Carole Stizza

My personal biography/journey...

For 26 years I followed my husband's Air Force career across the country, reinventing myself professionally every time we moved. What looked like a challenge turned out to be the greatest leadership education I could have asked for — I’ve coached those in IT, healthcare, government, finance, academia, and security software, learning what makes leaders thrive and what quietly derails them at every level.

I've also learned resilience the hard way. Three car accidents, serious cancer, and significant losses taught me that leadership isn't something that waits for perfect conditions. It shows up in how you handle the hardest moments — and those moments are exactly where character is built. I coach emerging leaders because I believe the earlier you understand who you are as a leader, the more intentionally you can grow into the leader others will genuinely want to follow.

My professional/coaching journey...

I work with leaders who are figuring out who they are — not just what they can do. Whether you're stepping into your first leadership role or navigating a team for the first time, coaching with me is about getting honest about your strengths, your blind spots, and the stories you've been telling yourself that may be holding you back.

My approach is grounded in emotional intelligence, the science of how we think and connect, and a deep belief that great leadership starts from the inside out. I'll ask you the questions no one else is asking — and help you find answers that are actually yours, not borrowed from someone else's playbook.

Four succinct words or statements that describe my strengths, engagement with my clients, or passions as a coach...

Strengths: I help you connect how you naturally think to the actions that move you forward — at work and in life.   

Clients say: "She listens differently — she challenges me with perspectives I hadn't considered and helps me see my situation with completely new eyes."

Passion: Every person I coach is unique. My greatest joy is helping you stop measuring yourself against someone else's standard and start leading from your own. Comparison is the thief of Confidence.  I help people find their own antidotes to the comparison trap.

Four words or succinct statements that describe my unique approach to life or recreation...

Be kind — it costs nothing and changes everything. 

Set goals that are specific to you, not borrowed from someone else. 

Release expectations of things you cannot control. 

Stay open — the life that shows up is often better than the one you planned.

My education and certifications...

• Master's in Industrial/Organizational Psychology — Colorado State University
• Bachelor's in Industrial/Organizational Psychology — George Mason University
• Professional Certified Coach (PCC) — International Coach Federation
• SHRM-SCP Senior Certified Professional — Society for Human Resource Management
• Certified Strengths Strategist — People Acuity

My community involvement...

• Volunteer coach for healthcare professionals during peak pandemic burnout (2020)
• Pro bono coaching for emerging nonprofit leaders through ICF — Food for Others, Washington D.C. (2021)
• Mentored two Young Entrepreneurs in the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce YEAH program — both won first place to compete nationally (2018, 2019)