Career Coaching

I've benefited from coaching personally for standardized testing, interviewing, mental game improvement, MBA applications, and professional development. I've studied in 7 universities and changed my major as many times, with several career pivots across 9 countries (e.g., corporate finance, asset management, fintech co-founder, nonprofit advisory, public sector, strategy consulting, international development). I'm a strong believer in paying it forward and helping others through shared knowledge, insight, and experience as we all seek to navigate opportunities!

Started my career with my first job abroad - best decision ever! Now I help graduates as well as young to mid-career professionals land their international roles. From resumes to visas, let's get you moving! Ready to launch your career abroad or with a foreign company? I know exactly what it takes. I started my own career by landing my first job in a foreign country and different language, an experience that shaped everything that followed and led to 25 years of international leadership across American, German, and French corporations. Whether you're targeting foreign owned companies in the US or opportunities directly abroad, I specialize in helping recent graduates and young professionals navigate the practical challenges of international job hunting. Together, we'll identify your transferable skills, decode job postings across different markets, navigate visa and legal requirements, and assess when language skills become crucial versus nice to have. My coaching focuses on the real world essentials: translating your university projects into globally relevant experience, understanding how American directness plays in German precision focused interviews, adapting your resume format for different markets, and positioning yourself as the ideal candidate who brings fresh perspective to established international teams. From virtual interviews across time zones to understanding work authorization processes, I've guided dozens of twenty somethings through successful international job searches. Having mentored young professionals who've landed roles at top global companies, I know which concerns keep early career job seekers up at night, and we'll tackle them head on. That first international opportunity changed my entire career trajectory. Let's make sure it does the same thing for yours. Industries I have served: Automotive, chemical, bearing, wood, food, marine, oil & gas, steel, cement, mining, pharmaceuticals, mining, pulp & paper, textile, rail and wind power. Countries where I have managed personnel: Canada, US, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, UK, GB, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Turkey, South Africa, India, Vietnam, Thailand, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia. I do coaching in English, German, French and Spanish language.

I specialize in helping ambitious people find clarity to make career decisions that others call risky. I've coached people through finding new career paths, deciding on grad school, changing jobs, and launching businesses. My clients are leaders and high performers who are considering moves that involve risks or don't fit the traditional narrative—major career pivots, walking away from prestigious opportunities, or choosing the less “safe” option. My approach is rooted in established frameworks—Adult Developmental Theory, Adaptive Leadership, and Immunity to Change, among others. I've received training in leading and managing change from Harvard Kennedy School, Minds at Work, and Cultivating Leadership, and I am currently pursuing my PCC-level ICF coaching certification. Most career coaching is advice-based and about minimizing or managing risk. I help people do something much harder: rebalance your risk appetite and find unconventional ways to take smart risks. My coaching is about rethinking your “negative space” to expand what's possible. Whether you're navigating a pivot or weighing a decision that feels like it defies conventional wisdom, I'll help you find clarity and take action.

Welcome! I’m here to help you achieve your goals with clarity and confidence. As a Board Certified Coach, Certified Master of Career Services, and Global Career Development Facilitator, I’m passionate about empowering individuals to unlock their potential and create meaningful, lasting change. With over 20 years of experience in case management, counseling, and coaching, I bring a wealth of expertise in career development, program management, leadership development, and training. I take a holistic, person-centered approach, drawing on your strengths to guide you through challenges and help you achieve your personal and professional goals. My work is rooted in forming genuine connections and building supportive partnerships, and I’m committed to meeting you wherever you are—at any age, stage, or background. Whether you’re aiming for career advancement, personal growth, or professional clarity, I’m here to walk alongside you on this journey. Professional Focus Areas: leadership development, career development, and all aspects of career transition, values identification & alignment, time management & organization, work-life integration, emotional resilience, stress management, interpersonal relationships, conflict resolution, managing grief, motivating teams, giving feedback, neurodiversity, remote work & teams, managing up, and professional goal setting. I believe in your potential, and I look forward to getting started together!

I’ve experienced career development from both sides of the table. Over 30 years, I progressed from an entry-level role in post-production to artist, creative leader and eventually Managing Director. I know what it’s like to want to progress, take on greater responsibility, move into management, develop business skills and work out what comes next. I’ve also spent much of my career helping other people navigate their own careers. As Head of The Mill’s New York 2D department, I directly led more than 45 artists, with a strong focus on 1:1s, career development, hiring and progression, achieving a 98.2% retention rate over five years. As a Managing Director, I hired and developed people across creative, production, operational and leadership roles, giving me experience from both sides of hiring, promotion and career decisions. Today, I combine that experience with professional coach training as an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and iPEC Certified Professional Coach (CPC). Whether you’re looking for a new job, trying to progress, considering a change, dealing with something difficult at work or simply asking yourself what comes next, I can help you think it through.

As an ICF certified career coach with over 20 years of experience in tech, including global marketing leadership roles at Google, TikTok, Cisco, and Intel, I help mid to senior, high achieving professionals close the gap between what they've accomplished and how clearly they can advocate for it. My coaching background helps you discover and own your real strengths, and my marketing background, built from years shaping brand and product narratives, helps you frame, build, and communicate that story clearly, whether you're walking into an interview, a networking conversation, or a negotiation. With a proven track record supporting clients across diverse backgrounds and industries, I bring structure, practical tools, and honest feedback to help you show up as your strongest, clearest self.

Goal: Land a role that energizes you: one that plays to your strengths, aligns with your values, and excites you to wake up on Mondays (no more Sunday scaries!). Perfect for: If you're ready for a change; whether you’ve outgrown your current role, lost motivation, or want to transition into a new career path. What we’ll do: - Pinpoint a cohesive intersection of your strengths, energizers, and values to identify target roles / industries that align with your personal and professional goals - Build your personal "board of directors": mentors, advocates, and senior sponsors who open doors and keep you accountable - Create and execute a networking strategy that is authentic and effective - Optimize your resume and LinkedIn to highlight transferable skills and impact - Develop interview stories that showcase your potential, not just your past - Design a strategic 90-day job search plan that keeps you focused and in control Expected outcomes: Clarity on your next career chapter, a tailored plan to reach it, and the confidence (and network) to make it happen.

Hi! Why should you work with me, you ask? I’ve spent the last 10 years coaching people both formally and informally, and it’s consistently been one of the most rewarding parts of my career. I’ve built my professional experience leading sales, advertising, and client growth teams at huge companies like Google and Target, and today, as a Director at Target/Roundel, I lead a team of Account Executives and Account Managers responsible for a $XXXM business. Throughout my career, I’ve coached people through career decisions, promotion readiness, leadership development, executive presence, interview preparation, and how to show up more strategically in their roles. I’ve hired and interviewed talent, led performance and development conversations, built individualized growth plans, and helped people get clearer on what they need to demonstrate to reach the next level. Personally, I was promoted 4 times during my tenure at Google, which you probably know is notorious for difficult interviews and promotion processes! My coaching style is honest, practical, and supportive. I’m not here to give you generic career advice or tell you what you want to hear. I want to understand where you are, where you want to go, and help you figure out what will actually move you forward. Sometimes that means sharpening your story, sometimes it means building a new skill or increasing your visibility, and sometimes it means being honest about what still needs to develop. My goal is for you to leave our conversations feeling clearer, more confident, and with a practical plan you can actually use. I want you to understand not only what your next step is, but why it matters and how to get there.

WHY should you hire me as your coach? BLUF (Bottom Line, Up Front). The Short List: -Former Recruiter for the Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm. I know what it takes to get into rooms and to walk out as the "candidate to beat" in a lineup of interviewees. -10+ Years experience coaching professionally (full-time) for students and experienced professionals, including top business schools like the USC Marshall School of Business (UG, MS, MBA). - Helped clients land roles in: corporate finance, CPG, entertainment (business side, marketing, finance, etc), internal consulting/strategy, supply chain/ops, pharma/medical, tech, automotive, IB and management consulting, brand management and product management, to name a few. - Consistently called out by clients as being the best when it comes to mock interviews (behavioral) and resume notes/edits. - Personally landed roles with some of the most competitive Fortune companies in the world (Disney, DreamWorks, USC). Lived and worked in Los Angeles for 22 years. I survived the Great Recession (2008), multiple SAG and WGA entertainment strikes, changing industries and job functions multiple times. Story Version: One of the best reviews on my page is from a former MBA student (and Military Vet). He said, "Kira is an incredible career coach and an even better human." This is what matters. Yes - that I am a knowledgeable and experienced coach. But more than that - I care about my clients and their overall well being. Job searching, grad school, transitioning from the Military and career switching are all incredibly stressful - a lot of times, more stressful than I think people anticipate. I love seeing people walk through these challenges and come out the other side, literally transformed. Often achieving more than they themselves thought possible! I have helped first gen, international students, recently separated military vets, and other non-traditional students (or clients) break into new industries and build a career path that they are excited about. When I graduated from undergrad, I graduated off cycle in December, because I kept changing my major and had to take extra classes. I landed my first job as a Production Assistant at DreamWorks Animation by February. In April, at graduation, all my friends were freaking out. Those I'd worked with in production on campus asked how I got my job and if I could teach them how to land jobs like the one I had. In addition to working with friends individually, I referred 5 people to the studio where I worked. Within 12 months, 4 of them were hired and the person who wasn't was an artistic prodigy and now works at Netflix. This has always been something I've loved doing. It just took me a while to realize it was an actual job :). My main goal in any conversation is to help YOU get clear about your next step - and to identify what you need to do in order to reach your short and long term career (and life!) goals. I'm typically a good fit and have a lot of experience working with people who: - Are early/mid career professionals looking for a new career direction and need help shaping and managing their career search/exploration process. - Are making a significant career pivot (to a different job function, industry, or both - or out of Military service). - Are interested in careers in the entertainment space (film, TV, streaming, etc.) OR who are wanting to transition out of entertainment into a more "traditional" corporate role. - Are MBAs recruiting for internships or full-time for all role types (Corporate Finance, Marketing/Brand, non-tech PM, PMM, Leadership Programs, Supply Chain/Ops, Business Intelligence, Sales, Startups) outside of IB and Management Consulting. I have experience working with clients and students in IB and Consulting - but there are a lot of folks on the platform who have more hands on experience here. I will say - I do a mean behavioral interview - and have had folks with a bent towards IB and Consulting remark that they have benefitted from my approach to the behavioral portion of the interview process, while working with other coaches on the technical/case portion. - Are students at any level (undergrad to graduate) and searching for an internship or full-time job - Are international students struggling with networking best practices in the US and understanding the basics of H1B and STEM OPT. I have worked with programs where 70-90% of the students were from outside the US. That said, I am not an immigration professional and cannot provide legal advice. Networking can be tricky for everyone! My top asynchronous recommendation? A play-by-play handbook "The 20 Minute Networking Meeting". I suggest it so often, I finally made an affiliate Amazon link: https://amzn.to/454gEpO

As an experienced executive who has climbed the ranks in high-growth, technology-driven companies, I bring a unique perspective and deep insights to career coaching. I've spearheaded strategic initiatives, launched departments, driven exponential revenue growth, recruited exceptional talent, and managed cross-functional teams - the type of experience that equips me with the knowledge and understanding of what it takes to succeed in today's dynamic work environment. Moreover, having navigated the rigorous interview processes for securing competitive internships and breaking into the investment banking industry, I've developed a keen understanding of what top firms look for in potential candidates. I've personally guided dozens of aspiring professionals through resume building, interview preparation, recruiting strategies, negotiation tactics, and personal branding. With my coaching, you will not just be prepared for your next career move; you'll be poised to excel.