We work for you across industries, contexts and cultures.

“Angie. I could not finish this event without thanking you once more. You are amazing at
your craft. How you helped me connect to myself and the research made all the difference. I
learned so much from you and I hope we get to work together multiple times.”

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"I have worked with Winifred for more than a year as I transitioned to a new CFO role, after more than a decade in my previous position.

From the start, Winifred was genuinely invested in my success and offered support and encouragement.  She has a remarkable ability to listen intently and to offer tailored advice that is practical and insightful.  She also creates a setting to hold yourself accountable without judgment. 

I wholeheartedly recommend Winifred as an executive coach. Her expertise and genuine dedication to her clients' growth make her an invaluable asset to any professional. The feedback she provided gave me increased confidence and conviction in my leadership style, proving instrumental to the success of my first year in this new role."

"Chris carries himself with such humility that you almost forget his stature as an accomplished thought-leader. He gives you the space you need to own and drive your deliverables, and he rolls up his sleeves to co-create with you as a peer. His foundational respect for people and diverse perspectives fosters a safe environment for risk-taking and the free-flow of ideas."

“Winifred has been a fabulous thought partner to me as I've navigated several tricky career spots.  She is able to quickly discern the problem and ask the questions that really get to the heart of discovery.  I always walk away with clear actions and takeaways that have contributed to my continued growth.  Winifred is my trusted advisor as I navigate to a new EVP role.”

“Whether it be a training, a workshop, or a team offsite, when people work with Cal they leave feeling better about themselves and having a sense of purpose and accomplishment.”

"We knew our mission was important, but we were struggling to explain why anyone else should care. Neela helped us find the words that made people lean in instead of tune out. Our donor conversations completely changed after working with her."

“My work with Winifred has been hugely impactful to me as a leader and to my organization. Her ability to guide me to moments of clarity or inspiration have strengthened me as a leader and also have helped me make better strategic decisions for my team. She has walked with me through a number of challenging situations with grace, insight and support, while also never hesitating to challenge me and guide me down new paths.”

"Chris is a master at weaving research, practice, and stories into a framework that helps the rest of us do our work better, and does so with such apparent effortlessness that we feel like we’ve done it ourselves! He has been a huge inspiration to my non-profit organization in our quest to build an interdisciplinary network of change agents beginning in graduate school. I am very lucky and grateful to have Chris as one of my most trusted advisors."

"Navigating the complexities of a new role as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is no small feat. From redefining team structures to aligning the mission and crafting a strategic vision, the challenges are multifaceted and demand both technical expertise and leadership finesse. Winifred Ernst proved to be an invaluable partner in this journey, offering unparalleled executive coaching that transformed these challenges into opportunities for growth and success.

Winifred's extensive experience in leadership development and organizational consulting was evident from the outset. Her ability to "read between the lines," honed through her years of cross-cultural facilitation, empowered me to approach my role with clarity and confidence. She helped me identify key priorities, navigate organizational dynamics, and refine my communication strategies to effectively engage stakeholders.

One of Winifred’s standout contributions was her guidance in reshaping the cybersecurity team structure. With her support, I was able to create a cohesive and adaptable team that not only met operational demands but also aligned with the broader institutional goals. Her insights into fostering collaboration and building trust were instrumental in cultivating a culture of resilience and innovation within the team.

Winifred's coaching extended beyond operational strategies. She encouraged introspection and strategic thinking, helping me craft a compelling vision for cybersecurity that resonated at the executive level. This vision not only addressed immediate security concerns but also positioned cybersecurity as a strategic enabler for research and innovation—a critical shift in perspective for modern CISOs.

Throughout our coaching sessions, Winifred’s empathetic yet results-driven approach kept me grounded while navigating high-pressure situations. Her ability to blend practical tools with deep insights into leadership psychology made every interaction transformative. Thanks to her guidance, I feel more confident in my ability to lead with purpose, engage effectively with senior leadership, and drive meaningful change within the organization.

I wholeheartedly recommend Winifred Ernst to any executive seeking to elevate their leadership capabilities while tackling complex organizational challenges."

“Cal has a creative and unorthodox approach that sparks participation from the entire team and he consistently delivers incredible results for us.”

“Winifred is a natural in front of a room, weaving research, practice, and stories into a framework that moves our clients forward faster. When leading small groups, she relates to clients easily and builds trust quickly so they can tackle new skills, incorporate new mindsets, and set bold career goals. Winifred is smart, personable, experienced and organized, and the feedback she receives on her coaching is consistently excellent.”

"Chris brings good theory into practice. He is a practitioner and a scholar. His work is both relevant and rigorous. He has both expertise and humility. In a world obsessed with "either/or" positions, views, and stances, Chris helps people see, understand, and appreciate the "both/and". I can think of no better guide for clients, and companion for colleagues, than Chris on the journey of helping individual leaders, executive teams, and entire organizations develop, learn, and grow towards higher levels of performance."

“Winifred was knowledgeable and an incredible listener. She graciously and skillfully helped me identify my own challenges and strengths, and figure out solutions. I pivoted a few times and my meetings with her really gave me the insights and confidence I needed to make important decisions and changes. I found my interactions so valuable that I started recommending her to friends and colleagues.”

“Any organization seeking a thoughtful, innovative partner with an impressive record of turning strategy into action will be lucky to work with Cal.”

“My relationships with work and family have all benefitted from the energy and space that I’ve learned to protect for myself. I am more resilient, happy, and creative than ever. If your coaching experience with Winifred is like mine, you will walk away with life-changing perspective, awareness, and tools to be your best self.”

“Winifred really helped me reframe and refocus my goals as a leader. She did a great job of really stretching me and getting me outside my comfort zone. Her coaching was an essential part of a personal and professional transformation that helped me feel grounded and confident in my leadership.”

“Being coached by Winifred has been instrumental in elevating my impact as Latam Regional Manager. Her guidance and perspective have helped me lead with greater clarity, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and build a more cohesive, high-performing team.”

"I've worked with several coaches throughout my career, but my experience with Winfred has been truly exceptional. Her deep understanding of executive roles within complex organizations sets her apart. This insight allows us to effectively analyze challenges and develop strategic solutions for navigating the complexities of my role."

“Neela helped me stop hiding behind jargon and start speaking like a human being. The work we did together gave me confidence I didn't know I was missing."

“Any organization seeking a thoughtful, innovative partner with an impressive record of turning strategy into action will be lucky to work with Cal.”

“The opportunity to present a keynote address to senior-level travel industry leaders was awarded to my company, and I was selected to deliver it. While I have experience speaking to both small and large audiences, a high-profile keynote to my CEO’s peers was in a different league. I was referred to several speaking and presentation coaches by a former colleague and selected Angie from that elite group. I connected with her immediately, and she quickly understood my needs and the stakes of the moment. Angie created a methodical approach tailored to my needs and was crucial in shaping a unique narrative that reflected my individual personality. The keynote turned out to be a huge success with both the audience and senior leaders of my organization.

Thank you, Angie — I will definitely be a return customer.”

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"I had the privilege of working for Chris while he led a three-year culture journey at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Chris was fearless in his engaging with both execs and non-execs as he led the enterprise-wide initiative from beginning to end. He was a brilliant strategist, a passionate evangelist with senior leaders, a gifted change leader, and a driver of execution. He was imaginative while grounded, heartfelt while rational, and supportive while always urging us toward excellence. Working alongside Chris was truly one of my career highlights."

"I’ve been a part of previously arranged speaking courses. This one felt the most engaging and offered the most direct feedback on speaking, as Vivan’s emphasis was on presentation and delivery rather than the content. In addition, the personality assessment at the onset as unique, as it offered a view into each individual’s skill set."

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"I gained a ton from this Communication Lab training! Breathing techniques, resources, eye contact, shrinking the task at hand, asking questions to center myself...so much! Neela was fantastic in parsing out and defining my struggles with public speaking and presenting. Simplifying the problem to make it less scary in my head, and melding my authentic self to my ‘professional self’ I found very useful. It was a casual, conversational environment, which made talking about my hang-ups easy. I found it super helpful."

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“This entire experience was the MOST impactful training I have ever encountered in my 18 years of full-time employment. The Communication Lab coaches made all the difference. The level of vulnerability that happened so quickly, and seeing each person in our small group make a shift within their entire being while presenting, was powerful. You may have chipped away a big chunk of a fortress I’ve unconsciously built around myself. I’ve had two speaking engagements since and have been received well and more relaxed than ever before.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

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“Like many people, I don’t usually look forward to giving presentations. Through my work with Neela, that changed. I came to genuinely enjoy the process and felt more present and connected to the audience than I ever had before. I was expecting this coaching to take a one-size-fits-all approach and was pleasantly surprised by how deeply my coach got to know me as an individual and helped develop my strengths in a way that felt personal and authentic.”

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