We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Laura Althoff a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Laura, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

In January 2025, I narrowed my coaching focus to work specifically with men in technology and sales who want to make a career change. This could be a new job, or a new company, or a new industry all together.

I did this because the belief that men’s value comes solely from their work is outdated at best and damaging for all of us at worst. I want to build discussion around expanding men’s definition of worth and to identify all the ways they define their value.

Having better conversations with men about their jobs is my starting point on this mission.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

With years of experience guiding top professionals through career transitions, I specialize in helping high-achievers find clarity and build a career path that fits their values and goals.

As a licensed clinical social worker (LICSW), trained mediator, and Agile professional, I bring a unique blend of business insight and interpersonal skill. I’ve worked with companies like Aetna, Dell, Pegasystems, and Harvard, helping people at all stages of their careers – from early professionals to senior execs – navigate change and reach their full potential. I’m known for asking the right questions and helping my clients find answers that lead to action.

Over the course of my 30+ years in the job force, I’ve had 3 distinct careers that inform my work today. I started in professional arts fundraising, where I learned how systems build capacity around a mission. Next, I was living in New York city when 9/11 happened which inspired me to get my MSW and pursue a role in the helping profession. Providing clinical and coaching services to employees and organizations was my focus for the following decade. And after that, I made a serendipitous connection to the world of technology through Agile training, where I discovered my interest in (and love of) working with engineers. All of these experiences have contributed to my breadth of work place knowledge and deep experience working with people who want to live more intentional lives.

My career would be impossible to replicate because so much of it was about the timing and the opportunities I was afforded. I started my career without a cell phone and today, can use AI to write email. I hope I can support my clients in seizing their own opportunities by helping them get clear about their values and what they truly want. I help them get unstuck and move to clarity and excitement about their future.

Leaders and high-achievers are often lonely and told they need to go it alone. That’s just not true and I’m here to help.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Without a doubt, my reputation has been built on my interest in others and vast network. I’ve cared about people and their depth of experience for as long as I can remember, and pursued it in all of my careers. Keeping in touch, connecting people, and asking questions are core to who I am and what I’m known for.

From all of my jobs, hobbies, travels, and neighborhoods, I’ve collected people and learned their stories. That is core to my reputation.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2021, I was hired for my dream job as an Agile Coach at a music recording software company. This was the job that combined my life-long love of music with my devotion to improving team performance. From day one, I loved it. My colleagues were smart, creative, generous, and lots of fun. We did incredible work together.

Then, just a year later, our team got cut and I was laid off. It was my first lay-off and I was devestated. For the next two weeks, I barely moved from my couch. And then I realized something: I’d been playing small. I’d always wanted to pursue my coaching practice full-time and there was always a reason not to, usually fear. But the lay off offered me an opportunity to ask myself: “if I don’t do this now, when will I?”

From there, I began to identify as a career coach with a website and offering and I haven’t looked back.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://althoffconsulting.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-althoff-8331805/

Image Credits

Photos by Leise Jones Photography