Become a leader who people would follow anywhere and who consistently delivers results (without burning out)

As an entrepreneur and leader, the stakes are high – but so is your potential.

Leadership doesn’t have to feel being buried alive by your calendar. Here’s how to rewrite the rules.

If you’re like my clients, you’re a leader who’s built a career on ambition and results. People follow and invest in you because you deliver. But as the stakes continue to rise, so does the pressure.

You’re working hard but feel stuck in survival mode – constantly putting out fires, buried in an endless to-do list, and craving space to think more strategically. You know you need to delegate more but fear a ball getting dropped, so you keep juggling.

At night, you lie awake worrying about hard conversations you’re avoiding, decisions you’re second-guessing, or the pressure to hit aggressive growth targets.

Or maybe everything looks good from the outside, but inside you’re secretly restless, uninspired, or out of sync with yourself. You keep thinking the next milestone — promotion, fundraise, exit — will finally bring ease and clarity. You just need to push a little longer. But deep down, you know something needs to change.

Here’s the truth: the solution doesn’t lie in working harder or finding the perfect productivity hack. It’s in transforming how you play the game.

Imagine if you could play this game instead:

  • Change the dynamics of your team so you can finally trust them to execute without you, freeing you up to step away and focus on the big picture.

  • Walk into investor pitches and board meetings feeling calm, clear and confident. Your discussions become productive, and your skeptics turn into your greatest allies.

  • Redesign how you lead so you can create space for yourself without guilt, knowing your team runs smoothly in your absence. Return focused and energized to lead.

Feel the weight lift as your team steps up, taking ownership and excelling, while you finally have the freedom to focus on big-picture goals and rediscover your passion for leadership. Imagine leading without losing sleep, thriving without the grind, and loving the journey.

As your coach, this is the game I'll help you play. And win.

Your transformation starts now. Take the first step today and schedule a free consultation.

“Deciding to work with Emma has been one of the best investments I've made in my career”

— FOUNDER & CEO

Leadership Coaching

I work with entrepreneurs, executives, and rising leaders to elevate and expand – accelerating growth and shifting from overwhelmed to empowered.

Together, we’ll identify growth areas and unlock your next level. Here’s how:

Let’s Work Together

1. Clarity

Uncover the hidden stories, patterns, and blind spots shaping your reality. What’s holding you back? What cycles keep repeating? We’ll pinpoint where you’re out of alignment and leaking energy. This clarity unlocks new growth pathways so you can lead with courage and precision.

2. Vision

Create a compelling vision for your future that feels so magnetic it pulls you toward it. Upgrade the mindsets and behaviors holding you back to make this vision inevitable. As your internal world shifts, everything around you begins to transform.

3. Impact That Lasts

Step into your most empowered self. With newfound energy and confidence, you’ll lead boldly and decisively, unlocking extraordinary results for yourself and your team. Culture shifts, momentum builds, and your ripple effect is felt everywhere.

Retreats & Offsites

Transform your next retreat from a check-the-box into a game-changer.

I design bespoke offsites that help executive teams break through barriers, strengthen connections, and tackle their most pressing challenges with clarity and purpose. Whether your focus is crafting a bold vision, aligning your team, or deepening trust, these experiences are high-impact and energizing.

Picture breathtaking locations, immersive sessions, and the perfect balance of bold strategy work and moments of aliveness – all tailored to your team’s unique needs. Let’s make your next retreat the highlight of your year, not a distraction.

Ready to explore? Email me at emma@caterpillarcollab.com

“Working with Emma has been invaluable in figuring out how to stay steady and clear headed amid a lot of uncertainty and newness as a first time founder”

— FOUNDER & CEO

Hi, I’m Emma Wood

I’ve always thrived in high-pressure environments. With two Stanford degrees and experience as both an operator and a McKinsey consultant, I reached the C-suite by 30. I loved the impact, teamwork and thrills of achievement. But success came with costs as well. I’ve felt the weight of burnout, the sting of failure, and the isolation at the top.

I’ve also walked bold paths. As a COO and interim CEO, I led transformative growth in consumer companies, from startups to private equity roll-ups. Beyond business, I’ve traveled to over 40 countries, embraced new cultures, and made pivotal life changes — all while seeking purpose and wonder.

Today, I coach entrepreneurs and executives to lead with clarity and confidence. My mission is to help you unlock your full potential while building a life of freedom, impact, and aliveness.

My background as a consultant and operator allows me to understand your world, but coaching goes deeper. Like the caterpillar evolving into a butterfly, transformation requires intentional work but the results are extraordinary.

Credentials:

  • MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business

  • Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), Co-Active Training Institute

  • International Coaching Federation Certified Coach (PCC)

  • Certified practitioner of the Enneagram and the Leadership Circle Profile

  • Mental Health & Wellness Yoga Teacher Training, Yoga Medicine

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just the first step”

— MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

What My Clients Say

  • "Emma is an exceptionally insightful and encouraging business coach. During the Founders Retreat, she guided us through powerful breathwork sessions and offered a transformative framework for receiving deeper blessings—an area I’ve long struggled with. Her approach is both profound and practical, and I highly recommend working with her to unlock new levels of personal and professional growth."

    — Matt Ford, Founder & CEO, Prism.FM

  • "Deciding to work with Emma has been one of the best investments I've made in my career. She has helped me navigate complex areas of work that stood in the way of realizing my vision for my company. Entrepreneurship will always be challenging, but with her help I have made tangible progress.”

    — Founder & CEO, Food & Beverage

  • “As the founder of a start-up, I’m faced with pressing doubts and decisions every day. Emma and her coaching have been invaluable during this tumultuous season of personal and professional growth. Emma uniquely combines her real-world business experience with an empathetic and wise spirit – this combination is hard to find in other executive coaches, and I couldn’t recommend her enough.”

    — Stephen Reiff, Co-Founder & CEO, Arvo Advisory

  • "I started working with Emma right as my business was experiencing a lot of big changes and challenges – including our team missing targets, headcount adjustments, and navigating a new strategic direction. Working with Emma has been invaluable in figuring out how to stay steady and clear headed amid a lot of uncertainty and newness as a first time founder. Emma asks the right questions to help me figure out what steps I need to take next, and is an accountability partner once I’ve made up my mind. Beyond that, Emma’s experience as a business leader and operator provides really useful and helpful context. I walk away from every session with Emma with a renewed sense of confidence in myself, and tools and frameworks to think differently about my business and my leadership. Highly recommend!!”

    — Catherine Baxter, Founder & CEO, Nettie Pickleball

  • "Emma’s unique touch is that she can make you feel completely comfortable being yourself and yet also push you to become a better version of yourself at the same time. She creates a safe space for you to explore while also providing the proper nudges to move forward. If you are planning to take leadership development seriously, Emma is a great guide."

    — Gagan Biyani, Co-Founder & CEO, Maven

  • “Emma is able to spot my bullshit with piercing insight and call me out on it with love. I totally trust that she has my best interest in mind, so I use her with all of the CEO’s in my portfolio.”

    — Luke Murray, co-founder of Harbor Behavioral Health, Wild Labs, Awesome Inc

  • "I struggle with showing, maybe even feeling, several emotions strongly, particularly happiness and sadness. Emma was patient with me as I hesitated to try, then guided me through my first experience of true emotional release through determination, care, and skill. She knew how to hold me in that emotion, though I’m not someone who likes to ask for support. That moment in itself was so powerful, it carried me through several critical weeks where I needed to be grounded at my company. Emma as a coach is gentle, direct, patient, strong. She’s a guiding force."

    — Co-Founder & CEO, Biotech

  • "As a solo founder, working with Emma has been an invaluable experience for both me and my business. Her thoughtful guidance has helped me gain clarity and confidence in myself, which has been particularly important in the absence of a business partner or employees. She has a gift for asking the right questions and helping you see possibilities you may not have considered. I’m so grateful for our time together and highly recommend her to any entrepreneur looking to grow not only their business but also their emotional and mental fortitude."

    — Jewelry Designer

  • “I could not be more grateful to have Emma as my executive coach. She's been instrumental in helping me navigate various challenges in my professional life from difficult relationships at work, to stressful job searches, and long-term goal setting. What makes Emma so special is her innate ability to listen actively and deeply and then ask thought provoking questions. Often during our coaching sessions, I have been able to surface deeper level thoughts and feelings, which have led me to learn a great deal about myself. Emma has been an invaluable asset to my personal and professional growth, and I couldn't recommend her more highly. If you are looking for a coach who can help you reach your full potential, Emma is the one for you!”

    — Vice President, Private Equity

  • "I reached out to Emma when I was making a big shift from working in tech startups to becoming an entrepreneur. She helped me navigate this uncertain time and really get to the heart of my ambitions. Her mix of deep, reflective coaching and tactical advice was incredibly helpful. Emma's thoughtful questions, empathetic coaching style, and ability to bring out the best in me have been invaluable. Working with her has been a joy, and I leave every session feeling energized and inspired. As a founder and startup enthusiast, I can't recommend Emma highly enough!"

    — Founder & CEO, Tech

  • “Emma is more than a coach, she is your champion. Through this process we've taken time to look deep into who I truly am and what values matter to me both personally and professionally. On the professional front, the sense of clarity and purpose I've gained has positively impacted my comfort level in communication with leadership, directly resulting in title promotions and salary improvements. On the personal front, I feel more well-connected and present in my relationships with friends and loved ones. I can't thank Emma enough for guiding me through this pivotal time in my career.”

    — Director, Consumer Products

  • "I approached Emma seeking out guidance in anticipation of an upcoming promotion and a salary negotiation for the same, that I assumed would follow. Emma’s calm, grounded, & personable nature make her the perfect person to have in your corner. Our initial conversation was dominated by a barrage of my anxious thoughts paired with tremendous self doubt/imposter syndrome. Not only did Emma help me see my self worth, but she also converted my anxieties into concrete actionable tasks. She gave me numerous resources and incredibly helpful tactics — all of which helped steer me through my negotiations successfully. Emma has the innate ability to make you feel truly valued & heard, which is crucial to have in an executive coach — I cannot recommend working with her enough!"

    — Creative Director, Consumer Products

  • "I engaged Emma at a challenging point in my career involving a major assignment shift and couldn't be more grateful that I did. As a public sector professional with limited access to professional development opportunities, working with Emma has given me the insights and the tools I needed to ensure that I approach my work from a place of confidence rather than that of fear. In under six months, I've gone from feeling overwhelmed and anxious in my workplace to empowered and inspired. That's a transformation that I could not have experienced without Emma's help and guidance. Enlist Emma today for the support you need through navigating a career change or challenge in the workplace — you won't regret it!"

    — Manager, Public Sector

  • “Emma's calm, compassionate and thoughtful guidance was and is exactly what I need to guide me through the challenges of career and personal development. I came to her in a moment of uncertainty and disorientation, and she worked with me to clear a path forward and set my sights on something truly exciting and motivating. When I started working with Emma, I was completely new to coaching, and was pleasantly surprised by the process. I was plagued with imposter syndrome, self doubt, and general uncertainty in my profession. She helped me find my voice and take ownership of my narrative. Emma doesn't just coach for a certain outcome (although she did help me negotiate a promotion and a 20% raise) but instead takes a holistic approach and really embraces the betterment of her clients as a whole.”

    — Architect

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty”

— MAYA ANGELOU

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You’re a great fit if you: 

    • Are self-aware, curious and committed to being an authentic, effective leader 

    • Dream big and take bold action to achieve your goals 

    • Take responsibility for your growth and recognize the value of investing in yourself 

    • Are willing to dig deep and dedicate time to inner work (~1-2 hrs/wk) 

  • Here are a few classics that I love:

    1. The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership (Diana Chapman, Jim Dethmer, Kaley Klemp)

    2. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals (Oliver Burkeman)

    3. Atomic Habits (James Clear)

    4. Immunity to Change (Lisa Lahey, Robert Kegan)

    5. Radical Candor (Kim Scott) 

    6. Designing Your Life (Dave Evans, Bill Burnett)

    7. Good to Great (Jim Collins)

    8. The Source (Tara Swart)

    9. Shoe Dog (Phil Knight)

    10. Never Split the Difference (Chris Voss)

    11. Think Again (Adam Grant)

    12. Braving the Wilderness (Brené Brown)

    13. Slow Productivity (Cal Newport)

  • Yes! Feel free to reach out if you’re interested in booking one for your company. Here are some examples:

    Unlock Creative Leadership: From Survival Mode to Strategic Growth. If you’re constantly in firefighting mode, buried in endless tasks, and craving space for strategic thinking, this workshop is for you. Learn how to shift your mindset from survival to growth, unlocking creativity and productivity with more ease and less stress. By realigning how you motivate yourself and your team, you’ll create space for expansion, empower your decision-making, and deliver results without burning out.

    Reclaim Your Time: Build Systems for Energy and Focus. If your days feel scattered and you’re struggling to focus on what really matters, this workshop will help you take back control. Uncover the habits and systems that are draining your energy and learn practical strategies to redesign your approach to work. By aligning your systems and habits with your core priorities, you’ll unlock more productivity, more space, and more energy to lead with power—and without the guilt or burnout.

    Mastering Feedback: Building A+ Teams and Thriving Cultures. Learn how to give and receive feedback that drives performance, builds stronger relationships, and fosters a thriving company culture. Feedback doesn’t have to be feared or ineffective. In this workshop, you'll master techniques to shift from dread to empowerment, unlocking better communication and performance in both your team and personal relationships. You’ll leave with practical, real-world tools to immediately improve how you lead and grow your business.

    Own The Room: Transform Important Meetings. Gain the clarity, calm, and confidence to own key meetings, from investor pitches to board meetings. This workshop will help you step into critical conversations with authority, aligning with your goals and leaving the room with actionable outcomes. Learn how to shift your approach to these high-stakes moments, ensuring you leave with the clarity and support needed to propel your business forward.

    Clear the Path Forward: Overcome Your Biggest Roadblock. Is there a goal you’ve been striving for — something that would make a massive difference in your life and work — but no matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to make progress? Whether it’s setting clear boundaries, mastering delegation, or creating consistency in your routine, you’ve likely been stuck in a loop of frustration. In this workshop, we’ll use the "Immunity to Change" framework to uncover the hidden beliefs and patterns that are silently sabotaging your progress. By getting to the heart of what’s holding you back, you’ll leave with powerful insights and actionable tools to finally break free and move forward with confidence.

  • When I see a caterpillar, I envision the butterfly it can become. Transformation takes intentional work, but the results are extraordinary. I’m here to guide you through your evolution.

Start Your Transformation Now

Book your free consultation so we can begin uncovering your limiting patterns, pinpointing where you are leaking energy, and creating a vision for the leader you will become.