MY STORY

I absolutely love making a difference in the lives of others! There are few things in life that have brought me more joy than helping people achieve their goals, get through difficult situations, or find more clarity about how to live their lives.​ I hope to have the opportunity to help you, as well!

 

I have more than two decades of experience coaching, mentoring and advising adults and teens. In fact, I have always been driven by a desire to make a difference in the lives of others, including in my careers as a diplomat, activist and educator. My vast overseas experience — I have traveled to 39 countries and lived in Mexico and Russia — and extensive work helping adults and teens through a wide variety of crises, challenges and transitions have given me a uniquely broad and powerful perspective on life and how to navigate and shape it. As someone who has had three distinct careers and been through many major life transitions, I have particular insights on successfully managing transitions, including job and career changes, divorce, and grief.

 

I have been trained in a wide variety of approaches for creating a more effective, joyful life, resulting in my ability to tailor my coaching to your particular situation and your needs. In my own life and in my coaching, I have found that living with integrity — living consistent with your values, being true to your word — is one of the keys to living a joyful, purposeful life. Indeed, one of the things I am most proud of is that I quit the US State Department publicly over the genocide in Bosnia. This act of integrity — and related sacrifices — led to some of the most meaningful professional and personal experiences of my life. It also became a defining moment in my life that has guided me ever since. I want to share this wisdom with you and help you find and create more purpose and joy in your life.

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Through empathy and compassion, I hope I will help you feel seen and validated. This will allow us to work together to empower you to manage life's challenges and create a life that will bring you more joy and meaning.

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In addition to life coaching, I also offer executive coaching and strategic planning for educational organizations, nonprofits and small firms.  I have been an innovative leader as a diplomat (running one of the largest immigrant visa issuing units in the world at the age of 24), activist (leading the most successful anti-genocide organization ever), and educator (serving as director of one of the most innovative lab schools in the world).  Disruptive innovation can be a powerful force for change in any industry, and I can help executives and thought leaders transform their organizations in a rapidly changing world grappling with global challenges and the disruptive force of AI.

 

I teach meditation (check out my meditations and follow me on Insight Timer!) and practice yoga daily. I earned two black belts and am passionate about travel, social justice, and being a dad. I have a BA from Brandeis University and a Master's in International Affairs from Columbia University. Before my resignation over the genocide in Bosnia, I spent eight years as a US diplomat. After five years as an activist leading the first successful anti-genocide activism campaign, I went into teaching and, eventually, life coaching.