“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
– Maya Angelou
Meet Amanda
Amanda believes strongly in courageous conversations, authenticity, and continuous development, which along with mind-body health, have been consistent areas of focus for her.
After growing up in Iowa, Amanda sought adventure every few years by living in new places, including Boulder, New York City, Minneapolis, and Melbourne, Australia. Amanda achieved an undergraduate degree and an MBA, as well as worked in progressive roles within a non-profit organization, a massive multi-national corporation, and a rapidly growing small company.
With each change came the building blocks of what brought Amanda to her current role. In NYC, Amanda first experienced direct communication, which inspired a journey of transparent conversations that remain part of her today. Working in the medical device industry instilled an appreciation for data-driven decisions, experience leading large-scale change, and skill in navigating ambiguous matrixed environments with diverse stakeholders. Multiple amazing female leaders there transformed Amanda’s life in ways for which she will be forever grateful.
Working internationally was a longtime goal, so Amanda happily accepted an opportunity in Australia where she led an entirely remote-working team and represented on multiple leadership teams. After two and a half years of the exponential growth accompanying immersion in a foreign culture, Amanda returned to the US to be closer than a 24+ hour flight from family.
After experiencing professional development coaching firsthand, Amanda knew making this life-changing benefit accessible to others was her mission. Coaches and consultants had made such a positive impact on her team, and she had always dreamed of owning her own business, so Amanda researched extensively and founded Ernst Coaching and Consulting, LLC.
Amanda has achieved ACC credentialing through the International Coach Federation and is pursuing training in the research of Brené Brown. While credentialing is not required in coaching, Amanda believes that adhering to a code of ethics and committing to continued education is worth the extra effort. Amanda learns from every interaction, customizes for each client, and always welcomes feedback as she strives to improve the client experience.
In her free time, Amanda enjoys adventures, events, reading, fitness, and spending time with cherished family and friends. Some of her most memorable recent adventures include swimming with whale sharks and humpback whales in the Ningaloo Reef, hiking many beautiful areas in Victoria, exploring the Maquoketa Caves, and seeing artistic performances including concerts, dance, opera, and musicals. Amanda likes putting down roots in diverse places where she can delve into the local culture and forge friendships that endure over geographic distance. Said friends often note her authenticity, quirky sense of humor, use of old-fashioned phrases and affinity for sending snail mail cards with personalized newspaper or magazine clippings.
