Coaching

Get unstuck when you’re unsure of how to move forward.

Are you someone who normally prides themselves on getting things done–except for this particular area where you feel a bit stuck? 

Perhaps it’s overwhelming and you don’t know where to start. Perhaps you’ve got a big decision that you’re struggling to make. Or an important conversation you’d like to prepare for. Perhaps you’ve recently taken on a new role and you’re struggling to fully step into what it means to take the lead.

Maybe you have no idea why you’re so stuck in this one area.

Working with a coach can be a great way to identify the sticky stuff, to get grounded in what’s important to you, and to realign how you’re operating with your mission–whether it’s in life or at work.

Who I work with

I work with people who are interested in taking the lead–regardless of whether it’s a formal position at work, or something you’ve found yourself doing, and regardless of whether it’s for a team, a family, or your own life’s journey.

We’ll probably enjoy working together through coaching if you are

• Open to exploring, reflecting, and discovering something unexpected
• Curious
• Eager to take action
• Not afraid to laugh 

On the other hand, coaching with me is probably not a good fit if you are

• Looking for advice and expertise on specific subjects (I am also available for consulting engagements, but consulting is quite different from coaching)
• Aiming to find a new job or learn how to get promoted (in this case, you’re probably looking for a career coach)
• Not ready to make the time or put in the work in between sessions
• Seeking in-person coaching (I conduct all coaching sessions online)

Note: I coach in English so regardless of your primary language, you would need to be comfortable with having these conversations in English.

What I bring to coaching

Any competent and ethical coach will partner with you on maximizing your potential in the direction of your goals and they should do so in a way that is nonjudgmental, trustworthy, and responsive to you and your needs. But here’s a bit of what I personally bring to my coaching work.

• Beyond my training as a process-oriented executive and systems coach at the Global Coaching Institute, I draw from a toolbox that includes tools and techniques from service design, change management, teaching, and community building. 
• I’m credentialed as an Associate Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation. In addition to continuing to work on and reflect on my skills as a coach, I prioritize learning about how to work with humans in ways that are inclusive, accessible, and trauma-informed. 
• I have experience working with people around the world who
  • have a wide range of lived experiences–living abroad or emigrating, physical and cognitive disabilities, being the first in their family to do X, military service, caregiving, needing to work in a secondary language, etc; 
  • are in a variety of situations–from stepping into a new leadership role to planning for retirement, from leading change at their organization to navigating how to share challenging news with family, and many more.
• Aside from my professional experience, I am a partner, a parent, a daughter of immigrants, a writer, an American living in Tokyo, and a Japanese language learner. I enjoy food, travel, reading, and attempting to build stronger muscles at the gym so that I can still do fun things when I’m 100!

How we can work together

There are two ways to work with me as a coach.

Regular Sessions: When you’re working on a major shift, grant yourself the space to do the work through regular coaching sessions. We start with helping you create a picture of the future you’re working towards, followed by mapping out what’s between your current state and that future. Then we partner on how to support you in that journey towards making sure that you feel grounded as you move forward on your own.

Strategic Sessions: This is a single session focused on a specific question or single decision where you’ve been feeling a bit stuck and where we partner together to help you move forward. If you’re unsure about whether ongoing coaching with me is the right fit for you and your goals, then this can also be a good way to try it out with something small in scope.

How to get started

Sign up for an initial consultation!* Once we’ve had a chance to chat, then you and I can decide if this feels like a good match for both of us.

*Yes, I’ve decided to save us all from the time zone math. I conduct initial consultations within my working hours, so if none of these times seem to work for you, then it’s likely our schedules do not align. Feel free to email me to confirm, and if I can refer you to another coach whose working hours work better for your schedule, I will.