"Kirsten's kindness, humor, and clarity led to insights that changed the way we work."

—Mark, Entrepreneur and Founder

image of Abstract design in mixed media

We help you fish mindfully in the river of feelings and judgments

I am a recovering academic. As I develop, I think less about who I am, my identity. I’m more interested in the spaces I can co-create with other people.

There’s often a gap between what people imagine and know could be possible for them, and how they experience themselves in the moment, the now. These are kinds of problems I help people and organizations solve.

We work at a deep level. What are the fundamental stories that are animating your work in the world? Are those the stories you want to have?

Hey—is that story working for you? I see the advantages of your story. What might be the disadvantages?

The most important determinant of the success of the coaching engagement is the quality of the coach, and his or her life experiences and frames of vision, her perch.

image of Kirsten Olson smiling

Kirsten Olson, Chief Listening Officer 
Old Sow Coaching and Consulting 
Founded in 2003

    • Doctorate and Masters, Harvard Graduate School of Education

    • Vassar College, Bachelor’s

    • Georgetown University Leadership Coaching Program

    • Two-Year Facilitator Training, Center for Courage and Renewal, with Parker Palmer

    • International Coaching Federation [ICF] Certified, MCC level (highest level of certification)

    • Relational Life Institute Couples and Individual Training with Terry Real [Certified Levels 1 and 2 - ongoing]

    • 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training and Daily Baptiste Yoga practitioner

    • Shambhala Meditation Center of Boston, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

    • Adult Development Coaching certified 

    • Team Coaching and Human Dynamics certified

    • Coaching Through Post-Conventional Transitions

    • Creating Body-Centered Connections With Clients

    • Internal Family Systems Training 

    • Positive Psychology Intensive for Coaches and Therapists

    • White People Confronting Racism Facilitator Training

    • Compassion-Based Therapy Training 

    • The Embodied Soul: Conscious Femininity With Marion Woodman

    • Self-Compassion Training 

    • Leadership Circle Profile Certification

    • Global Leadership Profile Certification

    • Narrative Coaching Certification and Facilitator, year long with David Drake, the Moment Institute

    • Instructor, Georgetown Institute for Transformational Leadership

    • Designer of Leadership Coaching Programs for large educational systems and programs

    • Decades of custom-designed retreats, learning events, and specialized trainings for leaders

    • Co-Founder, Institute for Democratic Education in America (IDEA)

    • Coaches for Equality and Diversity

    • Calling in Power, Privilege, Rank and Culture: Revolutionizing Coach Education

    • Research Associate, Center for Social Innovation

  • Academic

    • Harvard University

    • MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

    • Kennedy School Harvard University

    • Harvard Graduate School of Education

    • University of Michigan

    • Tufts University

    • Berkshire Community College

    • College of the Holy Cross

    Educational

    • New York City Department of Education

    • School District of Philadelphia

    • San Joaquin County Office of Education

    • Massachusetts Department of Education

    • Massachusetts Public Charter School Association

    • California Office of Education

    • San Diego Office of Education

    • San Diego County Office of Education

    • Phoenix Charter Network

    • IKAR Early Childhood Center

    • Association of International Schools

    • Brookline Public Schools

    • Boston College High School

    • St. John’s Prep

    • Dozens of charters and individual school leaders

    Development/Global Not For Profits

    • World Bank

    • Oxfam America

    • Union of Concerned Scientists

    • Teen Empowerment Foundation

    Foundations

    • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

    • Schusterman Family Philanthropies

    • Children’s Aid Society

    • San Francisco Opera

    • Polaris Foundation

    • Lumina Foundation

    Federal

    • US Department of Education

    • Federal Housing Finance Agency

    • Federal Management Partners

    Founders/Entrepreneurs

    • Primary Venture Partners

    • Rectangle Health

    • NationBuilder

    Coach Training

    • School District of Philadelphia

    • Georgetown University

    • Nebo Company

    • Moment Institute

    • Avance Global Consulting

    Writers/Artists/Photographers/Creatives

    • “Deep Listening for More Effective Leadership”
      Harvard Alumni of Color Conference - AOCC, Cambridge, MA and Others

    • Deep Speaks to Deep: Exploring the Practice of the Clearness Committees
      Georgetown Institute for Transformational Leadership Alumni Conference; Georgetown New England Alumni Conference; International Spiritual Directors Conference, Toronto, Ontario

    • Still Pale and Male: Why the Persistence of Male Leadership in Education?
      Deeper Learning Conference; Harvard Graduate School of Education Alumni Conference; Oxfam America Leaders Retreat

“As a mentor coach, Dr. Olson went over my transcripts and recordings with a fine-tooth comb. She pushed me to understand why I was making the choices I was, and develop the skills I needed for certification.”

—Coaching mentee, Georgetown University

Associates

We are a shared values platform 
for supporting change. 
We work and create experiences together
at Old Sow Coaching and Consulting

Karen Erlichman

Dan Brown

"When I started coaching I felt like I was being swallowed by a tornado—by my personal and professional life. Coaching helped me grow wings and fly out of the strong winds and ground myself. Before the coaching, I didn’t even know where to start."


—Director, Large Arts Organization

“The work was transformational. Kirsten and her team designed a four-year training program for us. We saw them monthly for in-depth observations, coaching, and individual trainings. Our organization was reshaped to become much more effective.”


—Superintendent, Educational Organization