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C-IQ Certified Coach

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America

Carol A. Brainard

CIQ Certified Coach

In changing and innovative environments, great leaders need courage and resilience. They must have the emotional intelligence and conversational skills to communicate clearly and help others around them do the same. For senior or emerging leaders,  these qualities are essential to their organization’s success. Executive coach and change consultant Carol Brainard empowers leaders to find these qualities within themselves.

Carol’s clients call her work “transformative” and “invaluable.” They praise Carol’s coaching for enabling them to see their strengths and weaknesses more clearly. Reflective practice, in fact, is at the core of Carol’s approach. She encourages leaders to develop their growth mindset, break unproductive communication habits, and build positive relationships. One client commented that Carol provides “a platform for [clients] to learn and grow.”

With positivity and a sense of humor, Carol guides her clients through the practice of supporting employees, developing their abilities, and motivating them to work as a team. They emerge as leaders who set direction, establish trust, and inspire others – the kind of leaders people want to follow. The skills that propel one to become a leader aren’t necessarily the relationship-building skills needed to be a great leader — deep listening, humility, empathy, and a genuine belief in collaborative conversation.

Carol knows that some workplace conversations can be difficult and that developing the skills to have them isn’t easy. Clear and open communication takes consistent effort and a willingness to be vulnerable. And yet, Carol’s clients know that the pay-off for this work is tremendous. As one client reflected, “Every time I finished a session [with Carol], I had a better understanding of what I needed to do for myself and my staff.” That kind of confidence is invaluable in fast-paced work environments where leaders must intentionally foster clear and open communication.

Carol has broad experience as a leadership coach and trusted advisor for large, urban school districts and charter school organizations. Her work extends to nonprofit, government, and corporate organizations such as The Community Empowerment Fund, Habitat for Humanity, The United States Navy, Hewlett Packard Latin America, Procter & Gamble and American Express.

Carol offers clients her expertise in several areas:
● Strategic focus and alignment: Shaping the future with a clear vision and prioritized mutual agenda
● Leadership and teamwork: Building a “can-do” culture of trust and collaboration
● Organizational effectiveness: Designing business processes that are flexible and ready to grow
● Measurable outcomes: Innovating change through a mission-driven approach

Carol holds an MBA with an undergraduate degree in English. She is past President of the Triangle Organization Development Network and a member of the International Coaching Federation. Currently, she serves on the coaching staff of The Broad Center for Urban Education and the faculty of the North Carolina State University Business Coaching Certificate program.

Carol meets with clients in person, by video conference, and by phone. Wherever her clients are, Carol can empower them to lead with confidence. We can all learn to communicate with courage, candor, and compassion – sometimes, it just takes a little coaching.