Communicating with Honesty and Dignity

Helping people communicate, navigate conflict, and lead change in their lives and organizations

At a(om), we help people build the mindsets, skills, and presence needed to communicate with greater honesty, dignity, and care. Through coaching and guided learning experiences, participants develop practical ways of showing up in conversation that strengthen relationships, deepen self-awareness, and expand what becomes possible. Through decades of experience and research we have been refining what this work is and why it matters, and from that we have created experiences, frameworks, and assessments to help individuals and groups on their journey. You can learn more about us on our Who We Are page.

What brings you to a(om) today?

I am interested in bringing an experience to my  organization or team

Our team/group is looking for support in strengthening communication, navigating difficult conversations, developing leadership capacity, and engaging more intentionally with relational dynamics, meeting design, and organizational change.

I’m looking for individual or partner coaching

I want to develop my communication skills, coaching presence, self-awareness, relational capacity, and ability to engage with others in more reflective, intentional, and grounded ways.
We want support navigating a relationship that is changing. We want to better understand how we are showing up with one another, explore the patterns and tensions shaping our relationship, and develop the capacity to communicate, navigate change, and move forward together with greater awareness and intention.

I’m exploring the philosophy

I want to learn about The Circle of Reciprocity, GROW², relational communication, and grounded approaches to change in order to better understand how relationships, communication, and systems shape how people grow and work together.

  • "Nicole is one of the most authentic practitioners I know, and you feel that immediately in how she shows up. She brings a depth of preparation and clarity to her work that makes it easy to trust the process, engage meaningfully, and develop greater awareness, intention and clarity in how you show up in conversation."

    —Brian G.

  • "Nicole is a person who believes in her people. She listens with intent. She empowers you through thoughtful questioning and she is so very true! I love how she first grounds you in your body and from there help you coax out what may be lying just below the surface of your own awareness."

    —Jennie C.

  • "Working with Nicole is life-changing. She is a phenomenal coach and makes you feel seen and any problem you need help with she breaks down into actionable steps and you leave every interaction feeling more confident with a clearer path forward."

    —Krystin M.

  • "What stands out most about Nicole as a facilitator is the care and intentionality she brings to every space she holds. She has a gift for creating containers where people feel safe enough to engage honestly while still being challenged to grow. Her sessions are reflective, practical, and deeply human in a way that many facilitators strive for buy rarely achieve."

    -Emily B.

  • "Thirty seconds into my first conversation with Nicole, I knew we were in good hands. Her knowledge runs deep, but what actually stays with you is how she delivers it. There's a warmth and a grounding to her that makes the work feel approachable without ever feeling diluted. Tools like The Circle of Reciprocity and working through challenging conversations stopped being frameworks pretty quickly and started feeling like just how it should be done."

    Jason Schlosky

    Caregivers First Choice

  • "Thank you, Nicole, for embodying my right to choose my next step in my journey. In just one session, your open and grounded approach created a space for me to both think and feel into that step. Your simple follow-up was just the right amount of accountability. I felt like you were sitting next to me, looking at my goals side by side, even through we were connecting virtually."

    -Lisa M.

  • "Working with Dr. Ortiz, I have become a better leader. Through her, I learned how to foster a strong, healthy team culture built on accountability, empathy and love and became better prepared for the challenges that leadership presents... I have taken part in many workshops with her at the lead. She lets the conversation happen and leaves space so that people can participate thoughtfully. Her courses have left an indelible mark on me. Working with Nicole is such a joy. Her approach is easy and free-flowing. She expertly meets you where you are, giving pertinent responses with measured, intelligent ideas that leave one prepared for the next challenge.

    -Jason C.

  • "Nicole has a deeply freeing presence that fosters the opportunity for us to truly embody our richest selves while honoring those of others. With her shared gifts, the world of business, and shared humanity is limitless and exponential."

    -Matt B.

  • "It is interesting how you break things down and make them seem so simple! I think this conversation could have gone a lot differently without your help. You helped me show up to the conversation in a way that I was proud of and also helped me stand up for myself while still being compassionate towards other people’s thoughts/feelings."

    -Brandi S.

  • "As a practitioner of her leadership, coaching and mentorship, I can say that anyone who chooses to engage in the unique space she creates will be met with challenges, reflection and questions that will lead to a deeper clarity of yourself and your path, if you’re willing to dig in. I recently had the pleasure to explore what a coaching session with Nicole through a(om) would entail at a turning point in my life and career. I left our session feeling grounded, enlightened and emboldened to take a step in a new direction that required me to face some hard truths and harness my courage to move forward. To share a space with Nicole is truly a transformative experience."

    -Sarah M.

  • "Working with Nicole has been a truly delightful experience. She creates a space where you feel seen, heard, and respected, while also emphasizing the importance of dialogue, reflection, and problem-solving through kindness and empathy. I deeply appreciate the time she takes to listen, while also challenging me to think outside the box, ask "why", and let go of biases or grudges without dismissing or minimizing my feelings. Her guidance has helped me recognize the value of my strengths instead of focusing only on my weaknesses and self-doubts."

    -MariFer S.

  • "Working with Nicole over the years has been a transformative and life changing experience. As a coach, she gently yet playfully coaxes the most tender and vulnerable parts out from the darkness, and welcomes them with an abundance of care and love. Like a dandelion growing from a crack in the concrete, her magic is undeniable."

    -Perry D.