Meet Etta

I’ve discovered, as a coach, that I can see you at your best, while also respecting and listening to the parts of you that hold you back.

I will create the space for you to ask the hard questions, grapple with the answers, and help you trust that you are ready to take the leap forward to a more meaningful career aligned with your values and what energizes you.

I believe in the process. It’s about us working together, to explore what might be. I will support you in imagining your Ideal Day at Work to help you create the checklist for your next great job that taps into your strengths. It’s about aligning your head, heart, gut, to uncover your what, why, and how. It’s about listening to what is important to you right now. It’s letting go of your outdated assumptions of what you should be doing. It’s seeing your future in new ways.

My calling is to help you gain clarity, confidence, and coherence in every step of your journey.

ANGER. ANXIETY. DOUBT. These are just three of the emotions that accompany us while we’re navigating a sudden career transition. It’s one thing to choose a new path, where we have the time and space to reflect on what we want. But what if the change is sudden and unwanted? Whether we see the change coming or not, it can be overwhelming to plan our next steps, while also wrestling with self-doubt, grief, anger, and our inner critic.

The impact of trying to move forward while carrying our doubt and uncertainty:

Our chorus of internal “shoulds” drowns out the call of “What is possible”.
Our fear impedes our forward movement.
Our sense of uncertainty inhibits our taking action to explore what lies ahead.

It’s time for a change. We all arrive at a point in our careers where things just don’t fit anymore.

A place where we’ve outgrown our role as well as the stories we believe about ourselves. We sense something isn’t right, and yet it can feel easier—and safer—to stay where we are, rather than take the leap to explore what might be a better fit for the person we are today.

And let’s say it: Change is big. Change is hard, and it’s scary. And . . . we have to start somewhere.

I believe true transformation begins with listening, trusting, and accepting what makes you, you. It’s about accepting your shortcomings and embracing your superpowers. It’s recognizing all the parts of yourself and noticing when they serve you—and when they don’t.

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes.

Marcel Proust

When you reveal the limiting beliefs holding you back, you gain the power to reach your full potential.

I’m an ICF Certified Executive and Career Transition Coach, and I help people navigate turning points in their careers—whether that means stepping into a bigger role, finding a new direction, or regrouping after a job loss. Together, we quickly get clear on what you want, uncover your strengths, and move toward opportunities that truly align with who you are and what you value.  

My superpower? I have an intuitive sense for people’s potential. I often see what’s possible for you—before you can. Before coaching, I had a successful first career as an award-winning Art Director at two Fortune 500 companies. That creative lens still shapes how I work, helping clients explore fresh, unexpected solutions to the challenges they’re facing. 

My husband, Aldo, and I split our time between Boston and the Berkshires, where we enjoy the balance of city energy and country ease.

Start your Journey

Education, Certifications & Affiliations

Education

MA in Organizational Psychology, William James College, Boston, MA
Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching, William James College, Boston, MA
BFA in Illustration, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Psychology Studies, Union College, Schenectady, NY

AFFILIATIONS

Past President, and Current Member of the Advisory Board of Women in the Enterprise of Science and Technology (WEST)
Executive Coach, Innovator's Program, Social Innovation Forum

certifications

Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation (ICF).
IFS Foundations for Coaches, Certificate
Structural Dynamics, Kantor Behavioral Profile, Certificate
Fearless Organization Scan (Psychological Safety)

“I’d lost a good deal of faith in my motivation and competence. Working with Etta was a ‘centering’ experience- she helped me reconnect with what makes me effective, build skills and strength to manage, and ultimately to commit to a major professional shift.”

Jessica
Senior Non-profit leader
"When I came to Etta, I was in a dark place and skeptical of coaching in general. With her help, I quickly discovered it wasn’t a new career path I was looking for, but a better understanding of my purpose in life. I am now able to open myself to the right opportunities when they arise."

Andrew
Account Executive
"Etta’s exceptional ability to help navigate one’’s thoughts and feelings to arrive at keen insights was critical in helping me understand the best path forward, so I could enjoy my career. By trusting the process, I discovered what was holding me back from reaching my potential."

Barbara
Communications Director
"She listens to what it is you're saying and sees how she can be a part of helping you to accomplish what you are trying to accomplish. She puts her soul into what she's doing. It's always helping you go to that next level of excellence. Etta uses her curiosity to challenge my assumptions and helped me arrive at my own conclusions to resolve my concerns and challenges."

Maxine Price
Certified Executive Coach & HR/Diversity, Equity Inclusion Consultant

Sharing Wisdom, Sparking Change—See the Conversations

Explore the podcasts, articles, and videos where I share practical insights on navigating career transitions, challenging limiting beliefs, and becoming the best version of yourself.

podcasts

Podcast with Liz Keifer

Parts Well Played Podcast

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Be curious and Just Say Yes with Etta Jacobs

Work from the Inside Out Podcast

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Coaching Through Career Transitions & Challenges with Etta Jacobs

TheInVinoFab Podcast

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blog posts

Featured

Amplify Your Ideas

Imagine: you’re at a meeting where you present an idea, and no one comments on it—you only hear “crickets” . . . until a few minutes later when someone else restates the same idea as if it were his own, and everyone chimes in about this other person’s great idea. How often have you witnessed this? Has this happened to you?