The Exec Moms Mantra

The reasons why clients first choose to work with me may vary, but the ultimate goal and purpose of our relationship is always the same -- helping executive moms feel greater success, satisfaction and fulfillment in all areas of their life.

Some of the specific, tangible results my clients are experiencing include:

• Improved communication and relationship with spouse
• Greater confidence in leadership skills and improved management techniques
• Successful transition from corporate job to starting own
• Decreased business expenses and increased business revenue
• New infrastructure to support business success, including hiring the right people for the job
• More satisfying weekend routine that supports more time for self and family
• Greater peace and contentment from buying bigger house after years of feeling dissatisfied and unhappy in smaller space
• Working less hours and spending more time taking care of self and enjoying personal life
• More enjoyment with children and greater confidence in parenting abilities

But don’t just take it from me, here’s what some of my clients are saying…

Coaching with Nicola is an effective combination of emotional support and tough-minded business sense. Nicola has helped me prepare for difficult conversations and guided me to strengthen skills as a manager and leader of my organization. I have appreciated Nicola's experienced voice and rational reflection when emotions run high.

While our conversations primarily focus on workplace challenges, I also value the perspective she brings to my situation as a mid-career executive and mother of a young child. She has helped me clarify priorities for my time and attention in a way that I could not have accomplished on my own. I know my professional and family relationships are more productive and enjoyable because of my work with Nicola -- not only for the time spent during the session, but in the way I experience challenging and rewarding situations between sessions as well. Working with Nicola is like cross-training for challenges from parenting to management!

I recommend Nicola to anyone striving to balance a meaningful life between work and family. My sessions with Nicola are among the best things I do for myself."

Camille Crittenden, Executive Director for Human Rights Center at UC Berkeley, mother of one

I hired Nicola as my coach when I was having a hard time getting clarity on a personal issue. I was caught up in all the drama and details and Nicola asked me questions to help guide me to find the answer to the problem myself. I could not have stepped back on my own to do that.

Before I started working with Nicola, my life was a blur. I was working full-time, spreading myself too thin and feeling like I wasn't accomplishing any of my goals.

Nicola helped me step back and evaluate what was important to me, as well as see that I was putting everyone else first. During our coaching, I declared 2008 "The year of Renata" and proceeded to leave the corporate world, start a new business and saw HUGE changes in my personal life. Our weekly meetings were check-in points for keeping me on track of accomplishing my goals. Just knowing I had to report back to Nicola helped me push through some of the more difficult tasks that I would have put off without her.

When I started working with Nicola if you would have told me I would be an entrepreneur with my own business, I would have thought you were crazy. But I found my passion, and I plan to never go back to the corporate world (after 20 years) and instead build this business into a nationwide green fundraising opportunity for schools."

Renata Bodon, Business Owner of One Small Step, mother of two

Working together with Nicola always brings me much needed perspective, clarity and a renewed sense of direction. She is able to listen to my challenges, understand my goals and then help me find ways to bridge the gap. I always leave each of our conversations with excitement, passion and the feeling that I can do anything! She is a priceless resource.”

Kim Koenig, Marketing Brand Manager for Portland Trail Blazers, mother of two

I had known Nicola professionally for a very long time before I hired her as my coach. Once I started working with her, I quickly learned to appreciate all the things she can offer a busy professional through her coaching.

While Nicola has a wonderful and honest perspective on motherhood, I think you don’t have to be a mom to benefit from coaching by her. Frankly, I wish I’d spoken to her before I had children. She has helped to reshape the direction our company is going and our family dynamic and growth to complement that. Her true value to me professionally has been her understanding and insights into my personal and career goals.

Nicola is truly patient, kind, thoughtful in action and words, and a guiding light on almost any topic for the career mother."

Stacey Moore, CEO/Managing Director of Physician Resources, mother of two

Working with Nicola has helped me clarify what it is I want and how I can get there. I’ve also learned to give myself credit where due, take better care of myself, and strategies for better communicating with my husband. Nicola asks pointed questions, assigns do-able homework assignments, and overall helps me break through the blockages.

In a relatively short time of working with Nicola I went from being extremely frustrated over the state of my relationship and home, and (lack of) time management to being much calmer with my husband (noticeable to him too), creating more time for myself, more effectively prioritizing how I spend my personal time, better recognizing my strengths, getting systems in place to make the household run more smoothly, thinking more creatively about how to get things done, and realizing where I need more help. It has been a real pleasure working with Nicola."

K. Williams, Business Development Specialist, mother of one