2024 NOW Conference Coaches

Karye Wells (she/her)

Karye Wells, M. Ed, ACC is a Certified Executive Leadership Coach from UC Berkeley’s esteemed BECI program at the Haas School of Business and the International Coaching Federation (ICF). With two decades steeped in education and leadership development, Karye has spent the past 7 years providing 1:1 and group coaching to ignite the potential of leaders across diverse industries and backgrounds. Her coaching philosophy isn't just about hitting milestones; it's a holistic journey towards unleashing your inner leader, fostering resilience, and propelling you towards audacious goals with...

Katherine Abad (she/her)

With over a decade of dedicated service at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Katherine is a proud alumna with a degree in Communication, reflecting her passion for effective communication and interpersonal skills. As the Talent Acquisition Supervisor in UCSB's HR Talent Acquisition unit, she boasts 12 years of experience on campus, where she's facilitated recruitment for the majority of campus departments.

Katherine actively manages her LinkedIn account, utilizing it for networking and candidate sourcing, while also overseeing staff for efficient operation in...

Katherine Lee (she/her)

Dr. Katherine In-Young Lee is a Higher Ed Coach & Career Strategist. She is the Founder of Rise with Clarity, a coaching and consulting business for women of color faculty in higher education, and host of the Rise with Clarity Podcast. As a former musician and trained ethnographer, Katherine is adept at deep listening and observation. She brings these skills together with her coaching practice and her 11 years of experience in higher education as a former tenured professor in the University of California system. She is ICF-certified as an Associate Certified Coach. She received a...

Katie Kanowsky (she/her)

I specialize in reducing stress and boosting well-being through a blend of cognitive science and creative coaching techniques. With over a decade of experience and a PCC credential, I offer a nurturing and engaging coaching style that encourages personal exploration and practical skill development.

With my foundational coach training at UC Davis in 2014 and nearly 3000 coaching hours, I bring extensive experience to my coaching practice. My educational background in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from the University of the Pacific adds a strategic perspective....

Kelly Scullin (she/her)

Kelly Scullin is a trained Co-Active Coach with deep experience in People and Culture disciplines across various industries – healthcare, insurance, and nonprofits alike. A SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), Kelly is a builder of connection and a driver of results through clear intention, design, and continuous process improvement. She pairs a broad managerial perspective with interactive design thinking tools to chart inspired and actionable people strategies.

Kelly is a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the Society for Human Resources...

Kimberly Hale (she/her)

Higher education is unlike any other employment setting. I enjoy supporting academics and professionals who navigate the complexities of this setting through a range of question-based tools and resources. I attended a higher education-focused ICF accredited coach training program, and am well on my way to acquiring my ACC certification. I am fluent in American Sign Language as well as English.

Kris Downing (she/her)

I spent my career in the leadership development field, working for a 501-c-3 educational, non-profit institution as a marketer, strategic planner, and facilitator. In 2020, I left the organization to be a coach, earning my Associate Certified Coach (ACC) certification from the International Coach Federation. In addition to my private practice, I have coaching affiliations with the Center for Creative Leadership, Sounding Board, and Mastery Squared.

My coach philosophy is “challenge and cherish” which simply means that I work hard to create a safe, caring environment for the...

Krista Kusuma (she/her)

Krista Dahl Kusuma is a coach, mentor, consultant, president, and founder at Experience First Consulting, which she founded to nurture the potential of leaders at all levels, creating purposeful transformation. She has helped hundreds of people multiply their talent, work smarter not harder, and lead more intentional and fulfilling lives. Her work is featured in numerous publications, including "Come, Stay, Learn, Play: A Guide to Making the Museum Experience" (by Andrea Gallagher Nalls), and she has presented at a number of national conferences. She is a Co-Active Trained Coach and...

Krista Vaught (she/her)

Having served in various roles at large higher education institutions for the past ten years, Krista is passionate about supporting higher education staff in figuring out what’s next in an intentional way. In coaching, Krista combines a blend of life design, strengths, and mindfulness approaches. She has made several pivots on her own career journey, including roles in journalism, law, executive support, academic programs, compliance, and learning and development, and she enjoys continually exploring ways to enhance meaning and fulfillment. Krista is passionate about creating...

Kristen Hecht (she/her)

Kristen Hecht has 15+ years of experience in leadership development consulting, coaching, and workshop facilitation. She has provided organizational, team-based, and one-on-one services to non-profit organizations, private foundations, membership associations, and academic institutions.

Kristen’s coaching approach supports coachees to create a more fulfilling and purposeful life, achieve more balance, move from feeling stuck to embracing possibility, work through emotionally charged issues, receive accountability on...