Being great at your job isn’t enough—you need gumption. 

I help you take control of your career with clarity, confidence, and a strategy that actually works. Whether you’re job searching, navigating leadership, or figuring out what’s next, we got this.

No more second-guessing, playing small, or following outdated career advice. I bring the right strategy, advice, and tools you need to move forward with confidence and purpose.

I see the power in others before they see it in themselves.

After 20 years in HR and leadership development, I finally gave myself permission to grow the career I actually wanted. Now I help others do the same, whether they’re job searching, stepping into a bigger role, or trying to put words to what makes them great at what they do.

At gumption., I coach people through career pivots, brand clarity, job search strategy, and leadership growth by combining career strategy with deep listening.

You career and leadership brand lives at the intersection of self-work and brand-work, because your mindset, voice, and visibility are all connected.

I use my signature framework, the Gumption Method to guide our work:

  1. Know who you are

  2. Own your story

  3. Get seen and heard

  4. Move with intention

No one-size-fits-all templates. No corporate jargon. No watered-down versions of your story.

Just honest support, smart strategy, and room to be your full self.

Three quotes guide how I coach, lead, and live:

“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” – Dolly Parton
“It is bad faith to pursue something you’re not good at simply to prove something about your worth.” – Jean-Paul Sartre
“Gumption is the psychic gasoline that keeps the whole thing going.” – Robert M. Pirsig

I work with job seekers, entrepreneurs, leaders, and companies who want their people to feel seen and supported, especially in moments of change.

My approach blends clarity coaching, storytelling, personal brand strategy, and mindset work. You’re not just trying to land a job, you’re trying to show up fully, lead well, and build a career that actually fits.

hi, I’m Kelly. Really glad you’re here.

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. 

I’ve worked with more than 600 people across industries, levels, and roles—from early-career job seekers to C-suite leaders, from nonprofit to tech to 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.

This isn’t just about getting the job. It’s about doing the work that feels right, fits right, and reflects who you are.

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.

  • Support for job seekers, career pivoters, and leaders navigating change, growth, or reinvention

    I 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 leaders

    Clients 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.

  • 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?
    Too generic. Too impersonal. Too outdated.

    Pre-recorded webinars and resume templates aren’t enough. Your people deserve real support—and so does your brand.

    What’s included:

    ✔ 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.

  • Engaging. Strategic. Actually Useful.


    I speak with teams, leaders, and communities about what it really takes to navigate modern work with clarity, confidence, and gumption.

    Whether I’m leading a workshop on personal brand storytelling, speaking to a room of job seekers, or facilitating a conversation about leadership through change, my goal is the same: 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 intelligence

    I’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.

  • Kelly is the absolute best at what she does. Kelly’s coaching and support is methodical and effective. Highly Recommend!

    Steve G.

  • This woman literally changed my life. It’s incredibly hard in todays job market to stand out and, more importantly, actually land the job you want and this is exactly what Kelly did for me.

    James M.

  • From the first call she made me feel at ease-- she listened and I never felt like she judged me. I have recommended Kelly to several of my friends!

    Nicole F.

  • I can’t recommend Kelly enough. From the moment I met her I knew she was top tier in her skill set.

    Kara C.

I’m glad you asked…

  • Everyone can benefit from having a resume writer and career coach at some point in their career. My goal isn't to make you dependent on working with me indefinitely. I equip you with career tools and skills you can take into the next steps of your work and life. 

  • 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.

  • No problem at all! I'm based in Cincinnati, OH, but the entire process is conducted virtually via email and Zoom. I'm happy to meet locally for anyone in the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, or Southwest Ohio Region (Dayton, West Chester, Mason, Columbus).

  • At the end of our time working together, I will send you all of your resume files (Microsoft Word and PDF). Please let me know in advance if you prefer Google Docs. 

    You can also ask me to make changes to your resume at any time. Edits are free for 30 days after you receive your finished resume. After 30 days, reach out to me and we can chat about a revision package.

  • I generally run on a waitlist that varies from 1-2 weeks up to 4 weeks during peak periods, but sometimes can squeeze 1-2 more clients in, depending on the need.

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.