Leadership growth, grounded in real-world experience.

GROWW Leadership helps leaders, teams, and systems evolve together.

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I’m Kristie Steele. I have always been inspired by great leaders ~ people who understand themselves and others in a way that enables them to make a difference. Some of them change lives, and some change the world. All of them help organizations thrive.

I work at the intersection of individual leadership growth and organizational effectiveness. I am passionate about helping leaders make shifts and take steps that make them more effective, impactful, and confident in their roles, as well as helping organizations design and roll out systems that support strong leadership and enable people to do their best work.

Much of my work has been alongside leaders and organizations committed to making a meaningful difference, strengthening communities, advancing equity, and stewarding people and resources with care. I work with people at all levels, from emerging leaders through seasoned executives, who want to accelerate and solidify their growth.

Before launching GROWW Leadership, I partnered with executives, managers, and teams to design performance processes, strengthen leadership capability, and navigate change. That experience continues to shape how I coach and how I approach organizational design work today.

I am a lifelong learner, holding a Master’s degree in Communication Studies, a Gallup Strengths Coach certification, and I am currently completing an ICF-accredited coach training program.

I understand both the human side of leadership and the operational realities leaders face, especially in organizations working to do good in a complex and changing world.

I care deeply about how people experience leadership. I’ve seen how strong, values-aligned leadership can energize teams — and how misaligned systems or unsupported managers can quietly erode company culture.

GROWW Leadership was created to close that gap: to support leaders in growing themselves while strengthening the organizations and missions they serve.

Leadx Certified EQ Facilitator

Background and Credentials

Certified Strengths Coach and Emotional Intelligence Trainer with two decades of leadership experience, applying research-backed approaches to real-world leadership.

Professional Foundation

  • Strengths-based coaching and workshop facilitation
  • Senior People and Operations roles
  • Leadership culture and skill development
  • Organizational development and systems design
  • Performance management and leadership framework implementation

Credentials

  • Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach - Applying strengths-based development to help leaders and teams perform at their best by building on what already works.
  • LEADx Certified EQ Trainer - Developing emotional intelligence skills that improve leadership effectiveness, communication, and team dynamics.
  • BA and MA in Communication Studies - Bringing a deep understanding of communication, culture, and meaning-making to leadership, collaboration, and organizational systems.
  • In Progress: ICF-Accredited Executive Coach Training - Continuing to refine a research-backed, structured coaching approach that supports measurable and sustainable leadership growth.

My Approach

A strengths-based, research-backed approach to developing leaders and organizations.

I Believe Leadership Growth Should Be

  • Human-centered - focused on people, not just metrics
  • Strengths-based - built from what already works
  • Research-backed - grounded in emotional intelligence and evidence-based practices with proven return on investment
  • Aligned - rooted in values and mission
  • Sustainable - designed to prevent burnout and reactive leadership

The GROWW Framework brings these principles together, ensuring leadership growth is intentional, aligned, and sustainable across leaders, teams, and systems.

Who I Work With

Leaders and organizations ready for meaningful, values-aligned growth.

Leaders, Teams and Mission-Driven Organizations

I work with leaders, teams, and organizations who are willing to invest in intentional growth.

Many of my clients are mission-driven, serving people, communities, or the planet, and want leadership practices that reflect those values.

What matters most is alignment. When leaders care deeply about both impact and integrity, growth becomes more than performance. It becomes stewardship.

This work is most effective for those who are open to reflection, willing to challenge themselves, and ready to apply what they learn.

Let’s Grow What Matters

If you’re ready to strengthen leadership capacity — personally or organizationally — I’d be glad to connect.