Hello, and welcome!
“My role as your coach is to guide you to uncover new perspectives, live true to your values, and lean into core strengths so you can ‘clear the runway’ to become your best self, feeling authentic, engaged, and fulfilled in work, life and everything in-between.”
Margaret Brown, Leadership Advisor and Coach
Margaret Brown, CCOE (ACC)
Margaret is a leadership advisor and certified executive coach committed to helping professionals and organizations thrive using a human-centered, values-guided approach. As a former L’Oreal global marketing leader, she draws on her direct experience cultivating high-performing, innovative teams to drive meaningful transformation in all aspects of business and life. Her clients include academic and international business partners, entrepreneurs, artistic creators and a broad range of talent at start-ups, non-profits and Fortune 500 corporations. She is also an active mentor committed to non-profit organizations, including Upwardly Global, in support of fostering a more powerfully diverse and inclusive workforce.
Margaret holds advanced accreditations from Columbia University’s Coaching Center of Excellence and ICF: International Coaching Federation. Additionally, she earned a B.A. in Art History from Rutgers University and a Master's Degree in Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she continues to serve as an adjunct professor and leadership coach for the graduate program.
Art and beauty have always grounded and inspired her as powerful forms of human connection and exploration. This curiosity and appreciation continue to influence her studies, particularly within the neuroscience of mindfulness, positive psychology and artistic expression, to develop deeper awareness and growth in herself and the clients she supports. In her free time, you’ll find Margaret teaching young artists at Oh! Canary art studio and painting with her favorite ‘abstract expressionists,’ daughters (5 & 7 yrs).
It’s all about you.
I see our relationship as a partnership dedicated to helping you achieve specific goals while driving transformation in all aspects of your life. Our work begins with establishing a clear foundation of who you are and what you stand for with a deep dive into understanding your unique strengths, values and ambitions. This empowers you to navigate every decision you make with your whole self.
Through guided conversations, we create a personalized roadmap and new support systems that clear the runway for a lifetime of growth, learning and achievement. While every partnership using this methodology is unique, the consistent themes you can expect to achieve from our work together include increased confidence, a stronger feeling of empowerment, improved working relationships, greater career + life fulfillment, focused productivity, motivation, and resilience.
OUR PARTNERSHIP
As your thought partner, I help you slow down just enough to think clearly, choose intentionally, and move forward with purpose. My approach is grounded in Columbia University’s Executive Coaching Framework and informed by the science of human performance, psychology, neuroscience, and organizational development.
I pair this foundation with over fifteen years of firsthand leadership experience. Together, we use proven coaching practices and best-in-class assessment tools to support your growth and, when needed, challenge the patterns that may be holding you back. My role is to help you see more clearly, think more expansively, and take action that aligns with what matters most to you.
My communication style is down-to-earth, candid, and confidential. I meet you where you are and adapt my approach to support clarity, self-awareness, and forward momentum across both your professional and personal life. I adhere to the International Coaching Federation’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, so our work together is built on trust, integrity, and discretion.
At the heart of my work is a simple belief. Nothing changes if nothing changes. Growth and success do not happen by chance. They happen by choice. Coaching creates space to pause, reflect, and decide who you want to be, what matters most right now, and how you will intentionally direct your energy and attention. Transformation begins with the courage to take the first step and the commitment to keep showing up.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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ACADEMIC & COACHING ACCREDITATIONS
Columbia University, Coaching Center of Excellence (CCOE): Certified Executive and Organizational Leadership Coach
ICF: International Coaching Federation: Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
Fashion Institute of Technology: Masters (MPS) Cosmetics & Fragrance Marketing & Management
Rutgers University: B.A. Art History, Certification in Historic Preservation
ASSESSMENTS
Leadership Circle Profile 360
Neethling Brain Instruments (NBI®) Neuroscience-Based Assessments
Gallup CliftonStrengths
VIA Character Strengths
CERTIFICATIONS + STUDIES
ATD: Instructional Design Certification
IDEO Certifications: Cultivating Creative Collaboration; Human-Centered Design
Institute for Organizational Science & Mindfulness (ISOM): Mindful Leadership Certification
CPD Certification: Art in Coaching, Art in Practice; Art! Creating Transformative Conversations
School of Visual Arts (SVA), NYC: Studio Art Therapy Techniques
360 Within: Unveiling the Symbolic Landscape of Leadership (Art in Leadership Coaching)
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PARTNERSHIPS
Mother Untitled: Featured Coach. Supporting ambitious women leaning into family life.
Career Contessa: Featured Coach. Clients include female leaders at Wells Fargo, Target, Sony Pictures, Tech Agencies & VC Firms.
FEATURED WORK
POWER PLAY: NEXT-LEVEL LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE SCIENCE OF PLAY (CAREER CONTESSA, 2022)
Play has been scientifically proven to be as critical to our health as nutrition and rest. It also makes us smarter and more joyful. So why can play feel so counterintuitive for most adults?
Join Margaret Brown, Career Contessa coach to learn about the science of play and why some researchers believe it might be our most significant ‘work.’ This conversation is for all professionals interested in optimizing their brain’s performance to enhance critical leadership skills including innovation, focus, problem-solving, empathy, human connection, emotional regulation and well-being.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Upwardly Global: Language Coach & Mentor Volunteer dedicated to supporting the advancement of international professionals in the USA.
The Mom Project: RALLY Career Mentor Volunteer dedicated to empowering working mothers with career resources and support.
Torch: Mentor Volunteer dedicated to supporting diverse leaders at every career stage.
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R.I.S.E. stands for Relationships, Intention, Self-Concept and Emotional Agility as pillars of exploration and support I use in my coaching. This framework first began as a ‘passion project’ that I developed while attending the Executive Coaching Program at Columbia University and continues to evolve to best meet the needs of the individuals and organizations I work with today. The work of Herminia Ibarra, Marc Brackett and Susan David have been particularly influential with this focus.
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When hiring a coach, some important considerations are credentials, methodology, chemistry and core values. I recommend setting up ‘exploratory conversations’ with 3+ coaches who:
1) have a proven track record for helping their clients achieve results
2) are Accredited and/or (ICF) International Coaching Federation-certified
3) hire their own certified coach and work with them regularly
You can review my coaching agreement terms here and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
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Some of the main benefits of coaching often shared by my clients include: increased confidence, stronger feeling of empowerment, improved working relationships, greater career + life fulfillment, focused productivity, motivation, and resilience. Additionally, research from the American Society of Training and Development has proven having an accountability partner drives performance up to 95%!
Neuroscience research has also shown that “coaching supports clients in developing positive new neural networks, responding more calmly to stress, making choices more easily, and accessing much more of their creativity. This inevitably leads to more effective, successful, and fulfilling lives.”
Your success is evaluated with a detailed action plan consisting of clear metrics monitored during our sessions, laddering up to your ‘big picture’ goals. This is always tailored to your specific objectives and openly shared throughout our time together.
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My primary focus is empowering people to become intentional about how they approach their career based on what they want out life "big picture.” To support this, I am constantly evolving my practice to unlock new forms of self-awareness by exploring the interplay between positive psychology, organizational mindfulness and art in coaching. Depending on your goals and interests, I can customize a development plan that draws from these core principals along with anything else I’m currently learning and loving.
Many of my clients are also mothers navigating pre/post maternity leave, big promotions, burnout, imposter syndrome and/or related confidence challenges. I’m very passionate about supporting women in the workplace and dedicated research throughout my coaching program to exploring the significance of ‘identity’ with female leaders, particularly mothers, and its deep-rooted connection to how they navigate their careers, family roles, stress, and sense of self. The research and publications of Herminia Ibarra, Suzette Skinner and Averil Liemon continues to inspire and inform how I provide nuanced coaching support to help empower female leaders in the workplace.
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ASK ME HERE.