As female leaders in both the government and nonprofit sectors, you are dealing with distinct pressures these environments present—constant demands, political complexity, and often limited resources.
We created this program to offer a much-needed space for women leaders to pause, reflect, and reconnect with their purpose; a space where leaders can strengthen leadership skills, enhance resilience, and learn new ways to navigate systemic challenges with greater clarity and confidence. Most importantly, the Studio is designed to renew direction, expand leadership toolkits, and curate a trusted network of peers.
Note: Many employers view this program as a valuable investment in leadership and often cover participation through professional development or tuition reimbursement funds.
“As a woman leading in the public sector, I’m constantly navigating complex challenges with limited resources. Leadership development and peer networks aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential. It’s refreshing to find a program that truly understands that and brings women leaders together to share strategies, build confidence, and grow in a supportive community.”
1The Women’s Leadership Studio is a 6-month executive development program designed for female leaders in the government and nonprofit sectors. A cohort-based experience, the program provides a space where leaders can sharpen their skills to navigate complex challenges and gain insight through shared experiences with a network of trusted allies.
The Studio experience is tailored for women in high-level leadership positions in local, regional, or state government or non-profit sectors who are committed to personal & professional growth. Examples: City or county managers, department directors, executive directors, chiefs, presidents, or vice presidents.
The Women’s Leadership Studio consists of a mix of in-person and virtual workshops and 1:1 coaching sessions for cohorts each no larger than 10 people.
These sessions include facilitated learning, discussions, and skill practice around leadership challenges and opportunities unique to female leaders. More information about the topics of these sessions can be found below.
Each participant will meet with an executive coach once a month from March through August for 50 minutes of individual leadership goals and professional development.
Participants meet one-on-one with leaders to discuss and practice new skills, share experiences and resources, and build peer relationships necessary to foster networks.
The Studio’s first in-person session sets the stage for a powerful leadership experience. Participants will reflect on their career paths, explore their leadership styles using personality insights, and begin clarifying their personal “why”.
The session ends with time for networking and a peer assignment to deepen connections.
Using insights from leadership assessments, participants will identify the internal voices that at times undermine their confidence and decision-making.
This virtual session offers practical techniques to recognize and interrupt self-limiting behaviors. Activities include discussions and peer reflections around leading with greater clarity and self-trust.
This session fosters thoughtful dialogue on balancing transparency with empathy, emphasizing clear and direct communication in leadership roles. Storytelling techniques are introduced to cultivate meaningful connections that strengthen trust within our teams, communities, and boards.
This in-person session tackles navigating bias, power dynamics, and political challenges in male-dominated environments. Leaders explore strategies to manage burnout, practice delegation, and recognize the impact of stress and hormones on our bodies and mind. The day closes with actionable steps to establish healthy boundaries and build peer support.
Using a comprehensive self-assessment, participants will be led to evaluate their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as leaders. This deep dive into personal leadership equips participants with a clear plan to help foster clarity around professional growth priorities and pinpoint skills to improve and develop further.
This final in-person session focuses on solidifying personal and professional development plans. Activities include mapping stakeholders necessary to build strong leadership alliances.
The day wraps up with celebrating personal wins and reinforcing peer support for continued leadership success – long after the Studio ends!
“As a nonprofit executive, I often feel like I’m solving today’s crises with yesterday’s tools. Leadership development and peer connection help me build the strategic mindset and community I need to lead for the long term.”
Together, Dr. Kerstin Carr and Dr. Nichole Oocumma bring a powerful combination of experience and passion that makes them exceptionally well-suited to lead the Women’s Leadership Studio. With over four decades of combined expertise in leadership development, coaching, and public sector transformation, they offer deep insight into the unique challenges that women leaders in government and nonprofit spaces face.
has extensive experience in government leadership, on non-profit boards, and as a certified professional coach which has equipped her to help leaders navigate organizational transitions, grow with clarity, and develop a strong sense of purpose. Kerstin currently serves as a fractional Chief of Staff for a state agency, provides strategic planning services for organizations, and supports leaders through tailored executive coaching, professional development workshops, and retreats.
has spent her career driving cultural transformation and organizational effectiveness in non-profit healthcare and education sectors. She has built talent management systems, led strategic alignment efforts, and designed inclusive leadership development programs with an eye toward aligning organizational goals with an enhanced employee experience and elevated leadership capability. Nichole has served as an HR executive leading talent, engagement, and culture strategies.
LEADERSHIP STUDIO FEE
This all-inclusive investment covers your full 6-month journey through the Women’s Leadership Studio.
Your enrollment includes:
ThinkWell will issue an invoice once The Studio application is completed. ThinkWell accepts Purchase Orders, Checks, ACH payments, or Credit cards (processing fees would be added to the total cost). Payment plans may be available upon request. Please reach out to info@thinkwellcoaching.com to discuss installment options.
Because professional development is a recognized investment in organizational success, many employers see the direct value in stronger, more effective leadership and are willing to fund their participation, either through their professional development fund or their tuition reimbursement program. We are happy to work with your employer on appropriate invoicing and documentation.
The final participation will be confirmed upon final program fee payment. Participants whose accounts are not paid in full (or on an approved payment plan) by the start of the program may be subject to withdrawal without refund.
For questions about payment or invoicing, please contact us at info@thinkwellcoaching.com.
We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise that impact your ability to participate in the program. Our cancellation policy is designed to respect both your needs and the resources required to deliver a high-quality leadership experience.
All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to info@thinkwellcoaching.com and will be confirmed by our team within 5 business days.
Refund Schedule
Participants may substitute another eligible individual from their organization prior to the program start, subject to approval by the Studio directors.
Studio Cancellation
In the event the Studio is canceled by the organizers, a full refund will be issued.
In special circumstances, participants may request to defer their enrollment to a future cohort. Deferrals are granted on a case-by-case basis and must be requested at least 14 days prior to the program start date. Only one deferral is allowed per participant, and the future program must occur within 12 months.
