our coaches
Mathew and Shannon, That’s US!
We have been on a journey together for almost two decades. Along the way we have been colleagues, best friends, life partners, and business partners. We have both founded, built, and led significantly sized organizations; built, nurtured, and grown teams; inspired donors, partnered with communities, and fought for what we believed in along the way.
We live in beautiful Vermont now. Where every time we return home from travel we are reminded how lucky we are to live here, where others come to vacation. We live in and are slowly renovating an 1830’s one room school house (it’s not one room any more.) We love that our home is surrounded by an organic dairy and the cows come to see us regularly.
We live with Buddy. He is a rescue, but as they say, we are not sure who rescued who! He is a sweetheart and loves to supervise whatever we are up to. He is even known to peak into our Zoom meetings on occasion!
When we are away from home, it’s because we have given into our wanderlust. We travel a lot. Sometimes for business, sometimes just for us.
Mathew’s CliftonStrengths are Futuristic, Strategic, Self Assured, Activator, and Relator. So it is probably not surprising that he loves science fiction and rides a motorcycle sometimes.
Mathew is also a do-it-yourself kinda guy. From building additions to laying rock walls, from fixing his tractor to cutting firewood, his roots as a farm kid have never left him.
Mathew is also a Sociologist and enjoys helping others make sense of the world around them. His favorite course to teach was Social Theory because it pushed students to rethink their ideas and assumptions about freedom and agency.
Mathew is a sucker for a not-to-sweet, maybe even a little tart, fruit pie. He loves food of all kinds, except cilantro! Molasses cookies are a good bet too.
As a coach, Mathew’s approach is one of deep listening and care for his clients. He builds a safe and sacred container within which clients are able to explore questions that they find important and develop new insights about themselves and the world around them. Mathew’s clients say they feel transformed after working with him as a coach.
Shannon’s CliftonStrengths are Adaptability, Ideation, Strategic, Analytical, Arranger. So, it is probably not a surprise that she organizes travel or that she is very good at brainstorming ideas.
Shannon is a lover of all things Nordic, including salty black licorice, Fika time, Marimekko and Moomins! She has also created & lead group travel experiences to the Nordic countries.
Shannon is passionate about bringing women together. It is her happy place to be with women who are striving, growing, truth bombing and working to make the world a better place.
She is recovery aware and has worked over the years to identify and then fire the itty bitty shitty committee in her head that was judging her and finding her coming up short. She has a new committee full of members who are enthusiastically rooting for her to be her most authentic self.
As a coach, Shannon’s approach is one of deep presence and care. She wants client to know that they matter and deserve the time and space to think out loud without interruption or advice. Shannon’s clients say they feel able to take action and move forward in areas they had previously experienced stuckness.