Lotus Leadership Coaching
Courtney Chisholm
Educator | Mental Health Advocate | Leadership Coach
For much of my life, I believed success came from carrying more.
More responsibility.
More achievement.
More sacrifice.
More proof.
I built an award-winning career leading people, culture, strategy, and organizational transformation. I became a trusted executive advisor, coach, professor, and board leader. And while I am deeply proud of those accomplishments, life taught me that leadership is about far more than what we achieve.
It is about who we become.
Like many of the leaders I serve, I have navigated profound seasons of change, loss, reinvention, and growth. I have learned what it means to lead through uncertainty, make difficult decisions, advocate for what matters, and rebuild after life unfolds differently than planned.
Those experiences shaped my belief that the most effective leaders are not the ones who have all the answers. They are the ones willing to do the inner work.
Through Lotus Leadership Coaching, I help leaders lead from a place of clarity, courage, emotional intelligence, and authenticity. Together, we strengthen self-awareness, navigate transitions, cultivate resilience, and create leadership practices that are both effective and sustainable.
My approach blends executive leadership experience, evidence-based coaching methodologies, and a deep understanding of the human experience. Because leadership is never just about strategy. It is also about identity, relationships, purpose, and the stories we carry about ourselves.
Today, my work is guided by a simple belief: You do not have to abandon yourself to become successful.
In fact, the most powerful leadership emerges when you stop proving your worth and start leading from it.
Welcome. I’m glad you’re here.
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Formal Training & Professional Activities
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20+ years of experience leading operations, risk management, finance, human resources, organizational development and change management
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Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching, Georgetown University
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Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation
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Over 1,000 hours of one-on-one leadership coaching with clients around the world
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Adjunct Faculty, Georgetown University
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BA, University of Pittsburgh | MS, Robert Morris University
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Assessments & Certifications
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Certified Grief Coach, Institute of Professional Grief Coaching (IOPGC)
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EQ-i 2.0,® EQ 360®
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MBTI®
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Predictive Index®
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Hogan Assessments®
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Conflict Dynamics Profile®
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SHRM-SCP & SPHR certifications
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Certified Workplace Mediator
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Awards & Recognition
✨On Conferences, Top 100 Human Resources Professional
✨Women We Admire, Top Women Leaders in Washington, DC
✨100 Women to KNOW in America, J.P. Morgan Chase
✨Top 15 Chief Diversity Officer, Diversity Global Magazine
✨Game Changer: Introvert to Watch, HushLoudly
✨Top 100 Diversity Officer, National Diversity Council
✨Most Influential Executives in Diversity & Inclusion, Savoy Magazine
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Tools of the Trade
“Courtney has not only invested in the professional training to be a deeply qualified coach, she also has her own set of professional experiences in leadership and self-transformation. She is well read, always providing space to explore new ideas and helped to me create new possibilities in my life."
Safety in Risk Taking
"Courtney knows how to hold safe space for deep exploration. There is no such thing as a 'dumb idea' when working with her. Through working with her, I pushed myself to come up with solutions and ideas that I did not even know I had in me."
Innate Qualities
"I didn’t know how impactful coaching would be until I had this experience or how well trained of a coach I would have. Though it feels like Courtney also possesses many innate qualities that just make her special."