Training your managers to coach isn’t generous.
It’s genius.
Build a coaching culture of
self-sufficient, strategic thinking middle managers and move your business forward.
Is innovation being trapped behind your own gate keepers?
Your managers don’t need another leadership book or a motivational quote.
They need someone who sees what they’re carrying - and helps them carry it better.
Because they’re not just managing projects.
They’re navigating people, emotions, expectations, and their own self-doubt.
What they need is to feel seen, supported, and equipped.
Not with theory—but with practical tools, simple coaching skills, and a belief in their potential.
Because people don’t grow when they’re told what to do.
They grow when they feel understood.
Middle Managers aren’t tools being deployed to execute - they are artists shaping your future.
Our Approach
Working with us feels different—because it is.
Our coaching and workshops aren’t one-size-fits-all.
They’re custom-crafted to meet your people exactly where they are, rooted in real-world leadership challenges and grounded in deep coaching expertise.
We blend energy assessment, mindfulness, presence, and coaching strategy into a style of learning that’s not just understood—it’s felt.
No jargon. No fluff.
Just tools that click, conversations that matter, and shifts that last.
Leaders walk away with:
A renewed sense of purpose and self-trust in their role
Clear, confident communication that builds psychological safety
Coaching tools to lead through change with clarity and calm
Because the best leadership isn’t loud, it’s calm and present.
Our Services
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Designed specifically for the unique challenges middle managers face, these workshops offer more than surface-level skills—they deliver mindset shifts, real-time practice, and practical tools your team can apply immediately.
Whether it’s leading through change, giving feedback that lands, or learning how to manage up and down without burning out, each workshop is crafted to strengthen confidence, build communication fluency, and deepen leadership presence.
Your managers will leave with:
A clearer understanding of their leadership style
Tools to foster trust and ownership across their teams
Strategies to lead with more ease, clarity, and alignment
We don’t just teach leadership. We help your people live it.
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Because leadership isn't a role—it's a reckoning with who you are.
Our private coaching is a space for middle managers to exhale, reflect, and grow. It’s where they get to be seen—not just as employees—but as humans navigating pressure, ambiguity, and high expectations from every direction.
We work side-by-side to build confidence, shift mindset, and turn everyday challenges into opportunities for influence and growth.
This isn’t performance coaching. It’s leadership development at the level that actually moves the needle: the inner world.What they walk away with:
Clarity in their role and leadership voice
The ability to communicate with strength and empathy—up, down, and across
A toolkit for navigating hard conversations, shifting dynamics, and strategic decision-making
Because when your managers feel grounded, the whole organization rises.
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Leadership is too lonely—and too important—to do alone.
Whether it’s within your organization or across industries, we’re building a space where middle managers don’t just learn—they belong.
This community is for the people in the middle who carry the weight, ask the hard questions, and want to grow without losing themselves in the process. It’s a place to trade isolation for connection, pressure for perspective, and burnout for meaningful momentum.
Inside, members get:
Access to live coaching and expert-led learning
A private space to share challenges and celebrate wins
Tools, insights, and inspiration tailored for their everyday leadership reality
Because when middle managers feel supported, confident, and connected—everything changes.
About Us
With over 50+ years of combined leadership experience, Stacey and Cathryn have guided teams through complex challenges across education, staffing, and entrepreneurship. Together, they help organizations unlock the full potential of their middle managers to drive clarity, confidence, and sustainable growth.
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Cathryn is a seasoned entrepreneur who 2x founder, who scaled and sold two successful staffing companies over a 37-year career.
She is the founder of Avanzara and partners with founders and executive to transform middle managers into confident, strategic leaders who drive growth from the middle.
With a hands-on, results-driven coaching style, Cathryn helps build leadership pipelines, develop practical onboarding systems, and create cultures of trust and ownership.
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Stacey brings 20 years of experience leading large organizational systems and guiding high-performing teams through complex change.
As the founder of Unlock, she now helps organizations develop middle managers who lead with clarity, presence, and strategic influence.
Combining deep emotional intelligence with practical tools, Stacey empowers emerging leaders to step up, take ownership, and move the business forward.