Kirsten is a coach with proven leadership skills from more than 20 years of corporate and nonprofit experience. She trained as a lawyer and broadcast journalist. But her passion was clearly around developing people, not legal research and writing.

After law school, she worked with high-net-worth clients at a New York-based trust and wealth management company. She was then tapped to join the charitable estate planning team at one of the largest nonprofits in Oregon, where she facilitated complex gift transactions with donors and their financial advisors. She’s a self-starter and driven—developing new planned giving programs for three organizations. In these roles, Kirsten learned to be strategic and communicate effectively to enroll key stakeholders in her vision and achieve strategic organizational goals. Throughout her career, Kirsten has been selected repeatedly for leadership positions because of her collaborative and energizing approach.

She founded Illumination Coaching in 2010 after pivoting to coaching full-time. She works with leaders to become clear and confident communicators as an executive leadership coach in global corporations.

In addition to executive and leadership coaching, Kirsten also loves supporting professionals through midlife and retirement transitions. She helps to normalize feelings around the transition, create realistic expectations, identify personal values and priorities, and design a personalized retirement plan. Finding meaning and purpose, as well as redefining who you without your professional title can be a big shift.

Kirsten is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation and a Certified Professional Retirement Coach (CPRC). She is trained as a “Now What?” Life Transition Coach and has successfully coached hundreds of professionals through career and life transitions.

Her hobbies include meditation, travel, dancing, attending indie rock concerts, and wine tasting. She has studied Shotokan karate since 2018 and is currently holds a first-degree black belt.

What coaching services do you provide?

I have provided executive and leadership coaching services since 2010. In addition, I support professionals through midlife and career transitions.

What services do you provide in addition to coaching?

I provide 360 feedback, a variety of assessments to support leadership development, and can facilitate workshops on communication topics. I also am an Authorized Partner with Everything DiSC.

What is your coaching philosophy?

I serve as a partner to my clients because I believe that they are whole and capable of tapping into their own wisdom. I combine deep listening with mirroring what I'm hearing, and questions that evoke deeper discovery. I provide a blend of support and challenge to move the client forward.

We often delve into values during coaching because understanding what the client values and prioritizes sheds light onto their next steps. I will follow up and hold my clients accountable to what they committed to do as a result of coaching.

What interests or excites you about coaching women lawyers?

As a woman lawyer and a professional who is extremely driven, I can relate to others who strive to excel and be the best. However, there can be a downside to being so highly driven, ambitious, and perfectionistic. I can relate to both sides of the coin. I enjoy being a supportive partner as a coach so my clients can do personal work to address these issues.

Tell us about your training and certifications as a coach.

• Graduate of Coach U Training School
• Certified as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through ICF
• Certified as a Professional Retirement Coach (CPRC); Member of Retirement Coaches Association
• Certified Hogan Feedback Provider
• Authorized Partner and Certified Trainer, Everything DiSC® solutions
• Now What? Life Purpose Certified Facilitator