Michelle Schafer

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT MICHELLE SCHAFER

Experiencing a restructure and losing my job - not just once, but twice - was the best thing that happened to me. It forced me to hit the \"pause button\", reflect, and evaluate. I gained a deeper understanding of what work truly gave me energy, the type of organization I wanted to work for whose values aligned with my own, and what my non-negotiables were so I could ensure they would be honoured by my next employer. I reinvented myself - twice - and at age 46 I finally realized coaching (and owning my own business) was what I wanted to do when I grew up.My experiences inspired me to write the award-winning,#1 best-selling book, Cultivating Career Growth: Navigating Transitions with Purpose. As one of Ottawa\'s Top career coaches in 2024 and 2020, I believe every person deserves to do work that energizes them, for a company that believes what they believe in, and with leaders who will support and motivate them. This is my \"why\". Both career transition and leadership development uniquely excite and energize me! Because people tend to leave leaders (not jobs), these two topic areas often intersect. Are you ready to land a job that energizes you? Or develop your skills to lead a team that thrives? I can help you- gain clarity on what\'s important to you, then develop and share your “career story” to transition to new industries or roles- create a job search strategy involving a mix of online searches, reaching out to recruiters and initiating networking conversations- confidently prepare for your next interview- transition from individual contributor to strategic leader- navigate the challenges of building connection and belonging with hybrid teams- integrate coaching approaches into your leadership.and more!I am an ICF-certified Integral Professional Coach™ and Certified Career Development Professional (CCDP®) who offers coaching virtually or in person, and can facilitate workshops on a broad range of topics. I have worked with clients at various levels in federal and municipal government, high-tech, not-for-profit, financial services, retail, hospitality and sports.Clients have said they value my ability to give them hope – to help them find a way out of the fog, and build their confidence and clarity on a path forward. I create a safe and comfortable environment that helps people relax and talk openly, and ask thought-provoking questions to encourage curiosity.Wondering how I can help? Please visit https://mschafercoaching.ca or email m•••••••@mschafercoaching.ca to start the conversation.