About KM Coaching & Consulting
Hi! I’m Kristen McLaughlin, founder of KM Coaching & Consulting.
As an ICF Certified Coach and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, I help organizations grow confident leaders, strengthen teams and create cultures where people want to stay. My work with organizations allows them to define their current talent development needs and create a plan to develop their employees so they can retain top talent and create stronger teams.
Clients value my empathetic yet action-oriented approach to help them create the next chapter of their career story. Having worked in various industries and types of roles, I have the unique ability to understand multiple sectors and collaborate with corporate partners from start-ups to F100 companies.
Kristen McLaughlin, Founder & Coach
My Story
I believe too many people spend their careers feeling stuck, unseen, or unfulfilled, and it doesn’t have to be that way. I started KM Coaching & Consulting to help people step into work that feels aligned, energizing, and worth their time.
After a career in non-profit organizations and higher education, I earned an Executive Coaching Certificate from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, one of the top Organizational Behavior programs in the world. My training emphasized Intentional Change Theory and Emotional Intelligence, both of which inform my approach every day.
I’ve always been drawn to clarity, to helping people see what’s possible and make decisions that feel right for who they are. That natural curiosity is what led me to coaching in the first place. I love piecing together someone’s story, experience, and potential to help them move forward with confidence and purpose.
As a mom, a former corporate professional, and someone who deeply values meaningful work, I understand the tension between ambition, burnout, and balance. I’ve made career pivots, chased internal promotions, and balanced growing a business with raising a family. That lived experience is part of what makes this work so fulfilling.
Over the years, I’ve coached mid-to-senior-level professionals across a range of industries, from nonprofits to Fortune 100 companies. I understand how organizations work and what they need from their people, because I’ve been there. I’ve also worked with HR leaders and leadership teams who are trying to retain and grow great people. That blend of individual insight and organizational perspective allows me to coach with empathy, strategy, and impact.
I know what it’s like to crave a better way forward. I’ve been on both sides, leading within organizations and supporting professionals who are navigating change, and I bring that experience into every coaching conversation.
My Top 5 CliftonStrengths®
Empathy | Connectedness | Developer | Relator | Harmony
The Heart Behind My Coaching
“Work should energize you, not drain you. When people are aligned with their strengths and values, they show up differently.” That belief shapes every coaching conversation, whether I’m supporting a team to lead with greater impact or helping an individual navigate change in an individual coaching conversation.
With CliftonStrengths® (formerly StrengthsFinder) as a foundation and empathy as my greatest strength, I offer calm, strategic support that helps people feel seen, supported, and ready to take action. It’s not about flashy formulas. It’s about real momentum, created through thoughtful connection.
Because when people thrive in their careers, teams and organizations do too.
My Certifications
Credentials & Education
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC) – International Coaching Federation (ICF)
- Executive Coaching Certificate – CWRU Weatherhead School of Management, Executive Education
- Board Certified Coach Credential (BCC) – Center for Credentialing and Education
- Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach – Gallup
- Certified Career Transition Coach (CCTC) – Career Thought Leaders
- Certified Personal Branding Strategist – Career Thought Leaders
- Certified Interview and Compensation Negotiation Coach – Career Thought Leaders
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), Weatherhead School of Management (WSOM), Case Western Reserve University (CWRU)
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), John Carroll University
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you’re exploring how to invest in your team’s growth or develop individual leaders, our coaching and training services can help you move forward with intention. Let's talk about where you are and where you want to go.