Being great at your job isn’t enough—you need gumption.
gumption: the ability to name and speak on what you’re good at.
Somewhere along the way, the way we talk about work got weird.
I help people and organizations get clear on what matters, where impact actually happens, and how to talk about it without the corporate noise.
Coaching | Writing | Advisory | Speaking
For people and organizations who want work to make sense again.
welcome to gumption.
Hi, I’m Kelly.
I’ve made a career out of noticing what others overlook.
The patterns, strengths, and moments of impact that shape how people work, lead, and make decisions, even when they struggle to name them themselves.
That work eventually became gumption.
For individuals
I work with professionals navigating job searches, career pivots, leadership growth, and moments of uncertainty.
Through coaching, resume and LinkedIn writing, and preparation for interviews, promotions, and performance conversations, we help people understand where they create impact and learn how to communicate it with confidence and credibility..
For companies
I also work with leaders and teams who want work to make more sense.
Together, we build clearer language around impact, expectations, and performance so feedback improves, decisions get easier, and people understand how their work actually contributes.
No new systems. No corporate noise. Just better conversations about work.
When change happens…
Layoffs and exits are some of the hardest moments people face at work.
Our outplacement support combines practical career strategy with space for reflection and regrouping, helping people move forward with clarity, confidence, and language that reflects the impact they’ve created.
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 role is to help you step back, see your strengths clearly, and make sure the right people see them too.
I’ve worked with more than 750 people across industries, levels, and roles, from early-career job seekers to C-suite leaders, from nonprofit to tech and government.
My 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, my 1:1 clients have…
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).
I’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, outplacement clients have seen major shifts like…
96% of outplaced employees landing new jobs in less than 4 months
Improvement in perception of employer brand
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.
the gumption. method.
1. Get clear on where impact happens
Understand the moments where your work actually changes outcomes.
2. Build confidence in your strengths
Reconnect with the patterns that make you effective.
3. Put language to your value
Translate real work into clear, credible communication.
4. Advocate for your impact
Use that language in conversations, decisions, and opportunities.
The steps are simple by design, but powerful enough to change how people understand their work, show up in conversations, and contribute to healthier, more effective teams.
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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Most organizations are struggling with an undiagnosed clarity and communication problem.
People are working hard.
Leaders are moving fast.
But expectations aren’t always tied to outcomes.
When impact isn’t clearly articulated, engagement drops and performance stalls.
That’s where we come in.
The Language of Impact
We help organizations strengthen how value is communicated across every level of the business.
✔ Clarify outcomes so teams know what success actually looks like
✔ Equip managers to give feedback tied to measurable impact
✔ Help employees name their strengths and articulate their wins
✔ Build practical tools that align performance conversations to business goals
✔ Facilitate workshops that improve communication, confidence, and cross-functional effectivenessWhen people understand how their work creates value, alignment strengthens and engagement follows.
Career & Transition Support
The same clarity applies to career movement inside and outside the organization.
We provide:
• Personalized 1:1 coaching
• Strategic resume and LinkedIn positioning
• Leadership and confidence development
• Workshops for teams navigating changeLet’s talk about what that looks like inside your organization.
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I speak with leaders, teams, and communities about what it takes to articulate value clearly and lead with intention in modern work.
These sessions are practical, direct, and people-first.
No corporate jargon, toxic positivity, or the same recycled advise.
Just tools your audience can actually use delivered through humor, heart, and healthy hustle.
My goal is simple: shift how people think about impact and give them language they can act on immediately.
Signature Topics
✔ The Impact Gap
Why high performers under-translate their value and how to fix it across teams.✔ Language of Impact for Leaders
How to tie expectations, feedback, and performance conversations to measurable outcomes.✔ Career Positioning Without the Cringe
Personal brand clarity for people who do excellent work but struggle to talk about it.✔ Self-Advocacy That Builds Trust
How to communicate ambition and contribution without burning out or over-performing.✔ Leading Through Change with Clarity
Equipping managers to communicate expectations and direction when uncertainty is high.✔ Modern Job Search Strategy for Experienced Talent
Clear, strategic positioning that respects people’s intelligence.I’ve facilitated workshops, panels, and keynotes for HR communities, leadership teams, professional associations, and mission-driven organizations.
If you’re hosting a conference, offsite, retreat, or internal leadership session and want something grounded, strategic, and actionable, I’d love to connect.
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.
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Item desAI is a powerful tool. I use it with clients all the time.
The difference is strategy. AI can organize information. It can’t diagnose your positioning gaps or decide what not to say.
AI will generate content based on patterns.
It doesn’t know your career goals, the hiring context, internal politics, compensation leverage, or how to translate your experience for a particular audience.
It produces language.
We build strategic positioning. -
We don’t niche by industry or title. The common thread in this work isn’t sector or level, it’s under-translation and lack of clarity on impact.
The tools flex across levels. The language changes, the stakes change, but the core issue remains the same: people do strong work and struggle to position it effectively.
We work from entry-level through Executive in industries from Pharmaceutica to Nonprofits and Global Market Investment Firms and everything in between!
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.
