Welcome to The Diving Board!
The Diving Board is a newsletter for humans in the deep end.
I’m Claire, an Executive Coach, Writer, and Speaker offering you a jumping-off point to pursue meaningful work in a swirly world. I’m so glad you’re here!
The humans I coach are grappling with big-time complexity and intensity. Many of them - from CFO’s in board rooms to freelancers in living rooms - are overwhelmed. They want to integrate, not separate, their personal and professional selves. They’re ready to evolve so they can make waves that matter in the world around them. They’re just in so deep, they’re not sure where to start.
Sound familiar? You’re in the right place.
Climb on out of the water and sit with me on The Diving Board. Up here, we’ll get some perspective. We’ll take a breather - a little work, a little play. We’ll investigate ideas, tinker with tools, swap stories, and plan your next moves.
And then, when you’re ready, I’ll cheer you on as you dive back into the deep end, equipped and inspired for the plunge.
Who are you, Claire?
Like Walt Whitman and like you, “I am large. I contain multitudes”. Here’s a highlight reel of my multitudes:
I’m an Executive & Team Coach, Speaker, and Writer. I’ve taught and coached hundreds of leaders, from managers to the C-Suite, in dozens of organizations across five continents, including Target, Boeing, McDonalds, GE, United HealthCare, Hershey, and Post Consumer Brands.
I have a Masters in Organization Development and Change.
I specialize in transformational development in the workplace with approaches like Vertical Development, the Enneagram, the Leadership Circle Profile, and Inner Team Dialogue.
I love to read. I eat books for breakfast.
I like to think I’m good at taking abstract, lofty concepts and making them more accessible and down-to-earth so people can actually apply them. Yay!
I grew up in Memphis, TN and therefore love fried okra.
I now live in St. Paul, MN with my excellent husband Rob, my exuberant kids Amos and Mabel, and our giant goldendoodle named
DoofusWebster, who helps all of us regulate.I can find NO fried okra in MN. Please DM me if you know where I can get some.
My favorite thing is not doing household chores.
I’d describe myself as “pragmagic" - that’s a little word I coined which means “spiritually-oriented while getting shit done”.
Who is this newsletter for?
The Diving Board is for humans in the deep end - all you people pursuing meaningful work in a swirly world.
You’re in the right place if you’re looking for:
perspectives and tools that help you become more self-aware and effective
more meaning in work and life
ways to connect your humanity to your job
links to random things I love and updates from my life (aka, it’s not all work and no play around here, folks)
a community of like-minded people to grow with
Is this a leadership development newsletter? Sort of. Many people hear the word “leader” and think “that’s not me because I have no direct reports.” While my background in traditional leadership development will inform my writing at The Diving Board, I’m looking to do something more expansive here. I define “leader” as anyone who influences people and systems on purpose. If you’re out there intentionally creating a ripple effect in your world, you belong in this community.
How do I know if I’m in the “deep end”? Being in the deep end is a reality of 21st-century life for most of us. The world is complex, y’all, and it’s getting exponentially more so every year. Being in the deep end might mean you’re navigating a million dynamics and tensions in the roles you play. It might mean you’re overwhelmed, or you’re asking big questions about vocation and purpose. Or maybe it means you’re doing your own inner work as a person who works. In any case, you’re in deep and you know it.
What can I expect if I subscribe?
Subscribe to The Diving Board for a regular dose of work-life soul food, delivered straight to your email inbox and here on Substack (hot tip: the Substack mobile app is great).
You can read posts at your leisure and even join conversation threads with fellow readers. Expect to be inspired and at least mildly entertained.
You don’t have to create an account with a password; just enter your email address to subscribe.
I’ll post several times a month, as the spirit moves.
The Diving Board is a free publication (for now). Someday, I may create a paid tier for subscribers who really like it, love it, and want some more of it.
Come for the insights and community, stay for the overuse of swimming metaphors.
Jump on in, the water’s great. 🤦🏻♀️
Why did you name this newsletter “The Diving Board”?
Many of us today are swimming in the deep end, whether we want to be or not. I know there’s no changing that reality, so I think the best way to plumb the depths is with intention and perspective.
The Diving Board hovers over the deep end, giving you a zoomed out view of the water you’ve been swimming in. Up here, you can catch your breath, re-energize, and choose how you want to re-enter the water (cannonball, anyone?).
FAQ (Fun Answers to Questions)
You’re really into diving, huh? Actually, I have reached midlife and still cannot jump into a pool without holding my nose. My 6-year-old is a better swimmer than I am. Here on Substack, I have shamelessly appropriated diving language for literary purposes.
What was your first-ever AOL screen name? So funny you should ask. Apparently I have a lifelong affinity for water metaphors, because my very first AOL screen name, circa 1996, was “deepbluecross”. I chose this because at 12 years old, I was soooooooo deep, I thought blue was coolio, and Jesus was my boyfriend.
Are you writing a book? Why, yes I am, thank you for asking! I’ve (almost) completed a book proposal which I will soon be shopping with publishers in hopes of getting traditionally published. I’ll share more as things unfold.
Are your children cute? See for yourself (pics below). My husband is not half-bad, either. He started and runs a non-profit - check it out.
