Kirsten Nieradtka, CPCC
Certified Professional Co-Active Coach and founder of You the creator. 
Contact Information
Kirsten@youthecreator.com

312-622-2684

Client testimonials

Ann C.L. – Brewster, Massachusetts

Situation:  Ann C. had moved to Chicago and left her position as an HR Director at a Rhode Island company in order to be near her family.  Prior to coming to Chicago, she had gone on a few dates with Michael L., whom she’d met on the internet.   Ann came to Kirsten to figure out what career direction she wanted to pursue next.  As we worked on determining what type of work she was most excited about, her relationship with Michael started growing through their telephone conversations.  Soon we were scoping out the future goals for her personal life as well.  (To read more about Ann and Michael’s relationship, see the article in EastWest Woman magazine, entitled “When your life needs a coach”  http://www.ewwoman.com/september03/lifecoach.htm)

Process:  We first held a discovery session to determine what Ann’s ideal life looked like.  We then looked at the values that were present in this ideal life.  Over the course of the coaching, we started focusing on her evolving relationship with Michael. 

When Michael asked Ann to move to Cape Cod, we worked through her concerns.  Should she move to a location where her job prospects might be lessened?  She had made this big move to be near her family – should she really leave to move to Cape Cod for someone she didn’t know THAT well?  She had some doubts about her relationship with Michael, and as we soon discovered, she had some fear of commitment as well.

Result:  Through the coaching, Ann was able to articulate her concerns regarding her relationship with Michael.  This clarity empowered her to talk with him about these concerns in a productive way.  These conversations enabled him to address those issues and also let her know his concerns regarding Ann.  Through the conversations and through our work, Ann realized the right choice was to move to Cape Cod and see what would develop.  
 
Through the coaching Ann also experienced a paradigm shift regarding her work.  Her original mindset held that she could only work as an HR Director in Corporate America.  Soon she realized she could create other opportunities based on her interests and skill set.  She became an entrepreneur and used her background to do international training on a contract basis.  She also started writing a book.
 
She moved to Cape Cod and a year later she and Michael were married. Her life is extremely fulfilling.  Ann now works as an international trainer  - traveling to companies overseas to deliver specialized training.  She is also writing a book and teaches at the local community college.

Quote:  “Working with Kirsten has had such a powerful impact on my life that it is hard to imagine where I would be had I not met her. I even asked her to attend my wedding since she played such a big part in the process of getting there. Many people don’t understand what a good coach can do. They expect that quick fixes and solutions to current problems will translate into future success and happiness. What is lost is that you can’t compartmentalize your life – all parts of you have to fit together. It doesn’t matter how successful you are in one part of your life - if it works against other important parts of you, you won’t find true happiness. I think a lot of us understand that concept, but really don’t know how to translate that into meaningful changes in our lives. A good process and an objective listener can put you on the right track, but it is only an exceptional coach who can help you cross the threshold from who your highest self should be to actually becoming your highest self.

Kirsten has the unique ability to understand how a person’s current concerns and issues, relate to the bigger picture – the whole person. She didn’t try to fix me, but instead, guided me through a process that helped me discover what I needed for myself. Kirsten’s wisdom and ability to read what’s inside can’t be learned  - it is a gift. There may be many coaches out there with the credentials, but few out there who really get it the way Kirsten does.”


Mike T. - Peoria, Illinois

Situation:  Mike T. came to Kirsten, because he felt stuck in his life.  His girlfriend had broken up with him, because he couldn’t make a decision about getting married and he was stuck in a job he didn’t like.

Process:  First, we had Mike articulate clearly what his girlfriend meant to him, and what his concerns were regarding getting married.  We analyzed these concerns closely and discovered that many were rooted in fear of the unknown.  We then looked at his work life to discover what type of work bored him and what type energized him.

Result:  As we looked at Mike’s fears about marriage, he put them in perspective, and realized that his girlfriend WAS the right woman for him.  We also determined that the kind of work he was passionate about, would require obtaining a graduate degree.

Within 6 months, Mike married his girlfriend, and they moved from Chicago to Peoria.  Mike is working in a transition job, while he applies to graduate school to prepare for the  career he’s passionate about.

Quote:  “Through Kirsten’s coaching I got clear very quickly on what was important to me.  This clarity got me into action, and within a year my life looked totally different.  I went from being stuck, to being very clear and motivated about where I’m going and why.  I’m excited about my life and the future.”


Jennifer D.– Chicago, Illinois

Situation:  Jennifer had been looking for a new job in marketing but was not feeling excited about the positions she saw in the job market.  In addition, the slow job market made it difficult to stay motivated while looking for a new position. 

Process:  We worked together to find out what was important to her, and in what way she wanted to make a difference.  She explored the idea of becoming an entrepreneur to see if that was right for her.  As she went down that path, the clients came easily and she enjoyed the work and the impact she was making.  For several months she pursued both a job search and starting her own marketing firm, and we closely analyzed her reactions to each path.  The Corporate path and the Entrepreneur path each had their own benefits and challenges.  It was a matter of deciding which sets of benefits/challenges she preferred.

Result:  Jennifer obtained clarity that becoming an entrepreneur would enable her to meet her work and personal goals on several levels.  At the time of this writing she has a dozen clients, a partner and is taking steps to incorporate.

Quote:  “I never imagined I would become an entrepreneur.  Kirsten’s coaching put me on a path to actually see if I could do it.  As I tried it out, I saw how much I liked it, and that I was good at it – as evidenced by my growth in clients and referrals.”


Jennifer V. – Washington D.C.

Situation:  Jennifer V. has a Masters in Healthcare Administration.  She had worked in healthcare consulting for over seven years.  Jennifer came to Kirsten, because she felt something was missing in her career fulfillment. 

Process:  Through the coaching, we discovered that Jennifer felt most fulfilled in the work she did volunteering on political campaigns.  She soon realized that her dream was to work in politics – in a position where she could apply her healthcare expertise.

Our next step was to rewrite Jennifer’s resume to highlight her volunteer political experience in such a way that her resume advertised her as Healthcare/Political Affairs professional.  The process we used for re-writing her resume also prepared her to clearly articulate the value of her healthcare background when networking and interviewing in the political arena.

Result:  Jennifer set out on her job search with confidence and a resume she was proud of.   Several months later, she landed a legislative position in a Senator’s office.  Her portfolio of issues includes Healthcare, Social Security and Small Business.

Quote:  “I showed a friend my revised resume and she exclaimed, “This coach is worth her weight in gold!”  I couldn’t agree more.   Best of all, I’m now in a career where I’m working in a Senator’s office on healthcare issues for his state.   My office has a view of the Capitol and my staffers are top-notch.  It’s even MORE than what I dreamed of!”

Please note:  Each of these clients is willing to answer your questions on the difference that Kirsten’s coaching made for them.  If you would like their contact information, please ask for it at info@youthecreator.com.