“Out of the frying pan and into the fire!” That’s how Carrie Hays describes her unusual path to the field of coaching and organizational development. A graduate of Colgate University and The Culinary Institute of America, Carrie’s first job after earning her degrees was as a chef for a large hotel. In that role, Carrie learned two things: that she wasn’t that great of a cook, and that the real challenge of preparing food was leading a team. Realizing that management intrigued her more than cooking, she hopped out of the kitchen and into the field of organizational development. After fifteen years as a corporate manager in the hospitality industry, which included organizational change responsibilities, Carrie started her own organizational development consulting practice.

Known for her expertise in leadership and team effectiveness coaching, designing and facilitating customized leadership workshops and meetings designed to help teams get good results, Carrie works with a variety of audiences ranging from small teams to groups of hundreds of participants. By helping individuals and teams fundamentally shift the way they think and communicate, Carrie’s clients are able to create more effective organizations and teams that can successfully navigate change — in ways that are sustainable. In addition to her own consulting practice, Carrie was a Senior Consultant with Roger Schwarz & Associates. This work includes consulting, training, and coaching a rigorous and compassionate approach for individuals and leadership teams to resolve their toughest challenges and get good results.

Carrie holds a Master of Arts in Management from John F. Kennedy University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Colgate University, and an Associate degree from the Culinary Institute of America.  In her spare time, Carrie enjoys spending time with her mother and friends.  She is curious about the world and travels extensively.