About

My Credentials

PCC, ICF

MBA, Loyola University

BA Organizational Studies, University of Michigan

Personal Background

I am a dedicated career coach AND a proud mother. Over the past nine years, my career goals and decisions have been shaped by my commitment to achieving a balance between my professional aspirations and the care of my daughters. Whatever career success looks like to you, I strongly believe that self-awareness of your values is crucial for strategic career planning. As a career coach, I partner with my clients to ensure their career decisions align with their core values, helping them move forward on a path that reflects their true selves.

kristinsimon@kristinsimoncoach.com

My Career Story

Twists, Turns, and Triumphs

I've had a lot of roles. Some were a blast; many were downright tough. But in each role, I learned a ton. Sometimes, transitioning to a new position was a breeze; more often, it was an uphill climb. I often wrestled with defining my goals, strategizing my path, and ensuring my decisions aligned with my values and leveraged my strengths.

This acknowledgment of the struggle drives me to coach and help others navigate the same journey. Career paths are twisty, often taking unexpected turns—mine certainly did.

Fresh out of school, I dove into retail management, dreaming of a merchandising career. I slogged through crazy retail hours and climbed the ladder, managing larger teams and hitting new heights. But when I reached the top, I realized "it" wasn't what I imagined. I found myself more passionate about leading and developing my teams than the products we sold.

Next up: HR. Starting from scratch, I took an entry-level job in HR despite having an MBA. It was tough, but fascinating. I was learning, growing, and applying my retail management skills in a whole new way. My journey took me to senior roles as an HR business partner at Fortune 500 Companies. The highlight? Those one-on-one conversations where I coached and guided my client groups on their growth and development.

Reflecting on my journey, I sought a way to make a bigger impact, leveraging my skills and spending more time doing what I love: Coaching.

My career path has led me to unexpected places, filled with challenges and triumphs. I wouldn't change a thing because every twist and turn made me the impactful career coach I am today.