Being great at your job isn’t enough—you need gumption.
Overlooked. Undervalued. Misaligned. Stuck.
We help people and companies unlock their unique advantage through coaching, modern personal brand tools, manager training, and people outplacement.
I see the power in others before they see it in themselves.
After 20 years in HR and leadership development, I gave myself permission to build the career I actually wanted… one rooted in clarity, self-advocacy, and being more boldly me. Now I help others do the same.
At gumption., we work with both individuals and companies through the turning points that shape careers and cultures.
For individuals, that means career coaching, leadership growth, and brand strategy for job searches, pivots, and the messy, often invisible moments in between. Together, we rewrite résumés, LinkedIn profiles, bios, and the stories that land promotions or new roles grounded in clarity, confidence, and impact.
For companies, that means coaching leaders to build skills and impact-focused cultures where people thrive. It also means modern outplacement support through a unique approach that blends grief and career coaching with tactical tools and ongoing community so employees feel seen, supported, and ready for what’s next.
The Gumption Method
Writer Robert Pirsig described gumption as the spirit, initiative, and resourcefulness that keeps us moving forward, the thing that makes the hard work of life worth doing. That idea inspired this practice.
And to be honest, most career advice, leadership training, and outplacement support these days feels like noise. It’s full of rules, templates, and jargon that don’t actually move the needle.
The Gumption Method cuts through all of that through a practical framework that helps people and companies connect clarity, confidence, and communication so individual and collective growth actually works.
Here’s how it works:
Get clear on your skills and impact
Build confidence in your strengths
Communicate your value out loud
Advocate for yourself and for others
These steps show up in every coaching session, workshop, and outplacement program we run. They’re simple but powerful enough to shift how people lead, grow, and build cultures that actually live up to what they promise.
Hi, I’m Kelly.
what my clients say.
The most common thing I hear from clients?
“I should have done this sooner.”
Work has a way of pulling you under and making you second-guess your value. My job is to pull you up, spotlight your strengths, and make sure the right people see them too.
We’ve worked with more than 700 people across industries, levels, and roles, from early-career job seekers to C-suite leaders, from nonprofit to tech and government.
Our clients have landed jobs and promotions at places like Google, Workday, AirBnB, Bank of America, Rippling, Meta, PwC, United Way, and hundreds of other companies where the bar is high and the competition is real.
To date, our 1:1 clients…
Achieved more than 200 promotions.
Increased their salary by an average of 17%.
Landed jobs in less than 6 months (92% of 1:1 clients land a new role within 6 months from the beginning of our work together).
We’ve also partnered with dozens of companies to modernize how they approach leader and employee development and humanize the way they exit employees.
To date, our outplacement clients have seen major shifts like…
100% of outplaced employees landing new jobs in less than 4 months
Improvement in perception of employer brand
Increased confidence following layoff
Check out more client love here!
gumption (n.) – Boldness. Confidence. The courage to take action.
It’s what gets you unstuck and moving toward the career (and life) you actually want.
You already have it.
You just need the right tools, strategy, and mindset to use it effectively.
That’s where I come in.
Let’s put your gumption to work. Book a free call.
how I can help.
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Support for job seekers, career pivoters, and leaders navigating change, growth, or reinvention
We work with people who are rethinking what’s next, stepping into more visible roles, or trying to reconnect with the work they actually want to be doing.
Some are job searching.
Some are building something of their own.
Some are realizing their resume no longer reflects who they are.
Through personalized coaching and strategy sessions, we get clear on what you bring to the table, how to talk about it, and where you want to go from here.
Focus areas often include:
✔ Career clarity and confident decision-making
✔ Resume and LinkedIn updates that reflect your real impact
✔ Interview preparation and self-advocacy
✔ Personal brand storytelling across roles, industries, or pivots
✔ Leadership development and communication presence
✔ Messaging and positioning for founders, consultants, and fractional leadersClients come to this work with different goals, but the throughline is the same: you want to feel clear, equipped, and confident about how you’re showing up.
We’ll work together to build the language, materials, and mindset to help you do that.
Explore Career Coaching → Let’s position you for what’s next.
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Layoffs don’t just affect the people leaving.
They shape how your remaining team feels and how future talent sees you.How you handle transitions sends a message.
It impacts trust, morale, and your long-term reputation as an employer.
Most traditional outplacement is
too generic. Too impersonal. Too outdated.Pre-recorded webinars and resume templates aren’t enough.
Your people deserve real support that addresses the grief of job loss and gives them the tools and support to move forward.
✔ 1:1 career coaching and transition planning
Every employee receives personalized guidance, tools, and strategy to navigate what’s next.✔ Resume, LinkedIn, and job search materials
Professionally written branding that helps people move forward with clarity and confidence.✔ Emotional and mindset support
Because job loss is about more than logistics; it’s about identity, resilience, and momentum.✔ Workshops for those staying
Custom sessions for remaining team members and people managers on navigating change, rebuilding trust, and leading through uncertainty.✔ Coaching for HR and leaders
Targeted support to help internal teams communicate with care, manage transitions, and maintain a strong culture through it all.✔ Modern, human-centered outplacement
We partner with you to protect your employer brand and send your people off with dignity, not just documentation.Learn More About Outplacement → Let’s talk about what real career support looks like.
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I speak with teams, leaders, and communities about what it really takes to navigate modern work with clarity, confidence, and gumption.
My goal is create honest, practical, people-first experiences that leave your audience thinking differently (and equipped to act).
Popular topics include:
✔ Career clarity and bold decision-making
✔ Personal brand storytelling for people who don’t love talking about themselves
✔ Navigating layoffs with leadership and care
✔ How to advocate for yourself at work without burning out or selling out
✔ Leading through uncertainty: team conversations, trust, and transparency
✔ Modern job search strategy that doesn’t insult your intelligenceI’ve facilitated workshops, panels, and keynotes for HR communities, coaching organizations, mission-driven teams, and leadership retreats.
If you’re hosting a conference, offsite, panel, employee session, or curated event, and you want something more grounded than gimmicky, I’d love to talk.
Explore Speaking & Workshops → Let’s make your next event one that actually makes an impact.
I’m glad you asked…
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Everyone can benefit from having a resume writer and career coach at some point in their career, especially in really difficult labor and talent markets.
It’s isolating, dehumanizing, and confidence busting to navigate unemployment or sticky workplaces alone.
Our goal isn't to make you dependent on working with me indefinitely.
We equip you with career tools and skills you can take into the next steps of your work and life.
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The world of job searching has changed. A lot.
While Applicant Tracking Systems are getting more advanced in reviewing and screening resumes, it's important to optimize format and content.
It's equally important to have compelling, persuasive stories that show your reader what makes you great.
We take a unique approach to writing that focuses on wins, impacts, and achievements. And that’s where the magic starts to happen!
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No problem at all! We’re based in Cincinnati, OH and NYC but the entire process is conducted virtually via email and Zoom.
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At the end of our time working together, we will send you all of your resume files (Microsoft Word and PDF). Please let us know in advance if you prefer Google Docs.
You can also ask us to make changes to your resume at any time. Edits are free for 90 days after you receive your finished resume.
After 90 days, reach out to us and we can chat about a revision package.
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We generally run on a waitlist that varies from 1-2 weeks up to 4 weeks during peak periods.
We are not a 24-hour quick flip resume or coaching firm.
We believe that the best results come from slowing down to speed up and we work with people who are ready to dive in to rebuild their story.
let’s get to work
Your career isn’t something you wait for it’s something you build.
If you’re into real talk about career strategy, leadership, and how to position yourself for what’s next, let’s connect. No fluff, no outdated advice, just insights that help you show up with confidence and take up space.
Connect with me on LinkedIn → Let’s make sure the right people know what you bring to the table and why you belong in the room.
