Being an entrepreneur is a courageous act. It takes courage to leap into the unknown. To write your own rules. To forgo the security of a job in favor of creativity, freedom, and self-fulfillment. It takes courage to move forward in the face of self-doubt and fear. I love nothing more than coaching, guiding, and mentoring courageous entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and franchisees to their greatest success.
As a lifelong entrepreneur and solopreneur (and 14 year franchisee) I know that it is often isolating and lonely to own your own business. You have to constantly acquire new skills, expand and develop your understandings as the business grows, and you have to somehow maintain your motivation, focus and confidence.
But it’s hard! You are the leader. The responsibility is on your shoulders. Who is there to turn to for advice, or as a sounding board, to give you the benefit of their experience? With whom can you talk when you feel yourself faltering and need shoring up? You need someone in your corner, who is 100% for you. You need me. Let’s talk.
My Bio
Not only am I a coach, I am a mature serial entrepreneur, solopreneur and franchisee. So far, my life has been full of adventure and challenge. I have been fortunate enough to have had some really difficult things happen to me, both in business and in family relationships. Some of these have been self-inflicted. From these, I have gained some pretty deep insights into what is most important to me, and into how I have gotten in my own way more often than I’d like to admit. I have gained some deep insights into how to muster the courage to keep moving forward, even when I wanted to quit, and insights into the cost to me and those I hold dear when I have chosen to not move forward or take the risk.
Even though these “opportunities” have been really difficult, I’ve learned that making it to the other side of adversity opens the door for joy, happiness, confidence, and intense satisfaction. I am a lucky girl!
I chose to pursue coaching as my “third act” because of my own personal experiences with being coached, and the dramatic impact it has had on me throughout my life. I have found that working with coaches has broadened my perspective immeasurably, and it has given me the insights, tools, and confidence to successfully resolve difficult situations with grace. Coaching has opened deeper relationships for me with family, friends, and work colleagues, has helped me to define and refine my goals, and has given me the courage to go after them. In short, it has deeply enriched my life, and I love to help others discover the same benefits.
My Credentials
Experience as an Entrepreneur, Solopreneur and Franchisee
As an experienced entrepreneur, I have successfully (and on occasion not so successfully) developed and operated more than a few businesses over my career. At 20, I developed the Laney Aquatics Swim Team with a partner. At 22, I opened my first “real” business, SidePocket, Inc., which designed, manufactured, and sold high fashion handbags to major department stores around the world. In addition to several other entrepreneurial ventures, while I was raising young children I became a successful Color Consultant. Later, together with my husband, I developed and operated 6 Papa Murphy’s Take ‘n Bake Pizza Restaurant Franchises. For 14 years I functioned as CEO (and Marketing Director, CFO, and jack of all trades) of our restaurants. My latest highly successful business venture has been Lake Tahoe Institute of English, an English language immersion school for international business professionals This school was based on cutting-edge language learning techniques, with the program developed and directed by me.
Education
I have a BA in English Literature from University of California, Berkeley, and a MS in Environmental Systems Engineering from Humboldt State University. I also have a degree in Fashion Design from Pacific Fashion Institute and am a Certified Instructor of English as a Second Language, with special certification in Business English. I have been credentialed to teach grades K-12 in the State of California, with certifications in English, Psychology, Sociology, History, and Spanish.
Training
I have taken many continuing education courses and trainings throughout the years, including extensive work with Newfield Network, Landmark Education and Tony Robbins.
I am a Newfield Network Certified Ontological Coach and am a PCC (Professional Certified Coach) accredited member of the International Coach Federation. Additionally, I have trained with and worked for Tony Robbins as a Life Coach, a Business Results Coach and as a Business Results Trainer.
Community
I have served on the Board of Directors for numerous local and national organizations. Most recently I was Director-At-Large for the Sacramento, CA chapter of the International Coach Federation in 2018 and 2019. Other board positions include Papa Murphy’s Franchise Advisory Board, Nevada County Business and Professional Women, Children’s Cabinet, and two non-profit adoption agencies. I have also served my community through volunteer participation in CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), CPS Service Review Team, Council on the Status of Women, local schools, and others.
Personal
In my personal life, I have been married to my husband for 41 years and have raised 4 children with him. We now have 2 beautiful grandsons and a toddler granddaughter as well. I love traveling (50 countries and counting!), languages, study of almost anything, reading almost everything, hiking, skiing, water sports, everything about nature. I have special interests in neuroscience, trauma, entrepreneurship, and heroism.
Most of all, I find people endlessly fascinating and wonderful.
