that a job or company is a good fit for your skills and ambitions.
Negotiate your job offer and make a strong start in your new position.
Feel satisfied that you have made good choices – and will keep making more.
Each client is different, so the exact work we do is tailored to your needs, your learning style, and whether you want a new job ASAP (because you are involuntarily unemployed or because you are at risk of burnout) or are in a position to engage in deeper career discernment. Common elements for every client include:
Self-exploration to identify the skills you wish to sell, the environment in which you will succeed, the colleagues with whom you can do your best work, and the products, subjects, or mission which renew your energy and excellence.
Identifying a menu of possible roles, job titles, or employers which might be right for you – if you had enough information.
Investigating those possibilities (via networking, research, thought experiments) to decide on a course of action.
Implementing your job search and following through to success.
Depending on your needs, we will work on:
Focusing your Career or Job Search: What jobs to apply for, where to look.
Networking skills that suit your personality.
Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Profile writing and editing.
Interview and Salary Negotiation coaching.
“Deborah has helped me navigate complex situations, including figuring out whether it was time to move on from a previous job, going through an interview process, deciding whether to accept an offer, and adjusting to and developing in a new job in a young and rapidly-growing organization. Throughout, she has been attentive and insightful. She has consistently tracked all the moving parts of situations and my thoughts and feelings about them, adding her own perspectives and frameworks. She has also helped me gain confidence in my abilities and the value I add to my organization. I’m grateful to have had her wisdom as a resource during the stress and complexity of career changes!”
“Deborah’s consulting has been life-changing. I met Deborah over 10 years ago when I was making a career transition but couldn’t figure out how I would complete the career change. I had never considered a career coach, but as soon as I spoke to Deborah, she understood my challenges and helped me connect the dots. Since then, we have worked together on my career journey, including guiding me on how to negotiate a salary increase. I had never negotiated before, but she gave me the confidence to advocate for myself. Deborah has also been very supportive in weathering painful layoffs, including reviewing my severance package and exit interview materials.
Deborah’s work with me has been one of the best investments I ever made for myself.”
“The Career Consulting I received from Deborah was value focused and incredibly personal. Deborah concentrated on understanding my motivations, which enabled her to provide profound feedback and insight on how and where to feed my passions. I have since referred Deborah’s expertise to various friends and colleagues who share the same deep respect and appreciation for the wisdom in her consulting.”
Executive Coaching
Your job has become too much – or too little. Your boss has changed, your industry is changing, the economy continues to change. You are changing. You worry about burnout, about how to plan in the midst of so much uncertainty. You want to take charge of your career, but you’re not sure where and how to start.
Coaching is for you when…
Your team and responsibilities are growing and you want to grow your capacity.
You love your work, but work relationships (aka “politics”) are unpleasant.
You know you’ll be ready for some new challenges soon, and you need clarity about where to find them.
The stress you feel about work is getting in the way of your health, your relationships, or your happiness.
Depending on your needs and desires, we may meet on a regular schedule or as needed. You set the agenda, I help you plan, prioritize, and execute. Your growth areas may include:
Leadership Development
Team Building and Team Management
Delegation
Mentoring
Time Management
Stress Reduction
Work/Life Balance and Self-Care
“Managing Up”
Clarifying when to Speak Up, Lean In, or Step Back
This is very personal work, and the relationship and chemistry between us will strengthen over time. I may point out blind spots, limiting beliefs, or outdated ideas which had been holding you back. You’ll need trust and self-compassion in order to raise sensitive questions or acknowledge ingrained patterns which no longer serve you. I’ll provide clarity and perspective so you can continue to build your professional skills, confidence, and personal integrity to thrive personally, professionally, and financially.
“Deborah’s grounded and thoughtful support have helped me make significant career transitions many times over the last twenty years. From discerning my way into a non-profit career from corporate, to considering senior leadership roles, to my most recent move from Stanford to working in climate, Deborah’s skills and support have helped me listen deeply for my own vocation and step into it with confidence.”
“I have worked with Deborah for several years, and she has been an invaluable partner in my career. She is an exceptionally skilled professional who has vast empathy, deft perspective, and cunning humor. She has pushed me when I needed it, and she has been a guiding voice through some difficult decisions. It has made a world of difference to receive her objective guidance, rather than relying on my friends and family. (An added benefit is that my personal relationships have also improved.) Whatever may come up along the way, it is so helpful to know she is in my corner and ready to help me when needed. Deborah is a grounded, wise counselor, and I am so appreciative to have found her!”
“I consider Deborah an essential ingredient in my recipe for professional success. Working with her over time, I have seen my leadership style mature and evolve.
I first worked with Deborah as a career coach, when I was considering a big, scary professional leap. With her guidance, I landed and accepted the new job. She has helped me grow into the leader I am today and keeps me sane and grounded through my professional challenges.
With Deborah’s coaching, I can lift out of the weeds, see the bigger themes, and tap into creative solutions that would not have occurred to me on my own. I have grown into a much more confident, decisive leader thanks to my work with Deborah.”