Earlier this year, I found myself at a crossroads in my career. I had worked hard to become a Product Manager and, while I found success, I also faced some real challenges. Being a new father, balancing work and life as a PM was tough--and on top of that, I wanted to master my current role so I could confidently move into the next phase of my career. I reached out to my mentor and dear friend Vikas, who suggested I connect with Merideth. I'm so glad I took his advice. What I appreciated most about working with Merideth was that she didn't just side with me on every gripe or frustration I had. Instead, she offered a fresh perspective that challenged me to see things from a more balanced viewpoint. She then helped me develop skills to address these challenges constructively, empowering me to manage difficult situations with more confidence and clarity. Merideth also helped me carve out the time and space for self-reflection and discovery, allowing me to dive deeper into understanding my strengths and what truly brings me joy. This led me to realize that much of my focus had been on trying to conform to what I thought others wanted, rather than leaning into my strengths and passions. Merideth helped me build a framework to approach career decisions with confidence--both in my day-to-day work and during my recent job search. This enabled me to be selective about the opportunities I pursued and comfortable walking away from those that weren't the right fit. If you're looking for a coach who can help you grow in your career, I can't recommend Merideth enough. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to hear more about my experience, or contact her directly. You won't regret it. read more

I practiced law for many years and stepped away after my second child was born to spend time as a full-time caregiver. When I started to think about how and when I would re-enter the workforce, I hit a mental block. I didn't know if I wanted to go back to lawyering or to pivot to something new. I also wasn't sure how I would focus my career exploration, in light of the time constraints of being home all day with two small kids. I engaged Merideth for a 3 month coaching program to help me navigate these challenges, and I am so thankful for my experience with her. Merideth helped me gain clarity about what I want my life to look like once both my children are in grade school, and how I want my work to fit into that vision. Through working with Merideth, I was able to assemble a list of career "non-negotiables" with respect to the skills I want to use, the values I want my work to reflect, and the way I'd like to structure my work schedule. Moreover, Merideth and I fleshed out concrete ways of exploring my interests in small, focused steps, and compiled a list of concrete career ideations about which I am truly excited. In addition to helping focus my career planning, Merideth helped me work on my mindset. Even though I am an accomplished person who has met "long shot" goals in the past, it is a major challenge for me to imagine I can curate a career I am passionate about, and in which I have control over my time and energy expenditures. Merideth helped me with this mindset shift (and I continue to work on it). Merideth also taught me about the "negative tapes" we all play in our minds, and how it is possible to re-record them. Doing this work required more vulnerability and self-reflection than I initially anticipated, but it has empowered me to indulge interests I'd long dismissed as "impractical," and to see new possibilities for myself. Merideth is warm, friendly, caring, and a great listener. She is also an excellent accountability partner. The process of completing her Career Compass exercises was so thorough, I have peace of mind that I have left no stone unturned in examining my values, skills, and preferences. I am also so grateful to her for continually reminding me of what is possible, and that I am capable of having a satisfying career that is compatible with the personal demands of this season of my life. Thank you, Merideth! read more

Merideth's structured approach is customized for every single situation. She listened and supported me at every juncture on my career search. As a result, I gained confidence in myself and designed a realistic solution to carry me forward. At this point in my professional life, I'm bridging from one career path to another. For those considering a similar journey, the path is certainly possible! However, it requires intentional commitment to networking, discussing the right topics, addressing areas to upskill, and moving forward with confidence. Coaching with Merideth helped me in all these areas. She held me accountable and encouraged me to hold tough conversations, which expedited my intentional career search. Rather than spinning, I was able to gather key information to make an informed career decision and land my new role! read more

I can't recommend working with Merideth enough! I found her at a time when I was lost, no other way to say it. I didn't feel fulfilled anywhere in my life, especially my career. This was a scary place to be and I didn't know what to do. Thankfully, Merideth helped me to get clear about what was important to me, nobody else. She guided me to slow myself down and examine what I truly wanted for my career. We worked together to thoughtfully map out my 'Career Compass', which made me feel much more in control of my situation. While its not a real map, it is a framework that I have used when I evaluate a new opportunity. I didn't have this tool before and now I can't live without it. I think the most exciting part about working with Merideth is that she observed I was guilty of paralysis by analysis and challenged me to finally take action and not just choose to stay in limbo. That was a big eye opener from our time together and I stayed in that mindset for a while. But not anymore! I am thrilled to report that I recently accepted a new job that aligns with most of my core values we identified and I am also moving to Austin in October. So another adventure to add to the plate! Merideth was integral in helping me slow down and examine what was most important to me and providing me with the tools to take action. If you are stuck and looking for direction, she can help!! read more

I've worked with Merideth twice now. Once when I first graduated from my Masters's program and was switching industries, and most recently, in my switch from a smaller company to a larger firm. Merideth's strength is developing exercises and frameworks that allow you to work independently on understanding both what you want in a job, and also how to position yourself. I was able to work through exercises on my own, and then use our sessions together to discuss insights on my independent work and also improve my answers for interview questions. In both cases when I worked with her, she helped me develop strong, targeted positioning and interview responses that ultimately landed me the jobs I was pursuing. She is excellent at what she does and a lovely person. I strongly recommend her as a resource for someone at any stage in their career! read more

(Summary: Look no farther, Merideth has the answer to your needs. She has more then enough experience plus she's extremely caring & accommodating) I personally sought out a career coach to help w/ the tech interviewing process. Like anyone else I searched for the best value possible, and was happy that I stumbled upon Merideth. I came into our consultation knowing exactly what I needed and left with a great customized plan that we were both happy with. But in the first week, I ran into complications with her assigned "interview coach." To put it lightly, this coach was hard to work with, condescending and rushed me off the phone. You would think for the executive fee being payed, you'd get what you signed up for. Now they say don't burn bridges you may have to cross later, but i'd rather swim than depend on the un-reliable. I addressed my concern with Merideth and she handled the situation perfectly. In comparison, Merideth was easy to work with, respectful, and took her time with me. She personally saw that I had everything taken care of in a caring but professional manner. I strongly recommend Meredith for anyone who is currently seeking guidance with their career. Her goal -- every step of the way -- has been to help me reach mine. I'm confident she will do the same for you. read more

When I started with Merideth, I was feeling lost and uninspired in my job search and unclear about my career path. The feeling of not knowing "what I wanted to be when I grow up" when I had already completed graduate school and been in the workforce for 10+ years was making me lose confidence in my abilities and, as a result, I was approaching the job search with a sense of dread. Merideth's holistic approach to dealing with career coaching helped me to discover my ideal work environment and industry. Her coaching, online course materials and webinars were useful and applicable to my needs. Merideth and her team of experts were critical in helping me turn things around - Nancy helped enhance my personal image through her beautiful head shot, a confidence booster right at the beginning of the process when I needed it most. Madelyn crafted not one but TWO amazing resumes that not only garnered positive feedback from recruiters and networking contacts, but produced results in the form of interview invitations. And recruiter Celia's warm and encouraging attitude was indispensable as she reviewed job search and behavioral interview techniques. I credit Merideth's whole team with helping me to land the job I wanted, in the industry I was aiming for, one that I'm both personally, professionally, and financially thrilled with! read more

After three years of wandering through career decisions as a necessity, I met Merideth in a time when I needed to get back on track and rebuild my confidence and vision for the last quarter of my career. Merideth's support through this process yielded over four great opportunities to consider within 3 months of engagement. Three of those were from recruiters and we hadn't even gotten to my LI profile or resume yet. Merideth's well thought out program for keeping you on track and accountable, along with her ability to articulate what she hears from you will get you to a new place of understanding in no time. I'm proud to say that in less than 9 weeks of working alongside Merideth, I'm gainfully employed in a director role that is a total left turn for me but I can already tell will be so rewarding! read more

Merideth is a friend, mentor, and one of my most trusted advisors. She earned my admiration, trust, and respect immediately. Over the course of five years of working with Merideth, I evolved from a new middle manager to a seasoned executive in senior leadership. I overcame numerous struggles and embraced exciting opportunities, all while guided by Merideth's unique, encouraging, and effective style. Merideth does not merely give advice or answers, instead she takes the more impactful approach of guiding you through a structured process in which you arrive at your own preferred course of action. A key aspect of Merideth's executive coaching style is the focus on strengths-based feedback. We certainly worked together on areas of opportunity, but more importantly we worked to amplify my own unique strengths to become truly distinctive. Through this work I was able to grow leaps and bounds in my career, all while maintaining my own unique identity and remaining authentic. The lessons I learned from Merideth will last a lifetime. I highly recommend her as an executive coach - just be prepared to be challenged, as everything worth achieving comes through hard work! read more

I worked with Merideth and I got a new job! I'm absolutely sure it's completely the result of all of Merideth's work to help me focus my goals, as well as the wonderful resume and linked in profile Madelyn created for me. I could never have achieved this new job, my dream job, without you. read more

Insightful, thoughtful, savvy and action-oriented, Merideth was instrumental in catapulting me from analysis-paralysis to defining my goals and building an action plan to meet them. She has the ability to validate your thoughts and ideas, yet simultaneously challenge and encourage you to think outside of the box. Merideth served as both a coach and a cheerleader for me, which was exactly what I needed at the time, and she quickly picked up on this. Ultimately, my desire to make a change in my career became a reality with Merideth's coaching support. Prior to working with Merideth, I had interviewed seven other coaches. It only took one conversation with her for me to know that Merideth was exactly the kind of coach I was seeking. read more

If you're looking to better understand your career, how to move forward, or how to give / get the most out of where you are, I highly recommend working with Merideth Mehlberg. First, she is quick to put language to objectives and to understand your career challenges. Second, her work ethic is second-to-none and, perhaps more importantly, she's compassionate and empathetic. Third, I really felt like this was a true partnership. We worked together so that I could develop a better understanding of how to navigate and manage my career, and better communicate my value. Finally, just by way of practical outcomes, she can take a resume that looks like a still-life painting and turn it into an action-packed, blockbuster movie. With Merideth's advice and insight, I know I have more choices, more career paths, and more skills and creativity. It's one of the best investments I've ever made. read more

I am not the same person I was when I walked into Merideth's office for the first time 4 months ago. While I still experience a healthy amount of fear about the future, it's a fear that motivates me to take action and control of my own destiny. Merideth's discipline of identifying my personal goals, polishing my brand (both business and personal), building confidence and providing expertise on topics from business modeling, marketing, to running my business made this transition feel effortless. Her methodologies for creating goals and tracking these through completion are a model for emulation. I never imagined in such a short time I could accomplish so much. Developed a business model, launched a consulting practice, and landed my first clients. In addition, Merideth helped me find my voice and outline ideas enabling me to plan and deliver my first book which launches in 2015. Merideth helped me recognize the value proposition I bring and commit to a plan of following my bliss. Most importantly, realize we all have intrinsic value to offer just as we are. No matter what the future brings, I am approaching this on my terms by making choices and selecting a course of action that is right for my personal journey. Thank you Merideth and I look forward to our continued partnership! Respectfully Patrick Lesandrini Founder and Principal Consultant at IT Shift read more

Merideth and her team gave me the framework I needed to accomplish everything that was already inside of me. They all took time to get to know me and were thoughtful and insightful about what I was going after and not only coached but cheered me on till I got to the finish line. I'll always remember the work I did with Merideth as a pivotal, turning point in my life path. When I didn't quite know what I really wanted to be doing, she helped me figure it out in a fun, non-stressful way, panning for gold to understand what I needed and wanted out of my career. Madelyn rewrote my resume and updated my LinkedIn profile so that it reflected my new ambitions. Madelyn is brilliant; within a week of updating my LinkedIn profile, three companies reached out to me for interviews, all of which led to job offers. Celia guided me through the interview process. As a result of her many years in recruiting, she really understood the position I was going after and the type of interviews I'd be going through and gave me a list of questions I could expect to be asked. She advised me to come up with stories I could tell and as I practiced sharing them, she helped me adjust how best to deliver the message during the interview to keep the interviewer engaged. I actively recommend Merideth and her team to ambitious professionals looking to take the next step in their career. read more

When I started my solo acupuncture practice in 2011, I knew finding a business coach was a top priority. Merideth was introduced to me at a networking event and I was immediately struck by her attention to detail and felt she understood me. I had already interviewed another coach and had a good comparison of two quality coaches. I went with Merideth because I felt she could help me propel my business forward and meet my goals while tackling some core habits with compassion. I started being somewhat disorganized in my "back office" habits, struggling with feeling overwhelmed and sometimes fearful as well as at a loss on how to market my events and set realistic targets to accomplish my aggressive business goals. Soon after starting with Merideth, the organization of the accounting and back office was settled and planned out. We tackled the daunting task of marketing my events and came up with a plan that works to this day! I learned skills that will benefit me for the rest of my career and life about setting realistic goals and getting things done. Thanks to Merideth, I not only met my aggressive financial and growth goals, but exceeded them only 10 months into my new business! Merideth really worked with my abilities and preferences. She was flexible but provided structure and challenges to keep me engaged. I can sincerely say it was the most essential time and best money spend on my business. read more

I highly recommend!! If you need help in any way shifting out of an unsatisfying career/work life and taking steps toward a much better one...look no further than Merideth. She is worth every moment and every penny. I believe she can help everyone out there in some way--of course you must also be willing to do your part and put forth effort in tandem with her guidance. I was losing faith that there was someone out there able to help me, as I had been through 3 life/career coaches/consultants in the last 6 months -- 2 local in Alameda and another south of here. I won't tell you how much money and time I wasted on those failed attempts, but one week with Merideth turned it all around. It renewed my faith and completely revised my resume, web presence and attitude that my life is going to turn around! Thank you, Merideth! read more

I reached out to Merideth when I just couldn't find time for creative writing, improving my physical fitness, and making long term career plans on top of working my 8-to-5 job. I felt like a run-down work robot, not like the real me! Now, I write a weekly blog, exercise 4 to 5 days per week and spend time each week researching and networking to lay the groundwork for my next move--all while receiving positive reviews at my current job. Without Merideth's skill and insights, I wouldn't have found a way to fit all the pieces together. read more

I found Merideth's coaching extremely valuable, supportive and resourceful. I came into my situation with Merideth needing a particular style and scope of coaching, and she was very accommodating and flexible in supporting me exactly how I needed. Our coaching sessions were an excellent mix of clarifying my vision, skills and values; providing practical tools, resources and job-hunting techniques; and dealing with the inevitable emotional dynamics involved with exploring a new career and job. She also continuously checked in with me to make sure I was getting what I needed, and I experienced her truly approach our work in an individualized fashion. Finally, her availability to check in and communicate briefly in between sessions was very supportive - and when searching for other career coaches, I did not find this amount of support offered. read more

When I hit a wall at the company I had worked at for 8 years, I knew it wasn't feeling right anymore but wasn't sure how to proceed to make change. I am grateful that during this very confusing time, a trusted colleague recommended Merideth's career coaching program. Merideth helped me get clarity around my existing work situation while helping me to define my ideal work profile outside of any one job description. In doing the work to define this, I gained a confidence and focus that has helped me make a conscious play on my next career move. I appreciate Merideth's nurturing yet structured approach which mixes disciplined exercises, discussion and coaching to get to tangible results. She's an excellent listener who can hone in your needs and help you define and reach your career goals. I recommend Merideth without hesitation to anyone sitting in the haze of work-life imbalance or career uncertainty, she will help you get clear and focused. read more

Working with Merideth surpassed all my expectations. As a recent graduate from UCLA, I was looking to deliberately shape the early stages of my career and had no idea which direction to follow. By examining my favorite academic classes and pros and cons of previous work experiences, we identified my inherent skills, values, and personality traits. We discovered what skills I most enjoyed using and how I could apply them to a new career I had never before considered. By asking insightful questions, Merideth helped me focus in on what is important to me and what motivates me to succeed. Merideth does more than point you toward a new career path. She enables you to go on a path of self-discovery so you can find fulfillment in your career and in your life. Less than a month after our work together I was offered a position in a completely new field and I couldn't be happier. I am finding myself going in the right direction directly because of our work together, and I am very excited. read more

"When we first met Merideth, we were barely getting by in our cleaning business. Since working with her, we now support a six-figure income. What a difference - thanks coach!" Not only have we been able to develop a successful business, but also to discover the things that are important in life and how to balance the two. I highly recommend Merideth to anyone looking to not only improve their financial situation but also to improve their life situation. read more

Working with Merideth has been some of the best personal work I've ever done. It has been remarkable to feel truly heard, to be seen as the unique person that I am, and be cocooned in an environment where I could discover my next steps professionally. I found the tools, projects and resources Merideth brought to the table to help me uncover my deeper values and skills enormously revealing. This work first challenged and then changed my mental habits so that I now center my decision-making around my values and passions. What also really surprised me was how much healing I accomplished around past personal and professional experiences. As a result of this work, I now feel lighter and much more on-purpose. I know where I'm headed and I feel confident that I'm making - and will continue to make - the right strides forward to have more and more of what I want in my life every day read more

Merideth was instrumental in my transition from graduate school to the corporate world. She provides a perfect blend of personalism and professionalism and tailors her output to reflect the need of the client. She helped me define what I was searching for and assisted me in finding it. Without her, I would not be where I am today. I cannot say enough good things about Merideth! read more

Merideth has such great spirit and understands what it's like to be a working mom. She has a load of helpful resources to steer you in the right direction! What a gem to have right here in Alameda. read more

"Merideth really made a difference in my life and helped boost my confidence at a crucial time. When I started working with her, I was at a crossroads in my career. Merideth helped me to clarify my professional profile and positioning the marketplace. She helped me focus on what was important so that I could keep my career moving forward. Her approach is based on achieving outcomes, then she helps you identify strengths and interests and how to present this information, verbally and in writing, so that others can quickly grasp your value and skill sets. Her coaching made all the difference in interviews I had with several organizations, and she offered excellent advice in evaluating and negotiating multiple offers, and ultimately in accepting the right one for me. On top of everything else, Merideth is supportive, personable and takes a genuine interest in helping you achieve your goals." read more

After 10+ years of professional experience, I wanted to thoughtfully consider the direction my career was headed: I no longer wanted my career to 'happen to me.' I wasn't quite sure where to start. Merideth came highly recommended by a dear friend. I researched several Executive Coaches and what drew me to Merideth was her approach: it was important for me to work with someone who takes a holistic approach to career planning, as I really want my career and personal life to align. Through a series of assessments, conversations and analysis, Merideth helped me put together a career roadmap. I am now able to confidentially articulate my experience, skills, values, and goals. As opportunities present themselves, I have the tools to assess and confidently make decisions congruent with my greater plans for my life. Merideth helps you tie all the information together and keeps you on track. I really enjoyed the experience and gained a lot from it. Thank you, Merideth! read more