Helping mid-to-late career professionals create what’s next

Before becoming a coach, I was a product designer. When people asked what I did, I’d say, “I’m a designer—I make things easy and hopefully delightful to use.” I thought I would only ever work as a designer: studied it in college, got a job quickly, and off to the races. And it was a great career. I loved the problem-solving aspect and creating clear, meaningful experiences for customers. I loved the craft of it.

In 2024, I was laid off. It wasn’t completely unexpected—the company wasn’t doing great, and there seemed to be a round of layoffs every quarter or so. Even so, at 56, I felt that my age had something to do with it. Tech can be ruthlessly ageist. Six months before the layoff, I was given an ultimatum: take a two-step demotion to remain an individual contributor, become a manager, or leave. It told me everything I needed to know about the new management that had moved in, so I chose the manager route and started making plans to move on.

I updated my portfolio and started looking for another design job. When the layoff came, I was ready. Admittedly, I was also disappointed and a little sad—for a short while. I liked the team, and after seven years there, I felt like I had made a positive impact that maybe wasn’t fully appreciated. As part of the layoff package, I had access to outplacement services through Lee Hecht Harrison. They provided valuable information through webinars, classes, and one-on-one coaching. After only a couple of weeks, I started thinking, “Hmm, maybe I should explore what coaching is about.”

I could see that coaching had parallels to design. The same skills—empathy, deep listening, curiosity—are just as essential. And I had mentored dozens of interns and junior designers throughout my career, so I knew I liked helping people one-on-one.