Executive Coaching for High Performers

Lead with purpose. Communicate with clarity. Move forward with confidence.

Hi, I’m Katie

After more than 20 years in high-stakes roles in PR and communications, I found myself at a career crossroads. The work that mattered most to me wasn’t launching campaigns or managing crises – it was coaching and mentoring people through their own turning points.

Now, as a certified executive coach, I help high achievers lead with intention, reconnect with their values, and build careers that fulfill them – professionally and personally. My clients are driven, successful and often burned out from the pressure to perform. Together, we find clarity, build confidence, and boost performance without sacrificing who they are in the process.

While many of my clients are ambitious women and professionals in communications, marketing, and media, they span industries and identities. What they all share is a passion to find their purpose, less overwhelm and a path forward that feels authentic and achievable.

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Let’s be honest

Our journeys are rarely linear, and life takes detours. Think of me as a passenger riding shotgun in your car – you’re in the driver’s seat choosing the route, the destination, and the pace. My role is to help you read the map, spot the roadblocks, and stay on course.

If you’re ready to shift gears or explore a new path, let’s talk. One strategy call can set real change in motion.

Ready to Get Started?

"Katie has a rare ability to help high-achieving professionals lead with clarity, intention, and impact. While many of her clients are women in leadership, she brings powerful insight to men who collaborate closely with women and those who are seeking to lead with greater confidence. Her perspective transcends industries and roles. I recommend Katie often and I'm excited to continue partnering with her as my career evolves."

Wesley Encalade
Interim Chief Strategy Officer, CPAP Services
"I’ve known Katie for 20 years as an exceptional PR pro, so I knew she’d understand the complex and often competing challenges, demands and dynamics a senior-level comms leader experiences. I worried that executive coaching would be just another task on my too-long to-do list, but instead, Katie helped me clear space for higher-level thinking, delegate more effectively, and make real progress with clarity and confidence. If you’re on the fence, don’t wait—book time with her now! Your future self will thank you."

Angie Schneider
Tech Communications Executive
"Katie’s media training and coaching unlocked a level of confidence in me that I hadn’t realized I possessed. Her ability to inspire and elevate those around her is remarkable. If you have the opportunity to work with Katie, you won’t regret it."

Luke Hejl
CEO & Co-founder, TimelyCare
"Katie cares about her clients and is so dedicated to her craft. We quickly created a deep, insightful safe space where I felt very comfortable sharing my challenges and opportunities. This was because Katie built a safe place to land. As a result, I have greater clarity and self-awareness of issues that I hadn't realized had been mental blocks for me. I can’t wait to see what we uncover in our next session! It was transformative work – 100% recommend!"

Andrea Gils Monzón
CEO & Founder, Shiftmakers Consulting
“Katie led a fantastic professional development session that gave us the chance to bond as a team, elevate our leadership, celebrate our wins, and reflect on how we can grow together.”

Natalie Broyhill
Co-owner, Tartan Organizing
“I am so glad I chose to work with Katie! She is sharp, kind, strategic, and an excellent coach for communications professionals looking to take their careers to the next level. She expertly guided me through key steps of a career transition — networking, applications, interviewing, and compensation/benefits negotiations — and helped me to focus my energies on what was most important to me. I ended up with two excellent offers and recently accepted a dream role in executive communications.”

Leah Sink Haynes, Ph.D.
Speechwriter, Executive Communications, Wake Forest University
"'Energetic communicator' is the phrase that comes to mind when I think about Katie. Katie stepped in while my PR director was on maternity leave to collaborate on the media strategy for the launch of the first UNCSA comprehensive campaign in decades. Katie was knowledgeable about who and where to pitch our announcement and her efforts resulted in an unexpected volume of coverage featuring several leadership interviews (radio, television, and print). Above all, I was impressed with Katie’s dedication to the cause. Katie Neal comes with my heartfelt recommendation."

Claire Machamer
SVP of Communications and Marketing, Berklee College of Music
“Katie asked incredibly thoughtful and insightful questions that helped me to dig deep into the WHY behind WHAT I was saying. Her approach inspired me to chart a course with intention and empowered me to feel more in control of my future.”

Carolyn Becker
Deputy Director of Public Affairs and Communications, California State Lottery
"Katie's great value was clarifying my doubts after a forced transition and restoring confidence that I could meet the challenge."

Emery D.
Journalist and Storyteller
"Katie opened my eyes to certain aspects of a recent career shift and coached me on what to consider when making decisions as I continue to grow and learn in a new field. Because Katie went through the same early in her career, I knew she’d be the perfect person to guide me through the process. She’s been beyond helpful and I love our time together! I leave each session motivated with clearer ideas as to what to do next."

Michele C.
Social Media Specialist
“Katie Neal brought an incredible blend of professionalism, warmth, and insight to her training with the Women’s Business Center of Kentucky. Her ability to connect with participants—whether seasoned entrepreneurs or those just getting started—was immediate and genuine. Katie doesn’t just share knowledge; she sparks action. Her engaging style, relatable examples, and clear expertise inspired our attendees to think bigger, move forward with confidence, and take tangible steps toward their business goals. We are grateful for her leadership and look forward to working with her again.”

Devanny King
Executive Director, Women’s Business Center of Kentucky

The Perfectionism Trap: The Hidden Cost of Doing It Right

Ever feel like your worth depends on getting everything exactly right? In this TEDx talk, I reveal how perfectionism often masquerades as ambition while quietly fueling fear, anxiety, and missed opportunities.

Drawing on research, personal stories, and my experience coaching high achievers, I explain how the drive for control keeps us busy and stuck. With practical tools to clarify your values, quiet your inner critic, and choose progress over perfection, I offer instead a powerful invitation: Stop perfecting your story and start living it.

Katie Neal Talks TEDx & PRSA on WTVQ News at Noon

Katie Neal, ACC, joined fellow board member Brant Welch, APR, on WTVQ News at Noon to talk about the impact of PRSA in Central Kentucky and her upcoming TEDx talk at Bellarmine University.
PRSA Leader Katie Neal to take the TEDx Stage at Bellarmine University

Katie Neal, ACC, longtime board member and past president of the PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter, will deliver a TEDx talk titled “The Perfectionism Trap: The Hidden Cost of Doing It Right" on Friday, Feb. 20 in Louisville, Ky.
Create a Five-Year Strategic Plan for Your Career

What do you really want? If you can imagine a bolder 2031, you can create a bolder 2026. Follow these six simple steps to turn your spark into a five-year vision you can actually grow toward.
From Burnout to Breakthrough: 3 Strategies for PR Pros

Burnout isn’t a badge of honor, and it certainly isn’t sustainable. By asking better questions, quieting your inner critic and setting clearer boundaries, you can reclaim much of the energy and creativity that drew you to communications in the first place.
Bold (Not Bitchy!) in the Workplace with Katie Neal

When you walk into a meeting, do you command attention? Or do you think that being assertive may make you look “bossy” to your colleagues? In this podcast, we explore why confident communication matters for women.
The Power of Communication in Uncertain Times

Gallup research found that people worldwide want hope, trust, compassion and stability most from their leaders. How can comms help?
To Prevent Burnout, Value Creativity Over Activity

To mark World Mental Health Day, Katie Neal, ACC, joined PRSA’s publications director John Elsasser for a conversation about redefining success as sustaining ourselves while still doing high-quality work.
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