Executive & Leadership Coach in Boston, MA
Confidential, practical coaching for executives stepping into bigger roles — from a coach who spent twenty years running operations before she ever coached one.
An Operator First, a Coach Second
For twenty years I ran operations — first in manufacturing, then as chief operating officer of a regional healthcare company. I was coached twice in that time. Once it changed how I led; once it was a waste of everyone's money. The difference was whether the coach understood the job.
Since 2013 I've coached presidents, COOs, CFOs, engineering leaders and founders through promotions, turnarounds, mergers and the quiet crisis of being very good at a job you've outgrown.
- Operatorexperience as COO of a healthcare company
- Certifiedcoach, trained through an ICF-accredited program
- Sessioncontent stays with you, not your sponsor
Coaching Services
Individual engagements run six months; team engagements are scoped with you.
The Work of Leading at the Top
Strategic Focus
Deciding what only you can do — and letting go of the rest.
Stakeholders
Boards, peers and investors who all need something different from you.
Delegation
Building a team you can trust with the work you used to do yourself.
Hard Conversations
Feedback, exits and disagreements, handled directly and humanely.
Presence
Calm, clear communication when the room is watching.
Sustainable Pace
Leading at full stretch without burning out yourself or your team.
Leaders at an Inflection Point
Newly Promoted Executives
Stepping into the C-suite or a first board-facing role.
High-Potential Leaders
Being prepared for a bigger job in the next two years.
Founders Who Are Scaling
Moving from doing everything to leading people who do.
Leaders in Transition
Mergers, turnarounds, or a new chapter after a long tenure.
Six Months, Four Stages
Chemistry Conversation
A confidential 45-minute call to see whether we're a fit. No obligation.
Discovery & 360 Interviews
Conversations with you and up to eight stakeholders to understand how you lead today.
Goal Setting With Your Sponsor
Two or three development goals agreed with you and, if you choose, your manager or HR partner.
Coaching & Review
Twice-monthly sessions for six months, with a mid-point and final progress review.
Coaching Your Leadership Bench
Most engagements are sponsored by the client's organization. I work with HR and talent leaders to coach new executives, high-potential leaders and whole leadership teams — with clear goals up front and progress reviews you can see, while the coaching conversations themselves stay private.
- ✓Individual and team engagements
- ✓Goals agreed with sponsor and leader
- ✓Mid-point and final progress reviews
- ✓Invoicing to your organization
When the Team Is the Work
Sometimes the leader isn't the issue — the team is. Team engagements start with interviews with every member, then a series of facilitated working sessions on how the team decides, disagrees and holds itself accountable.
Teams leave with written working agreements and a clearer sense of what they are, and aren't, responsible for together.
- ✓Interviews with every team member
- ✓Facilitated off-site and working sessions
- ✓Written team working agreements
Common Questions
How much does executive coaching cost?
Six-month individual engagements typically range from $15,000 to $30,000 depending on scope and seniority. Team engagements are quoted after an initial conversation.
What does my sponsor see?
Agreed goals and progress reviews — never session content. That content stays private, except where someone's safety is at risk or the law requires otherwise; I explain these limits in our first conversation.
Do sessions have to be in person?
No. Most sessions happen by video; Boston clients can also meet at our Congress Street office.
Can I engage you privately, without my employer?
Yes. About a quarter of clients are self-funded — often leaders planning a move or a new chapter.
How is this different from leadership training?
Training teaches a group general skills. Coaching works on your specific role, relationships and goals, in real time.
Do you guarantee a promotion or outcome?
No. Coaching sets clear goals and measures progress against them; results depend on the leader and the organization.
Start With a Confidential Conversation
Forty-five minutes to talk about your role, your goals and whether coaching is the right investment now.
Let's Talk, in Confidence
Consultations are by appointment, by video or at our Congress Street office. Catherine replies personally.