In the words of one of my clients, I'm a "soul coach" - helping you find your dignity and yourself again.

Bullied myself, my entire mission in life now is to restore compassion and dignity to our workplaces. 

So that our whole world is better. And all can thrive. 

My story: 
Breakdown to breakthrough. 

In early 2016 I landed the job of my dreams. I was beyond excited. It was pulling together all my skills and experience. I was on cloud nine.  A year later that dream was completely  shattered.  

​Shattered by workplace bullying.

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Used with permission. Copyright Chris Hallbeck

What I do 

Described by my clients as deeply courageous and compassionate, my focus is on ending the suffering at work from abrasive leaders. So that all can thrive.

I work with both individuals (both those doing the bullying and those feeling bullied) and leadership teams - through 1:1, team and group coaching, training and workshops. 

Let's talk

My approach

In the words of Dame Minouche Shafik, Director of the London School of Economics: “In the past, jobs were about muscles, now they’re about brains, but in the future they'll be about the heart.”

Compassion - for yourself and others - lies at the heart (pun intended!) of my coaching.  And includes compassion for the very people whose abrasive style causes so much suffering. 

Yes the business world is competitive. But the evidence is clear that it is compassionate people and organizations who will lead and innovate the solutions we need for a better world. 

The positive changes that have followed Sue are priceless.  She has created an environment of safety and trust that has encouraged her clients to find their voices and take the reigns of their own lives.  Moreover, she undertakes each session with a mix of professionalism and approachability that makes it impossible not to like her.  Whatever the situation, Sue has the knowledge and emotional IQ to guide her clients to a constructive resolution.
Kate Lyons, LEADS Coordinator, Women's Opportunity Center (Ithaca & Syracuse, NY)

Why I do it 

For decades I followed my head around the world, serving as a diplomat, banker, consultant, project manager, entrepreneur, and innovative change agent in a wide range of industries, including energy, hospitality, financial services, banking, real estate, consulting, and government. But in the end, I found my wisest and best self when I followed my heart into coaching.

Overcoming the experience of a toxic work environment has been profound and transformative.

Our workplaces are too important - they take up so much of our lives, and play such a strong role in our identity - for them to be the places of torment and suffering that too many are. 

Our world, our humanity, Earth - needs us to do better.  Our lives - and souls - depend on it. 

Certifications, Credentials & Affiliations 

• Board Certified Coach - Executive/Corporate/Business 
• Certified Community Resilience Model Teacher, Trauma Resource Institute 
• Positive Intelligence Coach 
  
• International Association of Workplace Bullying and Harassment​ (IAWBH)
• National Workplace Bullying Coalition
  
• International Coach Federation (ICF)
• BetterUp Fellow Coach
• MBA – Cornell University
• Master of Management of Hospitality (MMH)  – Cornell University

My career

My 25-year career has spanned continents, roles and industries. I’ve been a diplomat, Wall Street Banker, Top-4 consulting firm consultant, project manager, and entrepreneur. And worked in government, finance, banking, real-estate, hospitality, and energy.
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I hold an MBA and Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH) from Cornell University. ​

15 random things about me

• Grew up in South Africa 
• I call Ithaca, NY home 
• Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro
• Meet my husband ice climbing
• Worked Nelson Mandela’s inauguration
• (Used to) speak Arabic 
• I have a predilection for dressing up​ 
• Total cat lover ​
• We’ve been know to do silly things like building a snow fort in our backyard...and then sleeping in it overnight

• My son can always beat me at chess 
• Devotee of all things Brene Brown 
• Cross-country skier 
• I studied constitutional law
• I’ve been fired. And been all the better for it. 
• Star Wars, Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica...good sci-fi and fantasy seriously challenge my binge-watching discipline (or lack thereof) 

And a few photos

Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh, green leaves can grow in their place. It pulls up the rotten roots, so that new roots hidden beneath have room to grow. Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place. Rumi