About

My Background

My interest in career development was kindled at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where I graduated with a B.A. in comparative literature, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa (yay liberal arts!) and trained as a Paraprofessional Career Consultant.

Since my time at the U of I, I’ve helped countless clients of different backgrounds, cultures, and experience levels with career transition and job hunting. I focus especially – but not exclusively – on folks seeking nonprofit and social impact work.

My coaching certification is from GetFive, a rigorous program that emphasizes all aspects of job hunting, including assessments, search strategies, resume writing, interviewing, and salary negotiation. 

And I keep up to date through continuing education with groups such as the National Career Development Association, the Resume Writing Academy, the Institute of Coaching, and the University of Toronto’s Solutions-based Brief Coaching program.

A Fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago, I’ve held roles as a senior executive and board member for a number of prestigious nonprofits over many years, getting first-hand experience in the hiring process.

My mission is to help people craft careers and build lives that are meaningful and fulfilling. My clients will tell you that I do so with expertise, kindness, and a good sense of humor.

Four Facts About Me

1. I live with my husband, Les Orenstein, a ceramic artist, in West Rogers Park, one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Chicago. Fifty-two languages are spoken at the school on the corner!

2. In my free time, I volunteer as a tutor of young children for an amazing neighborhood refugee organization, FORA (Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America). 

3. My favorite saying was learned from my mom, Betty: “The most wasted day of all is that on which you have not laughed.” From my dad, Jerry, I acquired a strong work ethic and a habit of continually learning. 

4. I’m grateful to my younger brother and sister, Greg and Roberta, for being my first clients when I was in training as a Paraprofessional Career Consultant while in college. As young as they were, they dutifully completed “the flower exercise” from the venerable Richard N. Bolles’ What Color is My Parachute?