Nina’s Story
I’m Nina Simonds, and I’ve been working with leaders and their teams here in Seattle and across the world for 20+ years facilitating change and supporting positive workplaces. I work with senior leaders and leadership teams in fields as diverse as tech, professional services, media and social impact - helping them respond rather than react and thrive instead of survive. I do this by reorienting them to their deeper sense of purpose and building new awareness and capacity to lead from their authentic and most effective selves.
I unlock the full potential of the executives and midlevel leaders I coach so they can enable their teams, create inclusive and high-performing workplaces, and navigate change within themselves and in the world. I am a strategist and thought partner to navigate the messy spaces of personal and organizational transformation. I bring a nuanced understanding of interpersonal dynamics, a life-long love of learning and a deep respect for the art and science of leadership. I have a successful track record in developing leaders and facilitating positive change. I work one-on-one, with teams and partners through retreats and group facilitation.
My clients include founders, Corporate VPs, general managers, and managing partners in big tech, growth phase start-ups, professional services, and the social impact sector.
I appreciate a coach approach not only as a vehicle for personal development but as a way for leaders to create an engaged and growth-oriented team culture. My work as a co-active leader has transformed how I relate to myself and others. I love kickstarting the personal transformation of our students! I am equally grateful for my work with CRR Global, teaching relationship systems coaching skills to consultants, coaches and facilitators around the world. These experiences help me discern which human development model or tool will be most useful to my clients in making transformational shifts, so they can have the impact they want to have.
I am passionate about co-creating a world where people are truly seen in all their creativity and diversity. I believe that what we need to face today’s challenges lies in our capacity to grow ourselves and be in relationship with others in all of life’s playgrounds be it business, the arts, politics, community or family life.
My path, like many of us, is full of paradoxes. I grew up in urban Oakland and rural Oklahoma, which gives me an appreciation for how multi-faceted American life is. I worked my way through college with the help of scholarships and grants. This gave me an appreciation for both self-reliance and the value of receiving help. I feel most energized by urban spaces having called several U.S. cities (Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Seattle) home, and now enjoy a strong sense of community in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle. I an intellectually curious, often reading 5 books at the same time, yet know firsthand the value of emotional intelligence, somatic awareness and mindfulness. I enjoy (almost equally) making a mess in the kitchen and organizing my office.
Credentials & Influences
Co-Active Professional Certified Coach (CPCC)
Organizational and Relationship Systems Coach (ORSC)
Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
Great Story Coaching
Presence-based Coaching