Paradise Coaching

Laura is a large part of why I got the job I wanted. Her brilliance at helping me inventory my skills and thus gain confidence about my abilities was the key. I was transitioning to a new career, and I’m so glad she encouraged me to get involved with volunteer work in order to update my skill set in my intended career. I know that my volunteer experiences are what got me in the door — both the actual work I did and the connections I made. Laura and I practiced interviewing, and I also went to one of her Interview Club meetings to get solid tips and practice. There is nothing like going into an interview completely prepared and knowing what you bring to the table. I feel like this is just the beginning of many exciting things to come thanks to Laura!

Laura is a gem. She gets a sense of who you are while schooling you on the art of networking and taking control of building your career. She teaches you how to utilize and optimize your own contacts. She also provides you with focused homework to improve areas where you need improvement.
I regularly use many of the tips and insights she taught me. I highly recommend her kind-​hearted and insightful skills.

Laura is a very personable, empathetic, and talented coach who has helped me get through an extremely challenging work situation and a rough career transition period. I sought out a career coach because I consistently would get myself into job situations where I was unhappy, and I needed help to break this cycle.
I had interviewed many other career coaches before and found Laura to be the most appealing because I found her approach to be very thoughtful and human. She was very insightful and present, even in the first initial phone screen.
I saw each session with Laura as a chance to reflect with the challenges that has happened throughout the work week. She was able to help me see each situation in a different light and gave me strength to take bold new steps forward to tackle each challenges. She also encouraged me to explore a different career direction that is a better fit for what I’m looking for.
I’m very grateful for the time that I’ve spent with Laura and I highly recommend her work.

I hadn’t updated my resume in years, but saw a job that sounded like a fit. So I jump-​started myself to apply, then got the call. I called Laura to prepare.
I just finished working with her on some interview prep. It was amazing. Both practical (defining who I am; ‘remember its an offer, not a pitch’), supportive (‘your resume states a lot about what you’ve done, re-​read it before the interview’), insightful and reaffirming (‘great resume’; ‘you’ve done so much’, ‘you are very organized and professional’, etc.’). I could share my very scary fears about not being ‘up to the job’ and she had responses for me – and for the interviewers!
Laura listens deeply, focuses, is business-​savvy, emphasizes my qualities of work and being. Then she offers memorable insights. It was great to see and experience her expertise. If you want to be yourself and express that in your work, Laura’s your coach.
Oh, and that interview: it went better than I could have expected. I was prepared. I knew where I stood and what I do well. Laura helped me feel comfortable clarifying my areas of skill, and asking them about those sections of the job listing that I didn’t know so much about. I’ve been contacted for the next round!

Laura has the intelligence and empathy to work with a variety of women undergoing career and life transitions. She is an inspiring group leader, a good listener, and a thoughtful counselor.

I was in the middle of a career change when I joined a group Laura was leading. I was struggling to find the right direction, feeling rudderless. Laura provided a safe space for each of us to connect with our strengths and explore how we might use them in our search.
I have now worked with Laura in both individual and group settings. Laura is warm, insightful, and kind. Laura listens deeply and is able to work with an assortment of people. I found her approach to be supportive and at the same time challenging. Laura will tell you directly what needs to be said! She creates a safe environment to explore goals, roadblocks, and dreams. I also want to say that she has a great sense of humor that can make even the most serious conversation feel a bit lighter.
To summarize my experience — Laura helped me to develop new perspectives, an appreciation for what I have to offer, and to pursue a new career!
I do recommend Laura!

I seriously needed a kick in the «life» pants to get out of the doldrums and remind myself of what I wanted to be when I grew up. Many years after society thinks I have grown up, I still am not living the life I dreamed of or believed I could create. The grind takes over and the almighty dollar holds sway over my decisions — pragmatic as they may be, they were not tuned into my heart and passion.
Enter Laura, frank and honest, prompting me by asking the right questions to figure out what I wanted and what I have to do to pull it together. It seemed crazy at first to think of putting myself first but after my time with Laura, I know it will be better for all to pursue my happiness however off the beaten path it will be.
She reminds you of your inherent and possibly untapped strength, she gets you to pinpoint the «must haves» in your life and create your plan forward based on that knowledge. When you come up empty handed with the questions of what you should be doing, she is asking the right questions to help you discover it.
She gets you there — she propels you forward. I no longer feel hindered by inertia — I know the steps I can take to center myself and focus on the path forward and forward we go! Thank you, Laura — I am indebted to you! See you soon!

Listening deeply and providing caring feedback and guidance, Laura helped me recover from a traumatic layoff and offered moral support as I stepped tentatively back into the job market. I especially appreciated her careful editing skills and insightful feedback on my cover letters and resumes. Her support throughout the long and sometimes discouraging search process helped sustain me. I highly recommend her.

Laura, assisted me with clarity and confidence in taking the steps to change my career. She is insightful at reading others and tracks well to guide you with the missing steps you need to get on track and succeed. I highly recommend Laura as her therapeutic approach is refreshing and nurturing. She tailors her intuitive coaching style to meet your needs.

Laura provides the right mix of encouragement and perspective rooted in empathy and a discerning ear. She is incredibly responsive and cares deeply about one’s journey to find meaningful work and live life fully. After an exercise in finding clarity and some concrete goal-​setting, I have been propelled through a self-​directed career change. Without Laura’s help this could have easily taken a year or more to do alone. With her support, I projected, then embodied the charisma to «try on» other hats. I found what best worked for me, then networked, researched, pursued and landed my current position.

Laura is a talented coach who facilitates groups well, and gets members to participate and receive individual attention and feedback. I leave each session with well thought out homework which helps me keep the best practices and other information shared fresh and then applied to my unique business. Laura helps me come up with action plans and the regular meetings allow me to have built in accountability partners and people who encourage me to stick with it.
With the support of Laura and the other women in our group, I have been able to strengthen my marketing voice and learn about marketing strategies that I can implement now and down the road as my business develops. I really appreciate the constructive feedback from everyone. Especially for women who are solopreneurs like me, without formal business partners, this input is invaluable. I look forward to staying in contact with women in the group and working with Laura again in the future.

I came upon Laura while at a crossroads in my life. After a successful career in one field, I decided to change tack and go to graduate school in a field completely unrelated to my profession. After finishing my program, I was staring at a number of potential paths forward not knowing which one to pursue. It was during this time of indecision that I started working with Laura. It was her aptitude of cutting to the heart of the issue and creating concrete action frameworks that impressed me most in working with her. She is not just a cheerleader, although she is very supportive; Laura is a teacher and a mentor. She helped me learn how to evaluate decisions in a way that supported those things that I value in life, and she also taught me how to methodically make steps that brought me closer to those goals. I would not have made the strides that I made in the past year without her help. I highly recommend Laura.

Laura is kind, warm and helped me clarify and inspire my job search. I would recommend her to others.

Laura’s coaching is transformative. I attended her «Finding Your Right Work» group and now I do my «right work» daily and enjoy it thoroughly. Laura is both personable and practical — a rare find, and her groups are highly effective. Group members were insightful and supportive. Laura kept us moving forward, we celebrated each other’s successes and I received ample individual attention. I highly recommend joining one of Laura’s groups!
Laura’s approach is supportive and playful. She helped me create a career trajectory that satisfied both my left and right brain. Laura uses art, movement and other unconventional tools to unlock your joy and expertise. She also helps navigate the gritty side of the job-​search: writing resumes and cover letters, improving your networking and interviewing skills.
Currently I am attending Laura’s movement workshops and I can’t wait for the next one!

I wanted to update my Unilocal review of Laura. Yeah! I finally started my own practice. We’ve been open almost 1 year and so much of the success that we are enjoying is due to the coaching that I received from Paradise Coaching. It’s great to look back and see the strategies that I implemented with Laura are still being used today! I have always felt seen and heard by Laura in a very deep way.

Laura is fabulous and helped me to get my business to the next level. She is generous with her time, abilities and information. Laura is a treasure-​trove of knowledge!

«I have been fortunate to have participated in one of Laura’s groups and to have worked with her on an individual basis. I have found her to be exceptionally intuitive, bright, insightful, warm and compassionate. I would highly recommend her for guidance and encouragement with a work/​life transition. Laura helped me push past long-​time blocks so that I could manifest dreams I’ve had since childhood. And the good news is that it didn’t hurt one at all!»
Susan

I am extremely grateful to have Laura in my life, both as a coach and a colleague. Her work with me one on one was compassionate and action oriented. I felt she had a genuine concern and appreciation for my situation, and not without the important question, «and what are you going to do next?»
I have also had the pleasure of experiencing her work in group situations, leading groups of people through exercises and insightful questions in order to get them aligned with their core values, and from there, take action.
Laura is an amazing coach, empathetic, personable, your own personal advocate helping you to set aside self defeating patterns while embracing your heart felt desires and bringing them into reality.

Laura has a deep capacity for listening and understanding. She hears what you say and listens for what you’re not saying. In one session with her she was able to identify one of my core issues and suggested some actions I could take to address it. By working with her, I have become clearer about the work I want to do and the value that I bring. If you want a kind and compassionate coach who will provide you with honest and direct feedback in a loving way, I highly recommend working with Laura.
Sarah, Oakland, CA

Laura’s coaching continuously helps me focus the numerous creative ventures that I juggle in my professional life.
She sets me on track weekly, which makes a quantifiable difference in my productivity. She is a sunflower — with lots and lots of seeds of wisdom — and humor. I benefit personally too from Laura’s support. — Angela, a client since the start-​up days of Laura’s Coaching practice