Some words stay with us.

Lin was a fantastic coach during our time together! She was constantly understanding, and always made sure to take the time to address any concerns or particular subjects I wanted to discuss at a given time. Lin and my time together was during a time at which I was wrapping up a graduate program but deeply uncertain on what my path forward for a variety of reasons. We discussed preexisting biases, patterns of thought, and how I might go about making informed and thoughtful decisions while also keeping new things I'd learned in mind. I still incorporate many of the various mental exercises we went over together into my daily life, and they have been very helpful in keeping a level head even during times of stressful decisions.

When we first connected, it was through our shared Syracuse and Duke roots, but I was in a dark place. I was struggling mightily with depression and anxiety, and the lackluster job market only added insult to injury. I didn't need someone to fix my resume. I needed someone to help me believe in myself again. Lin did that. Through our bi-weekly conversations, she grounded me. She listened without judgment and gently pulled me back to solid ground every time I drifted. She never handed me answers. She taught me how to fish. Because of her, I learned to see mistakes as progress, to keep iterating, and to understand that nothing worth having happens without a few stumbles along the way. That resilience is now a part of who I am, and I owe it to her. What I love most about Lin is her gentleness and humility. She's newer to coaching, but she combines the technical side of career coaching with a warmth and honesty that's rare. By our later sessions, we weren't even talking about careers. We were meditating and doing breathing exercises together, because she understood something I hadn't yet: your mind and your heart are the foundation for anything in this life. Forget the career. Build that first. Lin installed me faith and hope when I needed them most. She's an amazing coach, but more than that, she's a friend and a mentor I'll be grateful for the rest of my life.