​I like to think my interest in understanding people began at the age of 6.  In 1980, my family moved to Warsaw, Poland as my father accepted a teaching position at the University of Warsaw.  I was only 6, but old enough to know that the large red suitcase that sat filled in our closet had big meaning; we were living in a foreign country, on the brink of war, and needed to be ready to leave at a moment's notice.  

Throughout my education, I continued to study people.  Trained as a behavioral psychologist with a M.Ed., I taught children with special needs, primarily those who were neurodivergent.  I worked in both public and private sectors, and started a small tutoring business catered to the uniqueness that students who needed extra help were desperately searching for.  While I loved teaching, my curiosity about the business world resulted in a transition out of the classroom.  I became a senior leader for a large educational and travel company, ultimately working both in the US and Europe.  I excelled in leading and coaching teams, and my focus on individual growth and team dynamics always ensured a positive impact on the bottom line. Over the years, as my curiosity continued to grow, and I began specializing more and more in external workshops and panel discussions, while further investing in my coaching practice and speaking opportunities.

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At the end of 2022, my focus shifted again.  Having spent the last 7 years living in Europe, I returned to Ohio, my home-state, to help care for my father.  While this was a huge change for me personally, it was also one that provided great opportunity. Specifically, the time and clarity needed to start my own business, Stella Nera Coaching.