Leading with Courage and Character

Coaching for inspired people managers.

The only leadership is authentic leadership.

So many of us got promoted into management because we excelled at something entirely different.

We are thrown right into the fray, and before we know it, years have passed. We wake up one day and realize that we haven’t been as intentional as we meant to be. We know what we do, and we know what is expected of us, but something feels missing. We aren’t giving all that we are uniquely able to give.

We might have done some training to “upskill” when we first became managers. But leadership doesn’t just demand new skills; it requires a different mindset. If we haven’t done the inner work to examine our motivations and reflexes, we continue to rely on our superpowers, even when they begin to show up as liabilities, because that is the playbook we know- even though it’s a fraction of who we are.

It’s time to lead with courage and character.

Karen and Gina created this program to fill what we see as a critical gap in traditional leadership development. While most programs skip straight to skill-building, we start with what matters most: attitudes, beliefs, and mental habits.

Join an intimate cohort of peers on a path to self-discovery, guided by executive coaches with decades of successful leadership experience. Our highly interactive program integrates three pillars of leadership success: mindset, tool set, and skill set.

Start your journey into authentic leadership today.

Everything else is just followership.

The pillars

Mindset

Building an Authentic Foundation
Daily practice and weekly coaching guided by Positive Intelligence™ helps participants develop the foundation for positive response to challenges.

Tool Set

Interconnected Frameworks
Five invaluable models to scaffold manager success, from building trust to engaging employees.

Skill Set

Confident, inspired leadership
Group coaching to deepen skills and apply tools to real-time, real-life scenarios.

Choose the program that’s right for you:

Leading with Courage and Character I

A group coaching program for emerging leaders.

Leading with Courage and Character II

A six-month program for seasoned executives.

Want in? Of course you do. Let’s talk!

What clients are saying…

  • "This program came into my life at the time when I needed it the most, without realizing it! I've learned so much about myself- how I navigate the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable. It has allowed me to approach challenging situations thoughtfully, and with clarity. I cannot thank Karen and Gina enough."

    -GR

  • "Leading with Courage and Character was a transformative experience. The focus on self-command, managing as a coach, and developing a mindset that supports growth and self-reflection has profoundly impacted my approach to leadership and life. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to elevate their leadership skills with confidence and authenticity."

    -LH

  • "As a new engineering manager, I struggled to find my identity after many years as an individual contributor. I read a lot of books and took courses that introduced me to tools and techniques. This program was totally different in that it helped me develop a new mindset - rather than just giving me knowledge. I've become more positive and less reactive in the face of problems and chaos. I've experienced first-hand what transformative coaching can do, and it's inspired me to improve my coaching of others. But maybe most importantly it's helped me to more intentionally chart my own course as a manager."

    -AL

Meet Your Coaches

Hi! We’ll be your guides on this journey. We’re drawn to this work from a place of deep conviction that with the right support, being a people leader can be so much more than a promotion and a pay increase.  

Our vision is to develop in leaders the mindset to navigate challenges with confidence, while staying true to their unique personality, values, and spirit- so that they become powerful enablers of positive change.

Karen White

Karen has more than 20 years’ experience as a product management and operations executive- including VP of Product at Edelman Financial Engines, where she met Gina. She’s had the opportunity to lead through all flavors of change, from hypergrowth to strategic pivots to mergers and acquisitions, and has seen firsthand how leadership that invokes both head and heart can help teams thrive even in the midst of real trials, yielding remarkable results. Karen completed her coaching certification through UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Learn more about Karen

Gina Cruse

Gina is a visionary leader and executive coach who has been artfully blending her knowledge and experience with genuine warmth and focus on business results for over 30 years. Her coaching work leverages her executive and senior leadership experience in the corporate world in both public and private sectors, across multiple industries. She met Karen during her time as EVP of Human Resources at Edelman Financial Engines. Gina completed her coaching certification through UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Learn more about Gina

Join the journey.

Want in? Of course you do. Let’s talk!