Nancy Fournier Ph.D., Relationship Strategist for Women Nonprofit EDs

My Approach

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Relish Your Role’s five-month signature system developed by Nancy Fournier Ph.D. is for women nonprofit leaders to gain the skills and confidence to lead their organization for maximum impact.

The approach is grounded in Nancy’s clinical training, executive experience, and years of nonprofits consultancy. As a woman who has been a small business owner and a leader in government and nonprofit settings, she has first-hand experience in juggling the complex pressures women leaders are required to carry. 

Learn more about nancy's background

Relish Your Role's Signature System

Each coaching engagement is tailored to individual goals and the client’s unique strengths, challenges, personality, and leadership context. The focus of the work is guided by a jointly developed goal dashboard to create mutual accountability for forward progress. By defining clear outcomes and meaningful milestones, progress is tracked throughout the coaching relationship — growth is intentional, practical, and measurable. 

Coaching services are focused on mastering the skills to lead with both strength and empathy while meeting the demands of high expectations, limited resources, and competing claims on one’s time and energy.   

Targeted assessments are used to place clients’ challenges in both an organizational and personal development context and provide a framework to develop solutions. Her expertise in many aspects of nonprofit management is shared with deepening knowledge and skills to build client capacity.

Serving as an invested observer, accountability partner and an objective source of candor, Nancy assists clients with identifying patterns, habits, and assumptions that are limiting their effectiveness and keeping them from fully claiming their unique leadership style.  

Hourly sessions are held every two weeks and clients receive summary notes highlighting key insights.  Often some form of ‘homework’ will be assigned which will either deepen understanding of a topic based on reading or test out new skills by undertaking an agreed upon action, to integrate and apply the insights from the session to their work environment.

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Outcomes achieved

Clients develop the insight and skills needed to prioritize effectively, delegate with confidence, communicate more directly, set healthy boundaries, and lead with value alignment. The result is greater self-mastery and confidence, stronger professional presence, reduced isolation, and deepened leadership impact.

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Intentional focus on non-profits

The responsibilities of nonprofit leadership create pressure to be constantly available, emotionally steady, financially creative, and strategically clear, even when internal and external resources are stretched thin. Women in positions of leadership continue to confront deeply rooted gender stereotypes – A  coach familiar with and committed to the sector with a deep understanding of the obstacles you face.

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When clients seek my coachings services

Most clients reach out when they are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, misunderstood and unappreciated. They are seeking additional tools and insights to help them fall back in love with their job.

Common issues identified are rocky board relationships, leadership teams not meeting expectations, staff conflict, unexpected service expansion or contraction, a sense of isolation and feeling that the job has gotten the better of them and personal sustainability is threatened.

Read more testimonials from recent clients to learn more about the impact of the signature system and see if their words resonate with you.

If you have questions do not hesitate to get in touch and schedule a free discovery call.

Nancy
Nancy Fournier Ph.D.
Leadership Coach for Women Nonprofit Executive Directors

See what clients have to say:

Nancy helped me better understand my own skills, interests and strengths as they related the inventory of duties needed in the Executive Director role and she helped me plan how to better delegate more among my staff while proactively supporting their professional development. Working with Nancy was the support I needed to gain clarity and confidence in my ability to be a more effective leader for the organization.
Erica Staley, Executive DirectorManufactoring Renaissance
Nancy challenged me to grow and change in ways I was not sure was possible. She taught me to view leadership in a new light, one where I could be my authentic self while pushing for professional growth not only for myself but the agency as a whole. Her brilliance, creativity and commitment has continued to support my decision-making and leadership today.
Dichelle Williams, Executive DirectorJuvenile Justice Intervention Center
Nancy's coaching has been a critical part of my journey in becoming a transformational leader. Her guidance and insights have helped me navigate complex challenges with renewed clarity and confidence and develop a deeper understanding or my own strengths and areas for improvement. Her approach consistently centers the needs of the community we serve, ensuring the ripple effects of her coaching is always mission-aligned.
Lauren Johnson, Executive DirectorSt. Charles CARE Center
I have worked with Nancy at multiple times in my career and her support has provided much needed clarity as I have weighed decisions as a leader. Her unique perspective, experiences and creativity has made out sessions productive, engaging and insightful. I always leave out time together feeling more confident and resolved in my next steps.
Jen Roberts, Chief Executive Officer Agenda For Children
As a founder, President and CEO of a relatively new nonprofit organization, Nancy helped me navigate the layers of complexities in managing relationships with both internal and external partners. Through direct and constructive feedback Nancy helped reduce my insecurities and build greater confidence.
Ze Min Xiao, President & CEOCenter for Economic Opportunity and Belonging
As a nonprofit executive director, I found myself in the midst of challenges I could not have anticipated was on the brink of burnout. Working with Nancy saved my sanity. I feel more able to continue to act on my values without sacrificing my own well-being. I highly recommend Nancy to any woman nonprofit leader looking for a coach who combines wisdom, expertise and incisive assessment with deep empathy.
Jessica Karjala, Executive Director Footloose Montana
Nancy exemplifies that perfect balance of empathy and accountability. During our work together, I received actionable feedback that supports my ability to collaborate with colleagues, helps me step out of my comfort zone, and pushes me to take a more holistic, inclusive approach to work. It's rare to have tough conversations, while totally maintaining respect for the other person - with Nancy, this is a part of who she is. And I'm coming out on the other side being made a better leader because of it.
Jené Liggins Director of Talent and People DevelopmentParaha Institute
Nancy Fournier is an exceptional CEO evaluator who has transformed how our board sets goals and measures success. Her ability to articulate clear, actionable objectives empowers both the board and me to focus on what truly drives impact. Nancy's feedback is thorough and candid, yet always delivered with clarity and respect, making it easy to understand where I stand and how to grow. She’s an invaluable partner in aligning leadership performance with organizational vision.
Sabrina Pence, Chief Executive OfficerFirstLine Schools
With the guidance of Nancy Fournier, I found that I could love my work and myself again. Nancy leadership coaching has assisted me in evaluating my challenges, developing solutions, and actively practicing the skills to become a better leader. I now love being an executive director again.
Erica Fearn, Executive DirectorAuer Farms