From Grant Writer to Leadership Coach: How Strategy, Story, and People Shaped My Path
For more than a decade, my professional identity was clear: I was a grant writer, development and philanthropy consultant. I helped organizations translate big ideas into fundable strategies, align budgets with outcomes, and tell compelling stories about impact. On paper, my work was about funding. In practice, it was always about people and relationships.
The success of a grant application rarely hinged on the writing alone. It depended on leadership clarity, internal alignment, decision-making, and the organization’s capacity to follow through on what was included in the grant. When leaders were overwhelmed, unclear or stretched too thin, even the strongest programs struggled to move forward.
I found myself doing more than writing grants. I was helping my clients think bigger by asking these powerful questions:
These conversations became the most meaningful part of my work.
The Shift from Deliverables to Development
In development roles, I learned to listen deeply often beneath what was being said. I worked with executive directors, program managers, faculty leaders, and boards navigating growth, burnout, and/or constant change. Many didn’t need another funding strategy as much as they needed space to think, reflect, and lead differently.
What I realized: Grant writing sharpened my strategic mind.
Coaching engages the human side of leadership by uncovering mindsets that foster innovation and adaptability. Coaching allows me to focus not just on what leaders are building, but how they are showing up while building it, including their mindset, confidence, capacity, and adaptability.
How My Background Informs My Coaching
My executive coaching is grounded in real-world organizational experience. I understand:
I bring a systems lens, an equity-centered perspective, and a deep respect for the inner work of leadership. My clients don’t need to explain this culture or institutional constraints because I lived it.
Coaching as a Natural EVOLution
Leadership coaching is not a departure from my development career; it is an evolution of it. The same skills that made me effective in fundraising - strategic thinking, active inquiry, pattern recognition, and storytelling now help my clients gain clarity, confidence, and momentum.
Today, I work with leaders, especially women who are navigating transitions, redefining success, or rebuilding energy and focus. Together, we move beyond survival mode and toward intentional, values-aligned leadership. Because sustainable community impact doesn’t start with funding, it starts with an effective leader.