I Fuse Neuroscience, Nature & Leadership to Spark Profound Transformation in Top Executives
Me in a Nutshell
Hi! I'm Janine. I'm an Executive Coach, Facilitator and Managing Partner with Evolution, a global coaching and consulting firm serving iconic clients such as Slack, Glassdoor, Microsoft, Abercrombie, Radiology Partners, Seattle Children's Hospital, Stanford University, The Gates Foundation, Splunk, Notion and many more.
I live in the intersection point between science and human experience. My superpower is combining these to support leaders in realizing their purpose, objectives, potential, and vision.
My approach blends organizational best practices with depth in order to yield sustainable change. I’ve been trained in neuroscience and have a deep understanding of the emotional and physiological processes required for transformation.
Because most leaders I know are in constant GO mode, they live in their heads and function through action. Coaching lets them step back, take a breath, and gain the perspective necessary to create new ways of thinking, feeling, being and behaving so they can GO sustainably and effectively.
I'm a huge fan of nature and am obsessed with animals. In addition to 1:1 Coaching, and facilitation of leadership development programs and offsites, I run a suite of unique offerings allowing leaders to develop in nature working with animals, including horses, wolves and wild animals in Kenya. The tenets of nature-based leadership provide extraordinary modeling for what healthy individuals and teams can be! More info HERE.
Tidbits
- Enneagram 3
- Myers-Briggs INFJ
- Human Design Generator Hermit Sage
- Coffee Addict
- Favorite Book - The Alchemist
- My plants all have name tags
- My favorite person is my grandpuppy, TaterTot ------>
Experience & Credentials
My Career Path, Certifications & Training
Certifications/Training:
- ICF MCC
- Certified IEQ9 Enneagram
- Certified Enneagram In Business
- Hogan Assessment Certification
- MIT Neuroscience in Leadership
- Certified Equus Coach ®
- Certified Master Equus Coach ®
- Antioch University Nature-Based Leadership
- Certified EQ Mentor
- Certified Conscious Business
- Successfully completed Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead Certification Training in Sept. 2019 (formerly titled Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator)
- Listening to Bodies/Somatic Coaching
Experience:
- Former CTO/Engineer leading teams of up to 50 globally
- 20 years in People Operations/Recruiting
- Ex-Accenture
- Non Profit and For Profit Board Member
- Angel Investor, LP and Advisor
- Techstars Allstar Mentor
- Former Lead Faculty of Evolution's ICF-accredited Coach Training Certification program
Nature-Based Programs with Animals
Lions, Horses and Wolves, Oh My!
Now, more than ever, being in nature is essential to maintain groundedness as a leader
I run a suite of unique offerings allowing leaders to develop in nature working with animals, including horses, wolves and wild animals in Kenya. These programs draw on the wisdom of nature and animals as parallels to healthy team dynamics and the self-awareness and self-regulation necessary for effective leadership. These experiences are so out of the ordinary, they allow access to new data sources and profound life-changing insights that are simply inaccessible in day-to-day life.
To learn more about my one day Unbridled Ideas workshop, complete with large furball co-facilitators, check the program page here.
As AI and its capabilities rise, we will need to reconnect to our relationship with nature in order to keep at least one foot solidly planted in reality. Don't get me wrong. I love my ChatGPT and am a super nerd. It allows me to rabbit-hole into all sorts of interesting topics. And I'm even Claude coding for fun! But I know its place. I even asked it if it could replicate the experience a leader could have doing a program in nature (yes, I see the irony) - and it said it can do a lot of things. But not that.
I have theories about why these programs are so impactful and lead to greater change than doing a program in a board room. Let's chat about how!
To learn specifics about the programs I offer working with animal co-facilitators contact me here.
Essential Leader in Kenya
There's a reason nearly everyone that goes on safari in Africa comes back saying it was life-changing. Essential Leader will change your DNA. Watch this short video to get a feel for the Essential Leader in Kenya program, and check out the program page here!
Unbridled Ideas - A One-Day Equine Retreat
Explore holistic ways of approaching a goal, challenge, or self-development with horses (aka, 1,000 lb. furballs). Now, more than ever, being in nature is essential to maintain groundedness as a leader and a human
Horses have thrived in adverse conditions for 55 million years through healthy communities, crystal-clear communication, and the ability to deeply tap into non-linear ways of thinking. As humans, we tend to default to logic when approaching a situation. Horses are far more likely to tap into other sources of wisdom, such as their intuition, body/mind connection, and sense of congruence.
How We'll Spend The Day:
Unbridled ideas is a one day retreat to let you explore and expand access to your own internal wisdom. Though it sounds a bit out there, this program is deeply rooted in neuroscience. Enjoy a series of hands-on equine activities which will allow you to expand your ability to have the sparks of awareness necessary to create new patterns, behaviours and ways of being. Guided by skilled equine facilitators, you'll participate in exercises that unlock new ways of thinking and being.
During This Retreat, You Will:
- Cultivate self-awareness and emotional intelligence through direct interaction with the horses
- Explore and expand upon your own cognitive diversity to include non-linear ways of thinking such as the body/mind connection, creativity and intuition
- This workshop welcomes individuals at all stages of their development journey, whether your focus is on personal or leadership growth.
This retreat welcomes individuals at all stages of their personal development journey. Whether you’re seeking clarity, healing, or a deeper understanding of yourself and your goals, this immersive experience offers a unique and powerful path to self-discovery.
FAQs
- Do I need prior experience with horses? No! You will not be riding the horse; no prior experience or exposure to horses is required.
- Is it safe? Yes! You will be paired with gentle horses and safety measures will be demonstrated and explained prior to you joining the horse.
- Will we be riding? No! All work is done on the ground. But if you're interested in riding, arrangements can be made with the ranch.
Important Information
- WHERE: Red Velvet Ranch, Acton California (about 45 minutes from Los Angeles)
- WHEN: The retreat will be held multiple times in the Fall, Winter and Spring. They are always on a Saturday with arrival at 9:30AM and completion at 4:30PM.
- DETAILS: Upon registration, you'll be sent a full information sheet to prepare you for the magical day.
- COST: $349, which includes lunch, snacks and drinks.
Please email Janine to get date options, more information or to register.
Essential Leader in Kenya
Ask a person who's been on safari in Africa how it was, and chances are their respose will be "It was life-changing."
There is something about being in the wild that strips away everything that's un-essential. It’s as though the physics of time changes, and you gain accelerated access to the truth about what’s essential for you as a leader and a human. You enter the Maasai Mara with a set of beliefs and absolutes, and you leave it having questioned, reframed and reformed all of them. Perspectives shift, veneer is stripped away, possibilities expand and paths forward are illuminated. Essential Leader is a hard reset, paving the way for you to reach your goals.
What is the Essential Leader Program?
Essential Leader is an immersive experience in the Maasai Mara in Kenya, blending game drives, visiting a Maasai village, and doing deep personal development work that starts before we land in the bush and continues through post-Kenya integration sessions. The program will include pre- and post-Kenya components to ensure you are able to address deep intentions and results in a way that honors nature's inherent presence and emergence. Often, people have delayed reactions—insights and new awareness—that emerge once you’re back home. We will bookend our time in Kenya with sessions to allow the fullest expression and realization of your intentions and goals.
Program Journey & Outcomes
This program is for leaders/humans who want to accelerate transformation, identify
their essential strengths and strip away obstacles to reaching their personal
and professional goals. You’ll gain:Awareness of what’s central to your growth requiring your attention to move forward
Clarity on what’s holding you back from your desired result and what has to shift
Amplified insight into how your style and behaviors impact your team and personal relationships
An understanding of the wisdom of nature and how you can apply its tenets to effective leadership and humanship
Tactical ways to experiment with new ways of being and doing
FAQs
- Are there physical requirements? No. We'll go on two daily game drives, led by experienced Maasai trackers. You're on open land and dirt roads, so it can be a bumpy ride.
- Is it safe? Yes! Everyone involved in the program and travel has safety front and center.
- Can I bring my family? Yes! Family members will join us for all activities except program time spent as a group on a daily basis (1 hour max)
- Can my Leadership Team do this for our annual offsite? Yes! The program will be tailored to the objectives of your team.
Important Information
- Is this the right program for me? Let's set up a call to discuss.
- When: Summer, 2027, which is winter in Kenya and is the time we're most likely to see the Great Migration.
- How big is the group?: A maximum of 5 people can participate in the open enrollment program. For intact teams there is a maximum of 8 participants. Family can come as well, and will participate in all activities and meals with the group, other than minimal program time spent with the core group.
- Cost: $6,500,which includes pre- and post-Kenya 1:1 coaching and group integration
sessions, as well as on-site program experiences in Kenya. Travel, room
and board and other costs will be arranged/paid for separately with our tried
and true partner XA African Safaris. A full list of what’s included, as well as estimated Kenya-based program-related travel costs will be provided after we connect.
Please email Janine to discuss if this is the right program for you and to get a full program description.
My Clients
I've had the opportunity to work with early stage scaling startups as well as large global public companies (and everything in between.) I understand the inflection points of company growth, and can guide leaders to scale their leadership to keep pace. Some of my amazing clients:
Speaking, Podcasts & Publications
Don't take it from me...
What my clients are saying
Nick Francis - CEO, Help Scout
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Janine as my executive coach for over three years, and it’s been transformative. Her guidance and expertise have been instrumental in my growth as a CEO.
Janine has a natural gift for reading people. She always seems to know the right question to ask, which is a testament to her listening skills, curiosity, and experience. One of the first things she asked me to do was take an enneagram test. She understands how I’m wired and is exceptionally gifted at helping me tweak the wires over time.
I’ve seen a clear inflection point in my growth as a CEO, which directly correlates with my time working with Janine. Her guidance has empowered me to lead more effectively, make better strategic decisions, and cultivate healthy accountability practices.
Thank you, Janine! It’s been a true pleasure working with you.”
Cat Berman - CEO, Cnote
“Janine is a talented and inspiring leadership coach. She brings a unique understanding of high-growth businesses and the complexities of navigating both personal and team growth. I am continuously impressed by the myriad strategic tools she brings and have grown both as a person and as a leader in working with her."
Stephen Poletto - CTO, Lattice
"Janine and I worked together on a 6-month exec coaching engagement while I was leading a 150-person software engineering org. Janine brought the right level of structure to our sessions, helping guide them toward the goals we set early in the engagement – but she never stuck to a script. She was very fluid in how she would react to my present needs and challenges, and customized the program heavily to my bespoke needs. Through working with her, I was able to strengthen my self-awareness on my default mindsets and behaviors, codify the core values that matter most to me, and re-examine the ways in which my role serves me and how I serve it. I'm deeply appreciative of the time Janine spent with me and would recommend her coaching for anyone who wants to take a deeper look at their core identity and values and go beyond the "It" (tactics) and into the "I/we" (how we view ourselves and relate to others). Thank you Janine!"
Connect
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