Jane Zakreski

Over my career, I have worked with thousands of public and private sector clients on leadership development, careers, work-life design, work/life balance, public service competency-based interviews, career growth strategies for professional women, conflict resolution, and building collaborative work environments.

I started my private consulting practice after holding leadership and consulting roles across the Federal Government for over twenty years. Some of the most rewarding work of my career has been the over 2,200 coaching conversations I’ve completed with women and men of all ages and career stages—from front-line professionals to senior executives.

After spending thousands of hours in confidential conversations, some consistent truths emerge from these coaching sessions. Our careers and lives are defined by change. Many things impact our career and life pathways outside our control. I know first-hand that life doesn’t always go as planned, and our “happily ever after” sometimes derails.

We must dig deep to find the most rewarding and satisfying work that fits our true selves. We can’t have real career success or be powerful leaders or collaborators if we don’t know ourselves—our skills, talents, values, priorities, gifts, shortcomings, and skill gaps.

Getting back on track and authentic personal leadership begins with painfully honest answers to two questions: “What is essential for me to be satisfied at this time in my work and life? Who do I need to become to achieve my definition of success?”

If we tell the truth, the good news is that we can create space for greater possibilities and take the lead in our work and lives. The starting point is getting honest about who we are, who we aren’t, and who we aspire to be.

Countless times, I’ve witnessed the power of using this personal clarity as the foundation for work and life design and motivation for professional competency building. My passion for doing this work only gets deeper as I witness the transformative power of clarity and practical next steps.

I am a coach and writer dedicated to helping people thrive at the work they want, live a life they love, and effectively collaborate with others at work.

Please see my Client Testimonial Page for some first-hand accounts of what it’s like to work with me as a coach and facilitator.

A note to Canadian Federal Government Professionals and Leaders: I am a Pre-Qualified Supplier for Leadership Development under the ProServices Agreement.