Heather Fryer PhD , BCC

I am on a mission to help professors, writers, and creative professionals find success on their own terms by restoring their connection to the passion and purpose that drew them to commit their minds and hearts to their areas of expertise. Academia (including cultural institutions and publishing) is rough terrain that many too many of us struggle to navigate alone. It’s natural to adopt habits like overworking and people (or institution)-pleasing to cope with early career stresses without realizing the cost of shifting focus from our true aspirations. These habits take root over time, giving life to self-undermining behaviors like perfectionism, impostor syndrome, chronic dissatisfaction, and disengagement.

Drawing from evidence-based methods in positive psychology, insights from cognitive behavioral theory, and the proven effectiveness of coactive coaching, I guide clients in reorienting their career trajectories toward their true aspirations. Together, we align their goals with professional benchmarks, chart a path to productivity and fulfillment, and take continuous steps toward this new standard of success. Every coaching conversation celebrates successes, provides accountability for taking each next step, quiets the inner critic, and keeps forward momentum building by setting the next clear, achievable goal. This process of self-inquiry, reframing perspectives, and experimenting with new ways of working—and being—builds the skills and resilience necessary to reach for the high bar, sustain work-life balance, adapt to emerging challenges, and transform setbacks into opportunities for innovation, reinvention, and renewal over the course of their careers.

I also bring my combined experiences as a journal editor, author, and coach to my developmental editing and coaching services for writers. Together, we uncover the true heart of the author's message, craft prose that will make an impact on its intended readership, and create a publishable manuscript in the author's authentic voice.

I hold a PhD in history from Boston College and received my board certification in life coaching through the Institute for Life Coach Training. I came to coaching with 20 years’ experience as an endowed professor of history, journal editor, documentary filmmaker, TEDx speaker, and museum exhibition planner who wants people and ideas to flourish for the good of the world.