Deep Coaching

Sometimes leveling up your career won't involve one big, complex decision you make at a single point in time. Instead, it may require expanding your skills as a leader via the microdecisions you make every day.

​In my Deep Coaching engagements for executives, I help clients apply systems thinking to shift the microdecisions that collectively add up to the way you perform in the workplace. This type of coaching is perfect for leaders who have tried a number of things without success, and are looking for professional development support that is more comprehensive and tailored than any book, course, or corporate training program can provide. 

​Deep coaching engagements last a minimum of 5 months, with a 4- to 5-figure investment depending on the length of the engagement.

This is the best possible type of professional development I could have given myself. Had I gone with my initial instinct to be specific and tactical, I would have missed out on what would have been the bigger takeaways: recognizing my impact on the space around me, and learning to say no to create space for the things that matter. It's been really helpful, not just for me, not just for my team, but also for my family. I would have never expected that and didn't even know I needed it. It's been super useful. Thank you."
- Kathy Davies, Lecturer and Managing Director of the Life Design Lab at Stanford University

"This program is one of the best investments I've made. About 6 months ago, like many others, I found myself in a cloud. There had been so many late nights at the office that led to burn-outs, executive fire-drills with no upside, and technical debt always looming over me. I was at the pinnacle of my career, healthy finances, amazing friends, and I felt empty.

At the urging of a close friend, I emailed Michelle Florendo, and I know that when I look back 10 years from today, I will recognize this as the most critical turning point in my career, possibly my life. She isn't a therapist. She's not a life coach. Michelle's approach is engineered.

​Her background in engineering must have played a substantial role in this process because it felt so measurable. Each session we held a retro on life. Breaking things down into actionable steps and holding me accountable for the things my friends and co-workers don't have time to tell me.

​Michelle helped me find solid ground. It feels awesome. It's the bedrock that I will build my life and career upon."
- Lucas Smolic, CTO, Lemonlight

When I lost my job, I felt untethered from my sense of purpose, direction, and my sense of self. I spoke to a friend who had recently gone through something similar, and he recommended that I get in touch with Michelle. 

My work with Michelle has changed my life. I was in a serious rut, one that I wasn’t aware of, that predated my termination and was causing serious problems in my relationships, both personal and professional and even with myself. Michelle developed a personalized program that helped me to identify the things that were important to me. She worked with me to determine what it was that I wanted out of life (it was surprising to discover that I didn't actually know) and how to make that a reality right now. She took a holistic approach to helping me figure out what in my life was working and what wasn’t. Most importantly, she taught me how to take the reins myself, so that by the end of our time working together I had a set of tools that have helped me to navigate difficult times and hard decisions with a confidence and decisiveness that I didn’t have before. 

I felt empowered by Michelle’s techniques. She helped me realize that I wasn’t bound by my habits, that I had the ability to make changes in my life, to give myself permission to do the things I want to do. She helped me break free of the restrictions I felt bound by, both external and internal. After working with Michelle, I feel like I'm in control of my life again, and I know that whatever comes my way and whatever I decide to do, for the rest of my life, I have the power to be the author of my own story."
- Adam Mack, Film Editor/Producer, Los Angeles

Michelle has a natural gift for asking smart, insightful questions that drill deeper and deeper until you reach the core issue that's holding you back.  Many times, I didn't realize that a belief was at the root of my reluctance or discomfort about something until the issue was dismantled, and the behavioral change just followed naturally.  Therein lies the value of Michelle's coaching. 
Most people try to help by giving you generic advice after a few broad questions without truly understanding the way that you think, the frameworks in your mind, what your inner dialogue sounds like.  So it's hard for their advice to solve anything.  Michelle, on the other hand, is one of the few people who listens patiently without judgment and asks questions that drive the conversation in a productive way.  But it's not just about listening -- if you wanted that, you could call your grandma or therapist.  Michelle has the professional work experience, stellar pedigree, and is herself a type-A overachiever, so she's not just about the rah-rah-let's-feel-good moments -- she's about change and action. 

​She has given me specific exercises to work on that helped me become more authoritative in the workplace, to land a job that was challenging without sacrificing my work/life balance, and to successfully negotiate my salary with confidence.  Michelle helps me arrive at solutions that are unique to my own situation so that I can immediately take action instead of stalling, because there's no reason to stall anymore."
- W. Kao, Growth and Marketing Consultant, former Director of Seth Godin's altMBA

"The biggest challenge I faced was trying to pursue other important interests (e.g., spending time with my family and my civic commitments) while remaining competitive in my career. Michelle helped me 1) clarify my values and 2) build structures in my schedule to ensure that I fulfill all my important priorities simultaneously.

Working with Michelle has helped me understand the push and pull of my four top priorities and the acceptance that came with appreciating the commitments that they entail. - Hazel D, Director, San Francisco, CA

My work with Michelle came at a pivotal transition point. Having left my role as a management consultant with Mckinsey & Company, I was fairly clear on the work I desired to pursue as an autonomous professional, but not sure whether I had the conviction to face the uncertainty before me. Michelle helped me acknowledge and accept the fear of the unknown, but not fall victim to it. When my life circumstances changed dramatically during the middle of our work, she was incredibly supportive and understanding. Through her questions, sharing of experiences and brainstorming, she allowed me to reach the conclusion that I should continue on my entrepreneurial path and helped me come up with practical strategies to keep on track. More than anything, I appreciated Michelle's ability to fully listen and absorb my comments. She genuinely cares about my success, both professionally and personally. Thank you for your support and motivation Michelle! - Reza S, Founder of Social Solutions Consulting, Brazil