What is a Career Transition Coach?

Meet Amy Nickerson

If you’re staring down a career change wondering, “Can I really do this?” — Yes, you can!

After years in academia, working in roles with a clearly defined path, I too found myself at a professional crossroads. The roadmap had ended. And, for the first time, I had to create my own. Leaving behind academic titles and timelines, I stepped into something new: entrepreneurship and a new chapter as a career transition coach.

What started as uncertainty turned into something powerful, built on the same skills I’d been honing for over a decade—guiding others through their own transitions.

Let’s connect and get you to where you want to be!

I didn’t just read or follow the career change playbook—I lived and wrote it! Now I’d love to help you figure out what’s next and make it happen.

So what is a career transition coach exactly?

Someone who has:

  • A knack for seeing the potential in your path—even when you can’t see it yet

  • Strategic thinking rooted in years of experience designing programs, setting goals, and mapping out plans that actually work

  • A teacher’s mindset, which means you’ll never get vague advice—just clarity, direction, and tools you can use

  • A background that blends healthcare, higher ed, public service, and leadership—and proof that reinvention is very much possible at any age

And underneath it all: a listener. A question-asker. A guide who meets you where you are and helps you move toward what’s next, one step at a time.

“The toughest question for me was identifying my passion and what motivates me. I wrote down my thoughts and approached the exercise with a commitment to honesty. Some of my responses felt “wrong” to express openly, but I tried not to let that bother me and allowed my thoughts and feelings to flow freely. This process helped me gain a clearer understanding of what I truly want and what I don’t want, free from judgment. The questions were purposefully designed to guide me in narrowing down my interests and search criteria”
— Kelly
Off the clock, I’m out in nature or exploring the world.
You’ll usually find me cycling Vermont’s back roads, hiking or nordic skiing in the mountains, or cooking up something delicious (wine pairings included). I’m always chasing discovery—new places, new people, new recipes, new perspectives. That spirit of exploration fuels everything I do.
Ready to explore what’s next in your career?  I’d love to help.
Let’s connect and see where this new chapter can take you.