Before moving into coaching and consulting, much of my career was spent building coalitions and partnerships. That work taught me what it truly takes to build trust, cultivate authentic relationships, and foster a culture of transparency. These skills remain central to my coaching today.
As a leader in economic development, I helped build partnerships across industry, government, and the nonprofit sector to grow Maine’s biosciences industry. When I co-led a lung cancer coalition, we brought together healthcare institutions, public health agencies, patient advocacy organizations, and funders to advance a shared mission.
These types of coalitions require time, intention, and consistent effort, and they can unravel quickly without consistent care. Many organizational leaders know this challenge well.
For new leaders especially, the slow, relationship-focused work of building trust can feel like it pulls them away from “the real work.” But trust, authenticity, and transparency are the foundation that makes real work possible. Teams grounded in these values thrive: they know their leaders care about them, they understand where they stand, and they show up for each other when it matters most.
