Hi! I’m Gretchen Rickards…
A Partner You Can Trust
I deeply understand the challenges that high-achieving professionals experience when faced with transitions and change. My passion lies in helping others discover a more empowered and fulfilling approach to navigating these transitions in an effort to ease the journey.
My Story
Like so many of us, my story is filled with many twists and turns. In short, over the course of my career I’ve been a consultant, physician, military officer, healthcare leader, medical education leader, and professional coach.
Along the way, I’ve found the most joy in providing inspiring leadership through change and helping high-achieving individuals successfully navigate transitions and challenges. I look forward to utilizing my deep expertise in leadership, professional development, and personal development to help you elevate your leadership and thrive through change.
Transitions I’ve Navigated
There have been more than a few, to include:
Leadership transitions: First leadership job, navigating new leadership roles, changes in team dynamics, change management, crisis management as a military leader and healthcare leader through the COVID-19 pandemic
Professional identity transitions: First job post-training, working professional returning to school, multiple career changes, military to civilian transition, full-time to part-time transition and everything in between, full-time employee to entrepreneur
Life transitions: Academic transitions, marriage in my late 30’s, children, parental illness, parental care, personal illness, job changes, over 10 major geographic relocations, midlife re-evaluation
Credentials
Looking for proof of my high achiever status?
I graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in Psychology. I received my medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, where I was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.
I completed my residency in Internal Medicine at Tripler Army Medical Center and a fellowship in General Internal Medicine with a focus on medical education and faculty development at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. I also received a Masters of Public Health from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences along the way.
Prior to medicine, I worked for five years in IT/consulting, helping organizations navigate change during large-scale software implementations. My entire medical career has focused around medical education, which culminated in leading the largest residency program in the state of Delaware during the COVID-19 pandemic. I also served for nine years as an officer and physician in the US Army. In total, I have over 20 years of experience coaching, professionally developing, and educating leaders and high achievers across industries in addition to my experience as a professional coach.
I'm a certified coach, credentialed by the International Coaching Federation, with additional expertise in diversity coaching and 360-degree leadership feedback.
On a Personal Note…
Beyond My Titles…
I am the wife of a fellow physician and mother of two amazing daughters.
I am a voracious reader and am often reading 3-4 books at a time, spanning multiple genres.
I enjoy travel, family time, time spent with dear friends, hearty laughter, writing, Orange Theory Fitness, live music, and soft, cozy blankets.
My favorite place in the world is Hawaii, having spent 7 years there during my military service; it’s also the place where I met and married my husband and where our girls were born.
One fun fact is that I recently started taking online improv classes, fulfilling a dream over 20 years in the making.
Step into Your Brightest Future!
TOGETHER, WE’LL TRANSFORM TRANSITIONS INTO STEPPING STONES TOWARD YOUR BRIGHTEST FUTURE.
Schedule a discovery session and take the first step in conquering transition and unlocking your potential today.