Leadership Coach
and Career Mentor

Susan Metros

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“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Mary Oliver

Curious, Patient, and Compassionate…

Susan Metros is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and career mentor who helps individuals and teams identify, meet, and exceed their professional and personal goals and aspirations.

She has a deep, heartfelt interest in motivating and inspiring others to discover and maximize their potential.

She employs creative problem-solving and design thinking methodologies to guide her clients to recognize and reimage what constitutes a fulfilling life- both professionally and personally. 

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Services

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Leadership Coaching

I am a certified International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and abide by the ICF Code of Ethics and coaching protocols. Using design thinking and unique creative problem-solving methods, I work with individuals, teams and groups to identify, explore, and exceed their personal and professional goals. 

Coaching topics include: 

Personal Growth

  • Building self-confidence
  • Conquering imposter syndrome
  • Managing time
  • Balancing work and life
  • Seeking promotion and career advancement
  • Building executive presence
  • Thinking and acting strategically

Organizational Growth

  • Creating psychological safety
  • Building team trust
  • Delegating effectively
  • Communicating clearly
  • Solving workplace challenges

Career Mentoring

I support individuals who are new to the job market, ready for promotion, or eager to pivot and explore new professional opportunities.  

Career Mentoring topics include: 
  • Discovering what makes a fulfilling life
  • Reimaging a career path
  • Assessing strengths and talents
  • Applying tech savvy job search skills
  • Preparing résumé, cover letter, and application materials
  • Interviewing
  • Deciding whether to accept a new role
  • Negotiating compensation

Academic Innovation Consulting

I work with organizations to support strategic growth and build and sustain healthy and productive workforces. I work onsite or, with expertise in online learning, I facilitate virtual meetings, design thinking sprints and interactive ideation sessions with groups of all sizes.

Consulting Services include: 
  • Strategic visioning and planning
  • Organization design and transformation
  • User experience and design, communication resources, and educational content review
  • Presentation design

Expertise & Experience

Susan Metros, founder and principal of Susan Metros Consulting, brings to coaching extensive executive-level leadership experience primarily at top-tier public and private universities. In addition to serving in as a tenured professor at three universities, she has held Chief Information Officer positions at The Ohio State University and at University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. She has served as the University of Tennessee’s Assistant Vice President for Educational Technology, OSU’s Deputy Chief Information Officer for eLearning and USC’s Associate Vice Provost for Technology Enhanced Learning. She was appointed as Associate Dean and Director for Remote Learning for USC’s Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation.

With deep academic roots, Susan has authored more than 40 refereed and invited publications and delivered close to 150 refereed and invited presentations, seminars and workshops on topics running the gamut from leadership and mentoring, creativity and innovation, new literacies, to the role of educational technology in transforming higher ed to be multi-modal, interactive, and learner-centered. Susan has extensive board experience, ranging from non-profit advisory to governing boards with fiduciary responsibilities. 

She has served in executive capacities on the EDUCAUSE Board of Directors and the New Media Consortium Board of Directors. She has served on Advisory Boards for The Education Design Lab, Document America, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Digital Learning ROI and the Colorado State University Global Campus. Susan holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree (MFA) in Graphic Design from Michigan State University and has earned the International Coaching Federation Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and Lucy, their mini-Aussie.

Professional Synopsis

Academic Vitae

Unabridged

A Sampling Clients’ Workplaces


Education

Auburn University

Arizona State University

Bentley University

Cal Arts

California State University – Fullerton

Dartmouth University

George Fox University

Harvard University

Loyola Marymount University

Miami University – Ohio

Midwestern University

North Carolina State University

The Ohio State University

Pima Community College

Stanford University

University of British Columbia

University of California – Irvine

University of California – Los Angeles

University of California – Office of the President

University of California – Riverside

University of Kentucky

University of La Verne

University of New England

University of Phoenix

University of Southern California

University of Texas at Arlington


Business

The Body Shop

Brightworks Sustainability

ByteDance

Chegg – Educational Support Services

Danby – Appliance Specialists

Eargo Hearing Aids

enGen Healthcare

Ferrara Candy

FSA Store – eHealth Commerce

iRobot

Instride – Workforce Education

Leo Burnett Advertising – Canada

Malwarebytes Software

Momentive – SurveyMonkey

MO Studio – Design Consultancy

Newell Brands – Consumer Goods

NextDoor – Neighborhood Network

OpumCare Health

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe Law Firm

Ottinger Architects

Pacific Rim Capitol

Pac-12 Networks

PepsiCo Europe

Private Medical

Productboard Software

Simplement Yoga

UDR Inc. – Real Estate

Unique Vacations

Winsight Media

Wish – eCommerce Platform

Yahoo

Yelp

Verkada – Security Solutions

Zenoti Salon Software


Non-Profits

Charitable Healthcare Network

EDUCAUSE

First Five California – Parenting Resources

GuideWell Health Solutions

Jet Propulsion Labs (JPL) 

LAist- NPR Affiliate (KPCC)

Public Service Commission of Canada

Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.”

Mary Oliver

Testimonials

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Academic Leader in a School of Business

“Susan was a lifesaver for me after I was promoted to my first management position. She was both an empathetic listener and a great sounding board, asking the tough questions that I needed to swiftly cut through my own barriers and roadblocks to successfully lead my team through some very difficult transitions.”

Entrepreneur, Author and Social Media Beauty Influencer

“Working with Susan has been such an amazing experience both personally and professionally! Her coaching has given me the tools to hone in with laser focus on my business goals and get clear on how to take my business to the next level. Susan brings a unique perspective and skill set to project management and is wonderful at identifying blind spots that may be holding you back from achieving your full potential.”

Higher Ed Information Technology Leader

“Prior to working with Susan, I was really at a crossroads in my professional life. For years, I was focused on advancement in my career but was starting to reach a point in my life where I also wanted to feel like I was making a real contribution to something greater than myself. With Susan’s help, I realized that I did not have to give up professional advancement while trying to also make a difference. Her years of experience helped me target new opportunities that offered both. She also helped me learn how to champion my skills and experience. Being a woman in technology, I have sometimes been reluctant to “take credit” for my work. Susan helped me push that aside and showed me how I could champion my work while still being devoted to the greater good of the organization. I can’t recommend Susan highly enough, she uses her experience, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness to help individuals meet their personal and professional goals.”

Professor of Journalism

“Conversations with Susan are like conversations with a trusted friend, at once thoughtful and warm, decisive and directed. Light bulbs get turned on, pointing you in the direction you need to go and with a clarity we all need.”

Director of Business Development for a Consumer Media Company

“Susan is a one of a kind coach and mentor. These two intimate roles require vastly different skill sets and personalities that one can rarely find in one person. And she upholds both roles in such grace and authenticity. Being an executive in a hyper fast faced high tech industry and a father of two small children, my daily life is filled with influx of problems to be solved and tight deadlines to be met. Because of her stellar leadership background, she has been greatly effective in offering professional guidance and point out blind spots that I have overlooked. As a coach, her ability to draw out my professional strengths and cultivate them have resulted in many personal and professional successes. Above everything else, Susan has become a trusted friend whom I can count on.”

Recent MBA Graduate

“Susan has helped me be more thoughtful and methodical about how I reflect on and assess my actions and activities to align with what drives me in life. She’s nudged me to better understand my motivations and the impact they have not only on myself but also those around me. I appreciated Susan’s ability to listen in a nuanced and non-judgmental way, while also suggesting tangible recommendations I could apply right away. I highly recommend her as a resource!”

Manager of Operations for a Winery

“I am in a place in my life where I would like to make a change to work in an industry that I will feel more passionate about the work that I do. Susan uses techniques in her coaching that helped me to better understand my true strengths, weaknesses, and inhibitions. She also helped me discover which of these attributes I enjoy utilizing most in my work. These discoveries have increased my self-confidence, helped in my job search, and with Susan’s guidance, have also lead to a more succinct resume. Susan’s availability beyond scheduled appointments has exceeded my expectations. She has been quick to respond to emails and phone calls, especially when I needed help negotiating with a company for a prospective job. Susan is personable, filled with warmth and genuine caring. I would highly recommend her and look forward to our continued work together.”

Director of Digital Learning Initiatives for a School of Communications

“Susan has played a pivotal role in helping me shape my career goals and define my values. She has given me feedback on my resume, literally going through it line-by-line, and has coached me through numerous job applications and interviews. She is a highly accomplished and respected leader whose prowess as a mentor cannot be overstated. I would not be where I am today without her guidance.”

Activist, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Working in the Non-Profit Space

“After a successful career in the nonprofit sector in Canada, I stepped away from my career to move to the United States and raise a child. I recently decided to re-engage in the work place and Susan Metros helped me to explore various potential career opportunities by assisting me in revamping my resume to accurately describe my current skill set. The circumstances around working together were somewhat challenging as I had a short window of time available.  Susan’s attention to detail, patience, and sensitivity ensured that my goals were met. I recently began working with an organization that is a perfect fit!”

Director for Customer Service in a University Central Information Technology Division

“Susan Metros coached me through an important transition in my career. Her approach is calm, supportive, and practical. She helped me focus on balancing my professional and personal lives. Her coaching and mentoring helped me to gain confidence in what I have to contribute to an organization. And, I got the promotion!”

Mechanical Engineer for a 3D Metal Components Manufacturing Company

“Shortly after graduating with my Masters in Aerospace Mechanical Engineering, I purchased a package of coaching sessions from Susan Metros  because I was having trouble finding a job. During our first session, Susan helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses. We created a strategy, set goals, and developed an action plan to reach those goals.  In subsequent sessions we checked in on how close we were to reaching our goals, the effectiveness of our strategy and what we needed to revise.  Between sessions, Susan continued to send me additional resources such as tips on creating good LinkedIn profiles and articles on building resumes. I am happy to say that our last session was spent discussing a job offer.  Susan is very well in tune with the way business is done today.  She has so much knowledge about what actually works and what resources are effective.”

Get in Touch

Ready to Learn More?

Please schedule a complimentary Coaching Discovery Session!

During this 45 minute long session, we will learn a little bit about each other. You will have an opportunity to share your coaching aspirations and what you hope to achieve. I will discuss coaching logistics including scheduling and fees. Together, we can determine if we are a good fit.

Fill out the form below or email [email protected] for a free consultation.

Coaching is done primarily via videoconferencing. However, if you live in the Los Angeles area, we can discuss scheduling in-person sessions. 

“Instructions for living a life.

Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”

Mary Oliver