Carla Coury, SPHR
5.0
(3)
Career Strategist, Resume Expert | Former Tulane Career Exec | 100+ Coached
Studied at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Works at Private Practice
Successful clients at
Available tomorrow at 2:00 PM UTC
Happy to flex around my normal appointment hours if I'm available. Email me ahead of time to check.
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Carla's Coaching Offerings
Custom hourly · $240/hr
Get help with Cover Letters, General Exploration, and .
Carla’s Career Coaching Qualifications
Coaches professionally
Experience level: Executive
100+ people coached for Career Coaching
Carla has helped clients get into these companies:
Career Strategy Coach | Former Executive Director of Career Management, Freeman School of Business | Helping students, MBA candidates, and emerging leaders make confident, strategic career decisions and translate strengths into offers Who I Work With • Undergraduate and graduate students clarifying career direction • MBA candidates and new grads pursuing competitive roles • Young leaders and high-potential professionals preparing for growth How I Coach Clients often come to me feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, or stuck between good options. My coaching style is thoughtful, strategic, and practical. I combine focused listening, incisive questions, and real-world insight to help you: • Clarify goals and decision criteria • Strengthen professional positioning and career narratives • Translate academic and leadership experiences into market-ready value • Prepare confidently for interviews, transitions, and leadership moments I don’t offer one-size-fits-all advice. Instead, I help clients develop the judgment and self-trust they need to make smart decisions—now and over the long term. Background & Credentials • Former Director of Career Services at Tulane University and Executive Director of Career Management at Freeman School of Business • Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) • Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) • Certified Executive & Leadership Development Coach • MA, Speech/Organizational Communication If you’re at an inflection point—choosing a path, preparing for a transition, or stepping into greater responsibility—I’d be glad to work with you. Let’s build a career strategy that fits who you are and where you’re headed.
Carla can help with:
Cover Letters
General Exploration
Skill Building
Job Search Strategies
Resume Review
Leadership
Professional Networking
Salary Negotiation
Networking Strategy
Interview Prep
Career Planning
Personal Branding
Freelancing
About Carla
High-stakes career decisions require more than polished materials. They require strategy. For nearly 30 years, I've helped students, MBA candidates, and early-career professionals move from uncertainty to clarity—and from clarity to offers. As former Executive Director of Career Management at Tulane University's Freeman School of Business, I led the career strategy function for one of the South's top business schools, building and directing a team that achieved a 100% MBA offer rate and coaching hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students pursuing roles in finance, consulting, accounting, and business leadership. Students I've worked with have gone on to Goldman Sachs, Big 4 firms, and top consulting organizations. I also served as Tulane's campus-wide Director of Career Services where I worked with students pursuing degrees in liberal arts, science, and engineering. I directed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program in the Gulf South where I coached founders and CEOs through high-stakes strategic growth decisions. What I bring to every engagement: → 500+ employer relationships and a recruiter's-eye view of how hiring decisions actually get made → Deep expertise in career narrative and positioning—resume, LinkedIn, interview story, and pitch → Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) credential, Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation, and a master's degree in Communication → A direct, enthusiastic coaching style that challenges your thinking while keeping execution grounded and practical I work best with: → Current students and seniors preparing for competitive recruiting, → MBA candidates at any stage of their search, new grads building traction, and early-career professionals ready for a strategic pivot or promotion. My particular strength is helping clients find and communicate the narrative thread that makes their experience coherent, compelling, and competitive, not just polished. Whether it's your resume, LinkedIn profile, interview stories, or overall search strategy, I help you show up as an authentic candidate. If you're ready to compete seriously for what's next, I'd be glad to partner with you.
Why do I coach?
When I look back on nearly three decades in career strategy and higher education, the moments that mattered most weren't institutional milestones or program launches. They were conversations—sitting with someone in genuine uncertainty, helping them sort through competing options, and watching their confidence take shape as a direction emerged. That's the work I carry forward. The setting has changed. The mission hasn't.
Work Experience
Career Strategist, Coach, and Resume Writer
Private Practice
October 2025 - Present
After stepping away from my leadership role at Tulane, I’ve returned to the heart of the work I love most: helping people navigate change and shape meaningful careers. I work with individuals at pivotal moments, whether launching their careers, exploring a transition, or developing their leadership potential. My approach combines decades of experience in career management, leadership development, and talent strategy with a personalized, collaborative coaching style. Together, we clarify goals, strengthen professional positioning, and craft compelling career narratives. Career Development Coaching, Strategic Communications and +2 skills
Executive Director, Career Management Center
Tulane University
July 2022 - September 2025
Promoted to transform, lead, and curate a career management team of 23 career consultants, educators, employer managers, operations staff, and student teaching assistants to provide career education and employer connections to 3,200 diverse undergraduate and graduate students. Managed a portfolio of credit and non-credit courses/programs to enhance recruiting and professional competencies. Built and managed relationships with 500+ corporate partners in multiple industries who hire Freeman graduates and interns. Fostered a culture of innovation to impact reputation and rankings through enhanced employment outcomes and client experience. Partner Relationship Management, Strategic Communications and +4 skills
Adjunct Faculty, Career Development
Tulane University
January 2020 - September 2025
Public Speaking, Instructional Design and +1 skill
Consultant, Special Projects
Small Business Development Center
October 2018 - April 2023
Coached entrepreneurs to build and actionize growth plans, align business objectives with HR needs, communicate strategically with prospects and clients, and maximize revenues. Designed and managed education programs to help small business owners build capacity and increase revenues. Business Advising, Business Strategy and +2 skills
Director of Operations and Career Development
Tulane University
August 2019 - July 2022
Led a team of professional and operations staff to deliver career programming and consulting services to ensure a high level of student/client satisfaction and to build credibility through enhanced communication, engagement, and outcomes data management. Team Leadership, Career Development Programs and +2 skills
Executive Director, 10,000 Small Businesses Program
Goldman Sachs
February 2012 - June 2016
Directed a multi-year grant initiative to support small business owners in the Greater New Orleans and Gulf South region. Led a highly-skilled team of 16 program management, business support, and instructional staff to recruit, educate, advise, and graduate more than 500 small business owners to achieve program goals. Worked collaboratively with community college leadership, community partners, Babson College, and the Goldman Sachs Foundation to ensure high-quality delivery of the program. Exceeded annual program and performance goals through implementation of a targeted outreach plans and a process-driven operation. Strategic Partnerships, Marketing & Brand Management and +3 skills
Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer
Fuego NOLA, LLC
November 2010 - July 2013
Researched and developed concept to launch 100-seat restaurant/bar/music venue, achieving local brand recognition and exceeding first-year revenue targets. Directed ongoing marketing initiatives to achieve revenue goals and build customer loyalty. Put people, policies, and processes in place to align operations with the company’s vision and values and provide a top-shelf customer experience. Marketing & Brand Management, New Business Development and +2 skills
Education
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
M.A. Speech Communication, with concentration in Organizational Communication
Activities and societies: Recipient, Robert B. Hawkins Award for Graduate Excellence in Speech Communication
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
B.S., Workforce Education & Development
Magna cum Laude
3 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Carla has helped clients get into these companies: