Breathe easier in a new role

From Overwhelmed to In Command

25 Years at Southwest Airlines

Former VP and Chief of Staff to CFO

About

You got the new role. Now everyone expects you to have all the answers.

It's exciting. It's a great opportunity. It's what you've worked so hard for.


But behind the excitement? Maybe a little panic. Some sleepless nights. A whole lot of holding your breath, hoping no one realizes you're still figuring things out.


You're trying to look confident and capable, but the expectations are higher and the stakes bigger. You're stretched thinner than you ever imagined.

I know that feeling. I've been there. Many times.

I'm Colleen Russell, and I spent 25 years at Southwest Airlines, rising to Vice President and serving as Chief of Staff to the EVP & CFO. As a VP of Internal Audit, I began dually reporting to the Board of Directors' Audit Committee Chairman and Southwest Airlines' President.


Across my career I moved into different roles. I went from Programmer Analyst to VP across five functions, so I understand both the professional demands and personal pressures that come with greater responsibility. 


My co-workers often asked how I did it.

What they didn't always see was the uncertainty behind the scenes.

Did I experience fear, self-doubt, and those moments of wondering whether I was really ready? Absolutely. Every time.


But I also learned how to find my footing, build credibility, adapt my leadership approach, and succeed in environments where the expectations kept changing.

Today, as an Executive Coach, I help corporate leaders do the same.

How to Work Together

1:1 Coaching

  • I offer 3- and 6-month coaching engagements for corporate leaders in a new role.
  • We will typically meet every two weeks.
  • A Hogan Assessment as part of our engagement will help you learn how you respond to pressure and how to leverage your best qualities.
  • Coaching is completely confidential even if your company pays.
  • Engagements are designed around your leadership priorities, helping you breathe again.

Schedule a Strategy Session

If you are interested in an organizational engagement including Hogan Assessments, workshops, speaking, or a combination designed around your organization's needs, email me (colleen@colleenrussellcoaching.com) for more information.

Client Results

I've helped leaders across industries step up in new roles, including:

Considered for another promotion

An engineering leader who moved into an unfamiliar business role with high expectations and delivered a new product on time.

Promoted into senior role

A Division Head managed complexities of shared leadership, organizational politics, and private equity pressures.

Stepped up to lead a team 3X the size

A newly promoted Director built the confidence to overcome imposter syndrome.

From tears to smiling again

A Director went from burnout to enjoying her work, and became next in line for her boss’s job.

Different leaders. Different challenges. Common thread.

They didn't need to become someone else to succeed. They just needed to be operating at the right level.

Want to see if you are operating at the right level?

Take the Executive Clarity Diagnostic

What Clients Say

"Working with Colleen has been incredibly valuable. Her coaching provided me with fresh perspectives as I prepared for my annual performance review, boosting my confidence to build the role I truly wanted. She has been an exceptional partner and an invaluable source of support!"


Callie P.

"Colleen has a gift for hearing everything you're saying—and everything you're not. She zeroes in on what matters most and offers insight that feels both grounded and transformative. If you're in a season of change, she's the kind of coach who truly cares about how you come through it."


Alanna H., Growth Teams Consultant 

"I can't overstate the impact Colleen had on my professional development. Having experienced her refreshing leadership style in our shared corporate environment, I knew her coaching would be exceptional. Colleen masterfully balanced support with accountability, never hesitating to point out inconsistencies in my thinking while remaining firmly in my corner."


Brewa Kennedy

"I started working with Colleen as my coach about six months ago, and the journey has been incredibly impactful. Her wealth of corporate experience shines through as she helps me navigate my business challenges with confidence. Colleen is an exceptional accountability partner and sounding board, striking the perfect balance between offering a listening ear and stepping in with thoughtful guidance when needed."


Ainsley E.

Overwhelmed by a New Role?

The Executive Clarity Diagnostic

Taking on a new role often shifts how you need to operate and at what level. Panic and holding your breath may even follow. This diagnostic will help you identify your operating level across five key pillars and receive instant feedback for where to start.

Take the Diagnostic

Frequently Asked Questions

I help corporate leaders in a new role (6 months or less) operate at the right level. I often work with Directors, VPs, Division Heads, and Senior Executives and have coached across industries such as transportation, energy, technology, finance, health care, and marketing.

I recommend a minimum of a 3-month engagement with most clients opting for a 6-month engagement. We will typically meet every two weeks.


Some clients continue beyond the initial engagement as their leadership responsibilities and priorities evolve.

Yes. I work directly with individuals who are investing in themselves and organizations sponsoring coaching for leaders in new roles. Confidentiality is maintained between coach and client, and any information to be shared across parties is agreed to during our contracting process.


Email me (colleen@colleenrussellcoaching.com) for more information if you are interested in an organizational engagement including Hogan Assessments, workshops, speaking, or a combination designed around the organization's needs.

Yes. As a Hogan Assessments Certified Practitioner, I recommend incorporating Hogan into client engagements to better understand how you respond to pressure.


Hogan provides insight into leadership strengths, potential derailers, values, and motivations and can create a strong foundation for identifying development priorities. Hogan Assessments and debriefs are also available as standalone engagements.

It starts with a strategy session.


We'll discuss your new role, what you would like to accomplish, and what's causing you to hold your breath. I'll also share more about my approach.


This session is confidential and provided at no cost. If we determine there is a strong fit, we'll identify next steps designed around your priorities.

A bigger role shouldn't mean constantly holding your breath.

Succeeding in a new role and feeling successful in that role are two very different things. You deserve both.

Schedule a Strategy Session

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