FRANCESCA
“Before signing up for the Emerging Leaders career coaching package, I was struggling with having a voice & opinion in the workplace, taking better care of myself, overworking, setting workplace boundaries, and feeling stuck with my personal brand. By the end of my coaching, I can honestly say that I gained validation and more motivation to start accomplishing goals while also feeling more assertive, both in and outside the workplace. Together, Kathy and I worked on managing certain thought patterns and coping with external workplace stressors. As a result of the coaching, I have tools to handle this. I've also begun creating/producing my own hosted style video content which I've been getting positive feedback for. It’s been exciting seeing pieces of my world fall into place as Kathy and I worked together. We made headway on many of my goals. The best part about working with Kathy is that she is your advocate, confidant, mentor, and friend who always has your best interest in mind. And, she's such a joy to spend time with! Kathy listens intently, asks you the hard questions, and encourages you to navigate your own answers. I've looked forward to my weekly sessions with her and she's allowed me to unload while preparing for the week ahead. She was always generous with her time making sure to put her clients' needs first. If you have any thoughts about working with a life or career coach, follow that instinct! Kathy will create a program to help you navigate the tools, skills, and information you need for your inner work. It's a challenge and investment absolutely worth your time.
JEANNIE
“Before working with Kathy, I was struggling to leave a job where I was undervalued, and with the decision to either move on to another importer or go it alone and open my own business. Since working together, I can more easily recognize what's important to me, and to be able to follow my passion in my work. The highlight of working with a coach specific to hospitality is that Kathy understands the environment and lay of the land much more than a general coach would. Kathy is a great listener and thoughtful coach, guide, and supporter. She helped me uncover my priorities and focus on what's important, even during a time when I faced a family tragedy. If I could go back in time and have some words with the version of yourself who was deciding whether to work with a coach, I would tell myself: Prepare to be held accountable and to do the work- then you will see real change.”
SYD BOSS
“Before working with Kathy I struggled thinking about how to stand out outside of the hospitality industry. I needed help opening my mind to what kind of roles were out there that I would be good at. Since working together, I’ve changed my perspective on how to present my transferable skills, which gave me confidence in my ability to transition industries. Kathy is a lot of fun and very easy to talk with. She keeps it real. She understands the industry so she knows how to articulate the intangible hospitality skills in a way that shines. Kathy made the process fun and comfortable, not like work or school. If I could go back in time I’d tell myself: Start sooner. Investing in yourself is worth it!”
JOANNE
“I am grateful to have Kathy as my career coach. Her extensive knowledge and experience in interview coaching and resume building have been invaluable to my professional development. What sets Kathy apart is not just her expertise but her genuine care for each of her clients. She took the time to help me discover my true career focus, delving into my skill sets and experiences to enhance my confidence.
Kathy has taught me the skills needed to tailor a riveting resume for each job application and provided effective techniques for interview preparation. Since our coaching sessions, my job interview opportunities have increased significantly. Kathy's dedication is truly commendable; she gave me 110% focus during our sessions and even followed up with me afterward.
Engaging Kathy as my career coach has proven to be a worthwhile investment in my professional journey. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking personalized and impactful career guidance.”
JACKIE
“Prior to working with Kathy, I struggled to articulate my value, especially to applicant tracking system/ATS algorithms! I felt like I wasn't getting any traction with potential employers, despite being highly qualified. Working with someone who understood that hospitality can be a grueling, self-esteem-damaging industry was very helpful in reframing my experience, not only making my resume more attractive to employers, but giving me a greater sense of pride in everything that I have accomplished in my career! I'm more impressive than I thought, and understanding that has very quickly led to better opportunities. Kathy has a disarming and supportive personality that made my sessions fun and inviting instead of a chore. Which was great. But the BEST part of working with Kathy was receiving a great offer 20% over my target salary. It doesn't get much better than that. If I could go back in time and have words with the version of myself who was deciding whether to work with a coach, I would say: This will pay for itself.”
SUMMER P.
“Career coaching with Kathy has been the best personal and professional investment that I have ever made! What led me to coaching was knowing that I had a lot of really good professional experience under my belt and with feathers in my cap, but I was unsure how to internally align all of my years of work, commitment & dedication to give these experiences the proper value and perspective for my future. I felt somewhat alone in my effort to push forward with my career. I had isolated professional goals, a hesitancy for networking, I suffered from imposter syndrome, and I was generally stuck in a bubble of my own world. I had not stopped to consider the bigger picture of my life, how I’m feeding it, and the overall 360 health of where I was headed in my future.
That’s where Kathy stepped in with one-on-one coaching. Her process of getting to know her was comfortable, professional, and to the point. Her initial tone let me know that the coaching process could be as fast or as slow as I needed it to be, however the best results are had by clients who really invest their time in doing the weekly work. Her intake questions were the questions that had been roaming around in my mind for the last few years, but that I had not been directly asked by someone else. Kathy provided the accountability factor with built-in trust, and she could relate. She related so well as to mirror my answers back at me in a way that allowed me to dig deeper into my own personal truth. All of the sessions were different in topic yet interwoven into the fabric. Her questions inspired the freedom and excitement to think about and create who I want to be and with emphasis on what would be meaningful for my life.
Kathy really impressed me with her on-point professionalism, her genuineness, and her clear and concise communication. After each coaching session I felt a renewed sense of empowerment, enthusiasm, and intention for the personalized weekly assignments. She took great care to set me up for success consistently. The feedback that I receive from Kathy was always honest, timely, relevant, insightful, and led me to the next steps of growth. Our sessions inspired me to reflect (a lot), and her suggestions for new daily practices reinforced my new growth and self-actualization.
Outside of the personal/professional coaching, Kathy also coached me through the resume and cover letter writing process from a hiring manager’s perspective. She gave me excellent resources for self-branding in today’s highly competitive and shifting job market. She inspired and challenged me to network with the tools & framework that she created…and it worked! What a reward for just trying!
I will reflect on my coaching experience for a while because it has redefined how I now consider myself and my career. Working one-on-one with Kathy has given me refreshed sense of hope, and has completely shifted not only my outlook, but also the conversations that I'm having with myself daily. That is very real and measurable change and growth from where I stand today. I know way more about myself now than I did 3 months ago. I feel like the coaching process imprinted a blueprint to carving a fresh career path whatever the universe decides to present to me. That is a golden ticket! Kathy is cool, incredibly kind & charismatic, and always a step ahead as an expert in our industry. I look forward to continuing the journey with Kathy as a trusted advisor and am so grateful for this experience.”
JESSICA
“Prior to working with Kathy I had accepted a job that was just not the right fit for me. Leaving that job was the right decision for me, but I was back at square one. Prior to that, I had worked for the same company for nearly a decade, and I was so focused on the job that I did not document my accomplishments during that time. When I need to re-tool my resume for a renewed job search, I realized it just described what I did rather than articulating my impact. I felt unmoored. Since working with Kathy, I feel confident about the materials that I am putting out for potential new employers. I also feel like I have a strategy to approach LinkedIn and other job search tools. Kathy also helped me with some soul-searching exercises to articulate my non-negotiables for future job opportunities. Kathy is just a joy to work with. She asks great questions, she keeps you accountable for your progress in a positive way, and she has great follow-through. The highlight of working with a coach specific to food, service, & hospitality is the common vocabulary and understanding of the industry that becomes almost a kind of shorthand. Kathy is organized and structures her sessions to maximize your benefit. She was flexible with planned activities in response to real-time changes, like helping me prepare for an interview. If I could go back in time and have words with the version of myself who was deciding whether to work with a coach, I would say to myself: Take the time to invest in yourself, and work with someone who can give you direction and feedback to make your materials stronger and your approach more effective.”
FATIMIH
“Prior to working with Kathy, I struggled with creating a relevant resume, getting started with LinkedIn, and being relevant in general. I felt frozen with what to do regarding my job search. Since working together, I've gained a sense of confidence that I do have abilities and transferrable skills. My job search now has momentum and direction. I have a framework to work with in my job search, and ongoing practice for interviews. Kathy encouraged a sense of purpose and meaning in what I have accomplished thus far in life and reinforced that in every meeting. It was nice that I didn't have to explain/translate the struggle of where I was coming from in regard to my background and my job search. Kathy encouraged discipline, but also compassion/self- care towards oneself in achieving goals in career work. If I could go back in time and have words with the version of myself who was deciding whether to work with a coach, I would say: Just do it! Why struggle so much on your own. Employ an expert who does this for a living- It's more than worth it!”
THERESA CHAMBERLIN
“Before working with Kathy I was struggling with imposter syndrome and feeling like I wasn't qualified for a corporate role. I was applying to job after job but never getting past the initial interview or even the initial resume review. I didn't have a resume that stood out or really highlighted what it needed to. Now, I feel more confident in my professional materials and I feel more confident in my strengths and weaknesses and the ability to 'sell myself'. I really appreciated Kathy's candidness and honesty right from the beginning. Kathy's knowledge about the hospitality industry and her own experience is so valuable; I didn't have to explain or justify my own nontraditional career path - Kathy gets it. The best part about working with Kathy was having someone to motivate me to invest time and energy in my next steps, which was crucial. Before working together, I didn't know where to begin on the process. Kathy outlined it, held me accountable, and forced me to put the work in; but with so much support.”
MICHELLE SAINT-VICTOR TORRES
“Before working with Kathy I was struggling with the ability to highlight my skills, talents and worth to companies I was applying to. Since the work we have done together, I have been able to explore other sectors of the hospitality industry that I never felt or knew I would be interested in or qualified to seek employment in. Now, my objectives are more open minded and less narrow minded. Kathy is very understanding but she does not allow you to pity yourself. She is resourceful and works with you to navigate through rough and uncertain paths you may encounter on your journey. She brought such a positive vibe to our meetings that I looked forward to them every week. Kathy "gets it". I never had to bring her up to speed about where I was coming from. She has years of experience in this industry and has been immersed in all the highs and lows. Kathy was able to help me add value to my resume using terminology that only a seasoned professional in the hospitality industry can. I have worked with other people on my resume but have always walked away feeling that my resume was never a true reflection of who I was. Kathy never let me give up, even when I wanted to give up. I have found a support system that will always be there for me. I know that I can always reach out for additional guidance whenever I need to.”
CAROLINE CRAWLEY
“Prior to working with Kathy, I felt isolated and without a peer group. I didn't know where I would go next with my career. I felt overwhelmed and stuck in a professional rut and without a sounding board to help me become proactive and growth oriented. Since working with Kathy,I feel more confidence, both in my understanding of where I am and my ability to pursue new avenues. I don't feel stuck in the way that I did. One of the highlights of working with Kathy was learning how to be open about my struggles without feeling judgmental about them. There is a huge benefit in talking to someone who is on your side. The ease of conversation really stood out for me. From the onset of working with Kathy, I accepted her as a peer. I didn't have to explain the industry to her; her knowledge of the industry was a given for me. In that regard, we didn't have to talk about why I felt the way I did about my position. I didn't have to defend myself in any way. I also felt a real benefit of her industry knowledge as we worked on my resume together.”
DYLAN ARMSTRONG
“I was going through a career crisis and deciding whether (and how) I should change industries. I was also extremely unhappy in my current role and needed to get help with my resume and LinkedIn -- and fast. After my sessions, I was able to uncover what I really enjoy doing, solidify my hard and soft skillsets, and understand red flags and green flags on job descriptions as I continue my search. Kathy's knowledge of the F&B/hospitality industry were able to help me get really specific with my likes and dislikes in my field of work. She recognizes the everyday chaos that all hospitality workers endure, and offers a really kind and helpful listening ear while also providing proactive feedback on how to tackle issues. The highlight of working with Kathy was having a direct timeline of how we were going to make the most out of our time together. Starting broad with establishing my skills and answering questions on what I want out of my career was really able to help with tailoring my resume and my LinkedIn profile. Kathy approaches everything with patience and kindness, which was something that I really needed at the point in my life when I started with her. I am leaving our sessions with a better understanding of myself both professionally and personally.”
MICHELLE W.
“Before working with Kathy I felt "stuck" in a job that, although I enjoyed for the most part, I felt "trapped" by. I had a constant internal conflict between doing what I should be doing as a solid job and feeling gratitude for it vs. what I wanted to do for my happiness and health. With Kathy's help, I have been able to see job options that I never had the courage to seek out. I now feel confident that I can not only find other types of work, but work that I enjoy and that will help support my personal life goals. Working with Kathy has opened my eyes to the different skills I learned in Hospitality that are completely transferrable in many other industries and actually give you a competitive edge. The best part of working with Kathy was the fact that she just really understood my industry and what it meant to live in that world. I also benefited so much from someone that held me accountable on a weekly basis and made sure I was staying on track. Working with someone who has been in the trenches of the service industry, was crucial to help develop a plan out. Kathy understands the passion that I have for my industry and at the same time, through first hand experience of her own, completely understands the poor quality of life it can create. Working with a coach who could truly relate to my professional struggles ultimately helped give me the confidence to make the changes I needed to make.”
CAROLINE M.
“Before working with Kathy, I was stuck. I used to feel overwhelmed because I didn't know where to start. I was unclear about what was important to me. I struggled to take steps forward because of fear of making a mistake or fear that I cannot be perfect enough to do what I want so it won't work and why bother. I used to listen to all the "shoulds" that I thought I had to oblige to. I now have clarity in what I need to do and it's become a lot easier to decide on the next action to take. It's also a lot easier to make a decision that is meaningful to me, on my terms, not what others think I should be doing. To have someone who walked in your shoes at some point makes a world of difference. Having a weekly conversation with someone who truly knows how to listen and hold space without judgement is the greatest gift anyone can receive! Kathy genuinely cares. Her desire to be of service and guide without judgement or imposing on what to do was the perfect balance between letting me experience guided autonomy and nudging to move forward on the path I set for myself.”
ANNA Z. BARRIOS-HORIIKE
“Before working with Kathy, I was doubting my capabilities. I was struggling with finding clarity in my job search and having an effective and relevant resume. Now, I feel extremely supported by an industry expert. Right away you know you are working with a kindred soul and can just get to the "meaty" bits. Because of our work together my resume is definitely where it needs to be. I have a better understanding of my values and how they apply to and affect my work. The highlight of our working together was having that "A-HA" moment of clarity when the cause of my discontent at work was identified.The sympathy, empathy, and expertise— This is part therapy, part coaching part sounding board all provided in a very safe and nurturing environment.”
KATHY B.
“After working with Kathy I feel more confident about my resume and LinkedIn Profile reflecting my skills and my experience and how that would make me a competitive candidate for openings. I also feel that I know better how vast my skills set is and what I can bring to the table to a future employer. With Kathy, there's an industry-specific vocabulary. It was helpful to have someone who can break down that jargon to be applicable to a wide range of positions and other industries. Having someone who understands the hospitality industry and who knows how to translate that language to any industry and to an overall job search was incredibly valuable.”
ASHLEY WHITMORE
“Working with Kathy I have a clearer understanding of what my transferrable skills and abilities are, I'm able to talk about them directly related to past work and figure out how they fit into new jobs/career directions I look at. I'm more confident overall in 'owning' those skills and abilities which in turn helps my competitive edge in the job search. She very much 'gets it' in terms of what was required skill-wise in all my hospitality jobs, and she understood that the cheffy job titles I held went much deeper than just making food. Kathy helped me figure out how to express that.”
CHERYL
“Before working with Kathy, I didn't have any idea of what or where I wanted to be in my career. I needed help figuring out where to start after a gap in my career. I didn't know if or when it would be possible to move forward. Since working with Kathy, I have gained much needed confidence. Kathy helped me look inward and to those around me for my interests, strengths, and where I could use improvement. I was able to give myself the freedom to find who I really was for myself and not hide while trying to fit a perfect mold of what I thought was expected in the workplace or job search so that I have the ability to grow and achieve more in my career and life. I gained confidence and realized my direction. Now, I have gotten back in the game and have had multiple job offers. The process Kathy uses sped things up. Kathy truly cares and sessions were more than about the final goal- they were about growth, connection, and mutual respect.”
ANONYMOUS
“Before working with Kathy, I struggled understanding how to translate my skills to a new-for-me industry, and also not knowing exactly what I wanted to do, just knowing that I didn't want to do what I built my career around already. After working together, I was better able to articulate what I had to offer in a role. Kathy is positive and encouraging. The highlight of working with a coach specific to hospitality is I didn't have to explain the nuances of restaurant/kitchen life, she just got it.”
ALLY R.
“I had a great experience working with Kathy. I like to say "working with" because my coaching sessions with her seemed like such a collaborative endeavor. I came to her with a specific "goal" I wanted to reach, a stepping stone to something bigger, and with her assistance and support, I fulfilled my goal in a much shorter time than I ever would have done if I'd been left to my own devices (and timeline and motivation). Kathy is a generous spirit who truly wants you to succeed! I look forward to working with her again.”
KRISTIE H.
“I found myself opening up easily when being coached by Kathy. She has a special gift for understanding the feminine mind, body and spirit and worked with me to bring the three into better alignment and flow. Oh what a gift it is to truly feel in flow! To name what it is we need and claim it for ourselves is an empowering and lasting treasure. Thank you Kathy for all the energy and intention you put into our time together!”
MARISSA H.
“Working with Kathy has been a wonderful experience. I have used her services to work through specific problems related to my career, personal life and the in-between where the two intersect. Her talent is in helping you to discover your own "aha!" moments by listening, and asking you the right questions with some gentle guidance. The conversation is so easy that you don't even realize she's coaching you. I highly recommend her services if you're looking to work through a specific problem, or need multiple sessions to focus your goals, values, and dreams.”
NICOLE M.
“I had never thought about working with a coach before prioritizing the things in life became overwhelming. That's when Kathy came into the picture. She helped me to set goals and accomplish them with weekly touch bases. It helped so much to have someone hold me accountable for my word and very necessary when you are taking a risks. Kathy listens with intent and helped to give perspective on exactly what I am trying to accomplish personally and professionally. I was very relaxed with Kathy as she is easy to be around and I was always eager for our meet-ups as I was excited to tell her all that I had done and to let her know that I was on track. It felt good and I knew I found the right person to give me that extra kick in the butt. Thanks Kathy!”
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