Leadership coaching for senior, thoughtful leaders who want to lead as humans first

At Coaching for Sustainable Change, we create clarity where leaders can think, feel, and influence with coherence, not force.

We help leaders move from task-oriented → human-centered leadership.

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You are a brilliant leader who is carrying more than anyone sees.

You are leading teams with different expectations, generations, and levels of readiness.

You are the fixer. The strategist. The one everyone turns to when something is not working.

There is no time to think. No space for clarity. And beneath it all, a quiet sense of disorientation. Of course you feel overwhelmed.

Here is the deeper truth: It is not about your intellect or capability.

You are struggling because you have lost clarity, direction, and calm.

Patti Risch, M.Ed., MCC
ICF Master Certified Coach

Patti has supported over 100 leaders in leading with clarity, compassion, and a human-centered approach.

Who You Are

This work is for leaders who are capable, thoughtful, and operating under real pressure.

It is for you if you:

  • Lead teams, functions, or organizations and carry significant responsibility

  • Feel overwhelmed not because you are ineffective, but because there is no space to think

  • Are often the fixer, the expert, or the advice-giver—and sense that this approach no longer scales

  • Want to lead with clarity, presence, and intention rather than constant urgency

  • Care deeply about both people and results — and want to hold both without burning out

  • Are willing to slow down enough to see clearly and lead deliberately

What We Do

We work with senior, thoughtful leaders who want to lead well without losing themselves in the process.

Together, we focus on both inner clarity and outer strategy, including:

  • Practical strategy

  • Clarifying leadership goals and priorities

  • Developing a grounded, actionable leadership plan

  • Stakeholder mapping and relationship dynamics

  • Navigating complexity, pressure, and decision fatigue

  • Moving from constant fixing to intentional, purposeful leadership

Learn to lead from who you already are - with clarity and confidence

What you will gain from leadership coaching:

  • Rediscover clarity and grounded confidence in your leadership

  • Reconnect with your self and sense of meaning

  • Experience real relief from constant pressure

  • Sustain both your leadership and your life

From Here, An Invitation

If something within you feels ready to lead, live and create from a deeper coherence, grounded, and aligned with possibility, reach out to begin the conversation.

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  • "{Coaching with Patti} resulted in better working relationships with my colleagues and even a healthier balance at home."

    “It was such a pleasure working with Patti for professional coaching over the last six months. I didn’t know what to expect from coaching, as this was my first experience. Heading into it, I knew I wanted to gain skills that could up my professional game and better equip me as a leader in the workplace. Patti helped me achieve that and so much more. Patti is an excellent listener; her ability to hear what I’m saying and thoughtfully respond with helpful feedback is fantastic. Patti consistently provided insight that shifted my perspective. I was able to apply the ideas and tools that we developed together during the sessions to my work and home life. This resulted in better working relationships with my colleagues and even a healthier balance at home.”

    Jaclyn Wilmont, MPA - Volunteer Engagement Director - Engineers Without Borders USA - Denver, Colorado

  • "There is a feeling of ease combined with deep discoveries during the sessions."

    “Patricia’s presence and deep questions helped me uncover/realize many of my internal processes and the why behind my goals. I really appreciated her holistic approach and the calm energy she brings to the coaching session. There is a feeling of ease combined with deep discoveries during the sessions.”

    Roula Saba Mouhanna - Founder & Manager CoreChange - Beirut, Lebanon

  • "I would highly recommend her as a professional coach."

    “I had the great opportunity to engage with coaching from Patti. We had some amazing conversations and she asked some great questions that really made me think how to manage a new team. This is especially true as I started my coaching with Patti as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. She really helped put a lot of management questions I had into perspective and allowed me to engage with my employees as we all transition do a new way of doing business. I would highly recommend her as a professional coach.”

    Chris Wardell - EPA - Denver, Colorado

  • "Patricia was an amazing down to earth coach that had great helpful things to add to learning with additional ways to succeed with success."

    “I had a friend recommend doing this. And it was an excellent choice at the time of my life. Patricia was an amazing down to earth coach that had great helpful things to add to learning with additional ways to succeed with success. She was a great listener and always had great tactics with different areas that came up with transitions of moving to another country, dealing with different cultures, different people, and categorizing self-care time. Amazing individual and I would recommend her to anyone else.”

    Kelly - Post-Graduate Student in Veterinarian Science - University of Zimbabwe - Harare, Zimbabwe

  • "Each session was helpful and significant to move me forward in my reflection and action."

    “Following up on a leadership conference, Patricia Risch was assigned to be my personal coach for 6 sessions to strengthen the learning from the conference. Each of those 6 sessions were helpful and significant to move me forward in my reflection and action, in my understanding and implementation of needed steps to be taken in my leadership role. Patricia came to each session fully present and engaged to provide a satisfying result and expectancy for the next session.”

    Bruce Sider - One Challenge - Majorca, Spain

  • "Masterful coach!"

    “The insights I have gained through my coaching partnership with Patti have moved me forward in both my personal and professional journey. With respect and acceptance, Patti meets me where I am, hears and articulates my strengths and my inner wisdom, and empowers me to take steps to a more fulfilling life. Masterful coach!”

    Diane McLean, M.Ed., PCAC, MCC, ACCG - Uniquely Wired Kids LCC - ADDCA Leader, Assessor and Mentor Coach - Overland Park, Kansas, USA

  • "My staff has communicated that I am more approachable and relaxed."

    “I took the Coaching course as part of my Leadership development training. The course helped me to develop the areas where I needed to straighten and helped me find my leadership style (Democratic). I also learned how to adjust my oral and written communications with my staff and senior Management. My staff has communicated that I am more approachable and relaxed. I highly recommend taking Coaching from Ms Risch.”

    Jim - HRSA - Rockville, Maryland

  • "Patti's observations, insights, and questions really helped me move forward in my thinking and actions."

    “At first I wasn’t sure how I would benefit from coaching, but as Patricia and I talked, I found that her observations, insights, and questions really helped me move forward in my thinking and actions, and the accountability was good for me. She is professional and compassionate, and our time always proved valuable to me. I believe anyone would benefit from coaching time with Patricia!”

    Etta Bauck - One Challenge - Denver, Colorado, USA

  • "She certainly helped me transform my thinking about both my personal and professional life."

    “I had a terrific and rewarding coaching experience with Patricia. She certainly helped me transform my thinking about both my personal and professional life. Great communicator!”

    Burke Fishburn - Posner Center for International Development - Denver, Colorado, USA

  • "She is a fine educator, a professional coach and personifies kindness and integrity."

    “Patti's reputation is founded on her professionalism and her remarkable ability to guide individuals and small groups through a number of personal issues and concerns. She is a fine educator, a professional coach and personifies kindness and integrity."

    Laurie Hawkins, Director of Student Support - Zurich International School

  • "Patti brings a very empathetic and nurturing presence to the clients, which helps clients to open themselves and to move forward."

    “Patti is one of the most highly committed, ethical, and passionate coaches I know. She honours quality coaching and brings a high degree of personal integrity to both her coaching and her relationships to others. As a coach, Patti brings a very empathetic and nurturing presence to the clients, which helps clients to open themselves and to move forward.”

    Dr. Lille Springall - Lifequest, Zürich, Switzerland

  • "Patti's clients feel respected and comfortable to explore uncomfortable issues with ease."

    “Mrs. Risch has a very nondirective style. She is an excellent listener, explores deeper into the topic and is clear in her questioning. Her presence is strong while coaching and the atmosphere and trust that she can build quickly with the client are remarkable. I have the feeling her clients feel respected and comfortable to explore uncomfortable issues with ease. She is connecting her clients with strengths they already have and supports them to define the next actions steps with great clarity.”

    Désirée A. Steinmann, Professional Coach ACC - Steinmann International