Get unstuck. Build confidence. Lead from your strengths.
Personalized, strengths-based, and action-oriented coaching for nonprofit and social impact leaders
Your brain is working overtime, but you’re not moving forward.
You’re no stranger to thinking about That Thing, right? (And That Other Thing. And That One Too. There's a lot on your mind.)
Whether there are decisions that are slowing you down or conversations you need to have, you’re probably a pro at analyzing from every angle, considering the stakeholders, and thinking through the implications.
And all of that mental work gets draining, trying to figure everything out alone. From over-preparing for meetings you’re already ready for. From fighting for initiatives that get deprioritized. From running through every possibility in your head because you don't quite trust yourself to just show up and handle it.
Sound familiar?
You're likely trying to think, research, or prepare your way to certainty.
And social impact leadership doesn't work that way.
You’re in a field with very few black-and-white answers and in a role that doesn’t have a syllabus. (Bummer, I know!)
When you've spent your career learning to prepare thoroughly, get things right, and have all the answers before you move forward, of course uncertainty trips you up. But judgment calls, trade-offs, and making decisions with incomplete information are unavoidable now. They’re not the exception—they’re just part of the job.
But try this idea on for size: what if you developed a different way to work and lead?
One where you're not trying to prepare your way to certainty, but you're building the capacity to navigate without it?
You become more strategic—influencing effectively, making decisions confidently, and creating more impact with the same effort. You stop over-preparing and start trusting that you’re inherently ready. You make your case not by working harder, but by being smarter about it. And the work gets results instead of getting stalled.
You build something sustainable—a career that doesn't require constant compromise. Not impact OR work-life balance—both. Not meaningful work OR financial stability—both. And you can keep showing up without burning out, because the impact you're trying to create needs leaders who can stay in this work for the long haul.
And it's actually satisfying. You trust your own judgment, lead from your strengths, and feel energized instead of depleted. You’re creating real change, not just activity. You stop performing confidence you don't feel and tap into your genuine leadership capacity. The work still challenges you, but it doesn't drain you the same way.
That’s what we build together through leadership coaching.
And that’s what 1:1 Leaders Coaching for social impact professionals helps you create.
Build the approach, confidence, and strategic thinking you need to lead effectively.
You're solving problems that don't have textbook answers, in contexts where the traditional leadership playbook doesn't apply. And that’s why we work on your actual challenges—the decisions you're facing, the leadership approach you're developing, the ways you want to shape your impact and career.
Here's what makes it work so well:
✨Coaching is customized to your wiring. We start with a CliftonStrengths assessment to understand what you're uncommonly good at (and enjoy!). Then you can build your leadership approach around that, as well as a life that makes room for all of your priorities.
✨It’s action-oriented, not just interesting insight. You'll take action between sessions, gather evidence, and build confidence through doing. We don't just talk about what you could do—we work on what you're actually doing, in real time, with real stakes.
✨It blends strategy with natural authenticity. You'll learn to influence more effectively, communicate urgency to resistant audiences, and make the business case for your work—while staying true to what matters to you. More strategic doesn't = “acting like that successful guy over there.”
✨It’s a fully personalized leadership and skill development pathway. Can’t find that at a conference or general training! Instead of collecting more ideas you might try someday, you have the support and structure to actually implement and accelerate your leadership. Because coaching is tailored to how you think, the work you do, and the challenges you're facing right now, it creates lasting change, not just momentary inspiration.
✨And it’s a genuine, confidential partnership, not a lecture series or a one-off workshop. When we work together, I’m on your team (both now and in the future!). I'll challenge your thinking, help you see what you're missing, and support you as you build capacity to navigate without a blueprint.
"Working with Caroline is like getting that final burst of energy to get you across the finish line.
Her ability to help unravel what feels like a complex issue into manageable pieces has helped me to develop tactics and opportunities to push through the obstacles I'm facing."
"I started my sessions with Caroline feeling stuck in my role and uncertain of where my skills could take me. She works from an evidence-based and positive approach, guiding clients to find real examples for strengths and build a powerful narrative.
This not only helped me to determine what my next step would be, but also gave me the confidence to get there."
"Caroline asks fantastic questions and has a way of seeing things in your responses that you can't see on your own.
Working with her has opened my eyes to what I can uniquely contribute to the social impact space and expanded what's possible in my business!"
Leadership coaching designed for nonprofit and social impact leaders
What’s Included in our work together:
12 coaching sessions over 6 months, via Zoom or phone (one 90-minute kickoff + 11 60-minute sessions)
It’s a consistent, focused space where you can think strategically, get unstuck, and build new skills and approaches. You bring your ideas, questions, and actual challenges for us to explore. I ask clarifying questions, help uncover new insights, and offer helpful frameworks for each situation at hand. Sessions are scheduled at your convenience, typically every other week.
A personal CliftonStrengths 34 assessment and detailed interpretation
Discover what you're uncommonly good at and how to build your leadership around it, instead of exhausting yourself trying to optimize your “weaknesses.” We'll review your full assessment in our kickoff session and use it as the foundation for everything we work on together.
My proprietary Four-Dimensional Model of Social Impact Leadership assessment
Developed over years of research on social impact and leadership, this signature framework helps you get clarity on how you show up as a leader across the unique dimensions of social impact work. This helps us identify where you're naturally strong and where you want to grow.
Customized prep activities and reflection questions between sessions
This helps fuel insight and action between sessions. The prep work helps you maximize our time together and stay focused on what’s going to move the needle on your priorities.
Follow-up notes after each session
A brief summary of our conversation, key recommendations, and resources for further exploration. You don't have to remember everything or furiously scribble notes on our calls—you can focus on the conversation!
Between-session support via Voxer
Voice messaging for as-needed coaching and quick questions when you're facing real-time challenges. You don’t have to wait two weeks when you need a thought partner now!
Access to career and leadership workshop recordings
Including the full "Beat Imposter Syndrome: Strategies for Career Confidence" course, plus workshops on LinkedIn, navigating procrastination, and maximizing your first 90 days in a new role. If I’ve created it, you have an all-access pass to it!
Six months of access to The Change Hub
A robust resource library and community for social impact practitioners with tools, templates, and trainings (powered by Reconsidered, a recognized leader in the social impact space)
And most importantly, an approach to strategic, sustainable, and satisfying impact and leadership that's actually yours.
By the end of our six months together, you'll have frameworks for navigating ambiguity, tools for the specific challenges you face in social impact work, and clarity on how you lead most effectively. Not someone else's playbook—this one’s all yours.
Investment: $4,997
Payment plans are available.
Many clients use professional development funding for coaching. If you have questions about how this works, just let me know! We can talk through some of the possibilities together.
Why social impact needs different leadership—and why I coach the way I do
I’m Caroline Ouwerkerk, coach for social impact and nonprofit leaders. As a Gallup-certified CliftonStrengths leadership coach, I bring over fifteen years of experience supporting clients on five continents (and counting!) at a range of leadership crossroads.
I believe the problems facing our communities and planet can't be solved by following playbooks written for different times. Climate change, systemic inequality, global crises—they require leaders who can create new frameworks, experiment with untested approaches, and build solutions that don't yet exist.
And that's why I love the power of strengths-based coaching. Instead of the endless "work on your weaknesses" treadmill that exhausts people, this approach helps you double down on what you’re naturally excellent at (and actually like!). You get to be more effective AND more energized, leading in ways that actually work for you.
As your coach, I facilitate a space where you get to stop performing, stop over-preparing, stop second-guessing—and start building real capacity to navigate the urgent issues our world is experiencing. You build the muscle to go from “What if…” or "I think I should probably..." to "Here's what I'm doing and here's why."
If this resonates, I’d love to work together!
Questions about coaching?
I love details too!
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I always say that any job can be a social impact job, so I work with leaders in social impact, sustainability, CSR, nonprofits, social enterprise, and mission-driven businesses. My clients span various industries—fashion, tech, healthcare, finance/ESG, education, consulting—but the common thread is they're trying to create positive change through their work.
I' have experience working with clients from first-time managers to mid-career professionals navigating transitions to senior leaders, so we can work together regardless of your role or seniority!
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Leadership coaching primarily focuses on navigating your current role—building confidence, developing frameworks for complexity, and strengthening your leadership approach. If you're actively job searching and need help with resumes, cover letters, interview prep, and job search strategy, check out the Impact Career Sprint instead. That program is specifically designed for the nuts and bolts of landing your next nonprofit or social impact role, and includes two 1:1 coaching sessions!
That said, if you're contemplating a transition or thinking about what you want next while also working on your current leadership challenges, coaching can absolutely include those conversations—we just won't spend sessions doing resume line edits. -
Working with a coach is a sign of strategic thinking and self-awareness—it shows that you're proactive about developing your leadership capacity.
Seeking out coaching from someone external to your company is fairly common these days. Even senior executives often work with coaches! It’s intentional skill development and advancement that benefits both you and your organization. Many of my clients even use professional development funds from their employer to pay for coaching, so you might be surprised to discover that your boss is enthusiastically on board.
That said, our work together is completely confidential. Whether and how you share it is entirely up to you.
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That's completely fine—and actually common. Many clients start coaching knowing they want something to be different but not exactly what. Part of our early work together is getting clarity on what you're working toward. Some people have very specific goals (prepare for a promotion, navigate a difficult team dynamic, etc). Others start with "I feel stuck and I'm not sure why,” while others are looking for an opportunity to discuss their work with someone other than their boss or their spouse. All are valid starting points!
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I'm direct, practical, and curious. I'll ask questions that make you think differently, challenge assumptions when something's not serving you, and give you honest (yet supportive!) feedback. I'm also a resource nerd—I'll share frameworks, articles, and tools that are relevant to what you're working on. My approach is action-oriented (you'll be doing things between sessions, not just talking about them) and strengths-based (we build from what you're naturally good at). Think: strategic thought partner who deeply gets social impact work and will help accelerate your progress into a new level of leadership.
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CliftonStrengths is an assessment that reveals your top natural talents—the things you're uncommonly good at. (Think “positive psychology-driven, science-based, rigorously-researched” assessment that’s been taken by over 34 million people worldwide… not a “personality quiz!”)
I chose to get certified in it and I use it in my leadership coaching because I've watched too many capable people exhaust themselves trying to become "well-rounded" instead of doubling down on what they're naturally excellent at.
The assessment gives us concrete language for how you show up as a leader and what energizes you. Then we build your leadership approach from there—based on your actual strengths, not a generic model of what a leader "should" be, and completely informed by the social impact you’re committed to making. It's more sustainable (you're working with your natural wiring, not against it) and more effective (you're leveraging what makes you uniquely good at what you do).
Logistics and Investment
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We typically meet every other week for 60 minutes, which means about 2 hours per month of scheduled session time. (I know you have a lot going on, so we figure out a cadence that works for you, even if that means meeting every 3-4 weeks.)
Between sessions, you'll spend time on prep activities, reflection, and taking action on what we're working on—usually 1-2 hours per week, though this varies based on what you're navigating. Most clients find that the time invested makes everything else more manageable, not less.
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I offer 3-month coaching packages ($2,700) if you want a shorter engagement. The 6-month program allows more time for deeper transformation and building sustainable practices, but the 3-month option works well if you have a specific, focused challenge you're working through or want to try coaching before committing to a longer engagement.
On the flip side, I also regularly offer longer engagements as well, and many clients do choose to extend their work together. I’m here for you now and in the future!
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Yes! Many clients use professional development funding from their employers. I'm happy to provide invoices with detailed descriptions of what's included, split payments across fiscal years, or invoice your organization directly. Coaching is a professional development investment that benefits both you and your organization, so it's worth asking if funding is available.
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Yes! Sessions are virtual (phone or video), so as long as we can find times that work across time zones, location isn't a barrier. I have experience working with leaders in various international contexts and understand that social impact work looks different in different regions.
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Let’s talk about it! After you inquire, I’ll set up a time for us to meet for a no-pressure chat.
