Hi, I’m AJ.
I believe that the future will be shaped by the courageous.
I help leaders and teams build the courage they need to make their next bold move — when they don’t yet feel ready, but are done waiting.
Most leaders don't need more skills. They need their courage to match the potential they already have.
I've spent 15+ years navigating uncertainty — as a political staffer during the Great Recession, as an entrepreneur building organizations from scratch, and as the founder who grew Palette Skills from a lunch conversation into a $250M national operation serving workers from coast to coast.
None of that was a straight line. Every chapter required me to make decisions before I felt ready, take risks I couldn't fully calculate, and become a different version of myself than the one who started.
That experience is the foundation of my coaching and advisory work.
I work with ambitious leaders and teams who are standing at an inflection point.
Maybe you know something needs to change, but you're not sure what your next move actually is.
Maybe you have a vision for what's next — a new role, a bigger leap, something you're building — but you need a plan and someone to hold you accountable to following through.
Maybe you just need someone in your corner who will help you think through your moves, call things as they are, and show you what you're actually capable of.
That's what I bring to everything I do.
I'm your thinking partner and a support system for the moments that matter most. I help you see your situation clearly — naming what's really going on, reframing what's holding you back, and helping you find the agency and courage you already have but may not be fully trusting yet.
I don't just help you feel better about where you are. I help you figure out where you're going and build the clarity, confidence, and plan to get there.
I’ll be a good fit for you if you are a:
Senior professional who isn’t sure what your next move is and want a structured way to figure it out
Leader with a clear vision who needs a plan, accountability, and implementation support
Founder or operator stepping into a larger, more visible leadership role
High-potential professional who knows you're capable of more and are ready to stop playing it safe
Mission-driven leader who wants your next chapter to reflect who you're becoming, not just who you've been
What we’ll work on together:
Figuring out what you actually want to do next and why
Reframing the obstacles and stories that are keeping you stuck
Making the bold decision you've been circling
Building a concrete plan for your next move and sticking to it
Leading with more authenticity, confidence, and less self-protection
Developing the resilience to navigate change without losing yourself
Courageous leadership IS moving forward with conviction when the path is unclear - and trusting yourself to create the path as you go.
coach
Talented people don't get stuck because they lack ability.
They get stuck because anxiety, self-doubt, and uncertainty make bold action feel impossible — even when they know in their heart what they should do next. I help ambitious professionals and leaders close that gap: between where they are today and the leader they're capable of becoming.
You're here because you’re accomplished. Capable. High potential. But somewhere along the way, the gap between where you are and what you know you're capable of started feeling uncomfortable.
I know this because I’ve been there myself.
It's not a skill problem. It's a paralysis problem — and it's exactly what I’m here to help you overcome.
1:1 coaching
For leaders ready to close the gap between where they are and what they're capable of. Private, ongoing coaching for ambitious professionals navigating transition, pressure, or their next bold move.
group coaching
For ambitious professionals ready to build clarity, confidence, and courageous leadership — together. A workshop for those who want the depth of 1:1 work and the energy of learning alongside others.
single sessions, 6-week sprints and quarterly packages available.
invest in yourself. Book a free 30 minute consulting call today to get started.
Advisor
Most founders and nonprofit leaders are navigating complexity without a roadmap — and doing it alone.
Building something — whether it's a startup or a mission-driven organization — is one of the hardest things a person can do. The strategic challenges are real. So is the pressure to figure it out faster than feels possible.
I've lived that experience firsthand and advisory work is how I bring those hard-won lessons directly to your organization.
Engagements are tailored to the work. Some clients need a thought partner on retainer for ongoing strategic support. Others bring me in for a focused sprint on a specific challenge. We'll design the right engagement for where you and your team are and what you need.
If you're building something that matters and need a trusted advisor in your corner, let's talk.
advisory services
I work with a small number of founders and nonprofit leaders at a time on the challenges that matter most:
Strategy — Clarifying your direction, prioritizing what matters most, and building a plan you can actually execute
Growth — Scaling thoughtfully without losing what makes your organization work - or your mind - in the process
Team building — Hiring, structuring, and developing the right people for where you're going and inspiring them to get there
Culture — Creating a mission-driven atmosphere that makes your organization feel like a well-oiled machine
Leadership development — Helping you and your leadership team meet their personal and organizational potential
I’m regularly invited to speak at conferences, on podcasts or to the media on a range of topics. Here are some places you might have seen me.
Media
Talking about the future of Canada’s innovation economy on BNN.
conferences
Encouraging the next generation of leaders to dream big at the Bold Canada Summit.
Podcasts
Exploring how to embrace ambition and a risk-taking mindset on the Startwell Pod.