We want to help you grow into your full potential.

Polarities don't compete. They complete each other. We are an executive leadership coaching and consulting firm built on that truth — cultivating the financial acumen and inner complexity leaders need to meet a rapidly changing world with everything they have.

The most important thing to know about us is our beliefs for how we see the world.

  • We believe that sustainable growth requires harnessing the power of both sides of tensions at play.

    Like the in-breath and out-breath, which don’t just coexist, they create each other. The same is true in organizations, which is why we work both sides of tensions— financial acumen + deeply human development, the individual + the system, change + stability, secular + spiritual. This philosophy, rooted in Polarity Management and non-dualistic thinking, shapes everything we design and offer.

  • We believe that to meet the challenges of the outer complexity, we must expand our inner complexity.

    There is a saying, “What got you here won’t get you there.” To lead effectively in uncertainty, we must loosen the grip of our current identity — the story we've told about who we are — and open ourselves to transformation. This is not self-improvement, but rather the deeper work of becoming.

  • We believe that inner complexity is inherently mysterious, but the process does not need to be mystifying.

    We begin with proven maps of the inner territory: Vertical Development (the study of how leaders grow in their capacity to hold complexity) and the Enneagram (a framework for understanding the patterns that shape how we see ourselves and the world). We know the terrain. We walk it with you.

  • We believe expanding identity requires access to all our intelligence centers: the mind, heart, body and soul intuition.

    This is not new, it’s ancient, echoed in every spiritual tradition and confirmed by modern psychology. We support leaders to understand each intelligence center, how to access it, and how to apply it, so that insight becomes action and action becomes transformation.

  • We believe the human drive to create is a power source to be channeled.

    We work with our clients to focus on what they want to create and why it matters. Identity work is the hero’s journey and the work of faith. It requires focus, purpose, patience, courage and resilience. The desire to create must be stronger than the fear to protect what is known today.

Our Superpowers:

We listen deeply to what you say, but more importantly, what you project. We are radically present to your experience so we can meet your said and unsaid needs. 

We are proudly practical. We have experience leading in businesses, advanced education to learn research backed development practices and insight into what really works. 

We are truth tellers with love. Your life, relationships and work matter too much to stay silent. We won’t waste your money or your time. 

We bring spirituality into development. We don’t mean religion. We mean that humans are spiritual beings with souls and leadership development is the work of revealing the soul’s truth. 

We make it fun. We are irreverent storytellers who like to have a fun time with our clients. You might laugh moments before or after you might cry. It all belongs.

We are committed. We don’t see ourselves as separate but rather an interconnected living system and care about delivering the results you want as much as you do.

We do the work we are asking our clients to do. We believe the change our clients want to see starts within themselves and we are no exception to this belief. 

  • Nikki Shultz

    Founder, Executive Coach, Speaker, Facilitator

    Read Bio

  • Claire Williams

    Executive Coach, Facilitator, Speaker, Author

    Read Bio

  • Jen Ostrich

    Executive Coach, Facilitator, Speaker, Author

    Read Bio

  • Clay Shultz

    Finance Teacher & Consultant, Enneagram Coach, Facilitator

    Read Bio

  • Caroline Sugarman

    Executive Coach and Facilitator

    Click Here

  • Jill Vosberg

    Business Operations Lead

    Click Here

What Clients Are Saying

“Great sessions with helpful and insightful tools. The interactive sessions among participants and facilitators were extremely beneficial and the nature of your leadership style is awesome and so valuable. The passion you have is infectious!”

“The experience with Courageous Roots was both constructive and inspirational. Best program I’ve participated in – thank you for creating such a singularly special program! ”

“Nikki and Claire were a dynamic duo who played off each other well and kept the energy up with stories, props, and uncomfortable questions. They are skilled in communicating complex ideas to the group and building connection among the participants. ”