About Me
Background
Hi, I’m Madeline — a growth coach and college advisor dedicated to helping teens build confidence, discover their strengths, and chart meaningful paths forward. My approach combines personal growth coaching with strategic college advising, allowing students not only to present their best selves in their applications but also to become their best selves in life.
I didn’t start my career in education. After earning a BA in Economics from Harvard and an MBA from MIT, I spent 20 years in consulting and finance, working as a management consultant at McKinsey & Co., an investment banker at Banc of America Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank, and later as a capital markets executive at two renewable energy companies. My family and I now live in Lexington, MA
People often ask me why I made such a dramatic career shift. The seeds were planted years ago when I worked with my executive coach, Jim Supple. Jim helped me see the power of knowing myself and aligning my career with my strengths—a transformative experience that left me more confident, courageous, and clear-headed than ever before. That experience stayed with me, quietly shaping my outlook.
Then in early 2019, I had a life-altering moment. Driving on a snowy highway with my son in the passenger seat, my car suddenly spun out of control. In the terrifying few seconds that followed, I realized how fragile life was — and that I could no longer delay doing what I was meant to do.
Turning Point
I knew two things: I wanted to build on what Jim taught me about personal growth, and I wanted the freedom and time to hone my own approach. When 7Cs Leadership framework came together, which draws from my own educational, professional, and personal experiences, I felt I had found my true north. When I launched 7Cs Leadership Workshop in early 2020, I chose to work with teens — because they’re in their most formative years and because their mind is open. I believed I could make a real difference in their growth.
At first, I designed and led online workshops on life skills that schools don’t teach—from self-awareness to communication and interpersonal skills —and I got to know hundreds of teens from all over the world. One of my favorite workshops was about crafting personal narratives, which turned out to be an incredibly powerful tool for self-reflection and personal discovery.
Then, a turning point came. Several parents asked if I would help their children with college applications, and I realized something interesting: growth coaching and college advising could go hand in hand. I could help students develop a clear sense of direction, articulate their unique strengths, and grow their confidence—while also maximizing their chances of admission to their dream schools. Moreover, I would have students’ full attention and their parents’ support — creating a rare, high-impact window for personal growth.
This alignment has led to some most rewarding outcomes. My students didn’t just get accepted to great universities—they left my practice with clarity, courage, and a strong belief in themselves.
Founding 7Cs
As more parents came to understand the value of growth coaching, I expanded my practice to offer Growth Clinics—targeted coaching sessions that focus on specific challenges teens face, such as finding their direction, choosing majors, or overcoming negative emotions. In these clinics, I partner with parents to create lasting impact both at home and in the student’s future.
Over the years, I’ve been discovering underlying patterns in my students’ struggles and breakthroughs. I’ve developed my own frameworks for navigating growth challenges, and it’s become clear to me that every teen can build a fulfilling life when they understand themselves, find their path, and acquire the resilience to turn challenges into opportunities for growth.
What I teach isn’t theoretical—it’s drawn from my own experiences, my deep work with students, and extensive research. I lean heavily on both Eastern and Western wisdom, and I apply logical reasoning, intuition, and creativity to guide each student’s journey. My previous career in business strategy and finance also allows me to see far ahead and help students and families make practical, forward-thinking choices.
In many ways, I feel incredibly fortunate to do this work. Every day, I get to empower teens to discover who they are and what they can become, and every time I see one of my students step into college—and life—with confidence and clarity, I know I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to do.
7Cs’ Framework
The name “7Cs Leadership” comes from a framework we created to help young people grow — not just as students, but as confident and capable individuals who are ready to take on life’s challenges. Over the years, we’ve used this framework to guide our students, helping them discover their unique strengths, find clarity in their direction, and develop the mindset and skills to thrive.
The 7Cs are made up of two parts: leadership skills and leadership mindset. Together, they form the foundation for personal growth, strong relationships, and future success.
Leadership skills are the practical abilities that help you perform well and make an impact in the world.
They include:
Critical Thinking – Asking thoughtful questions, solving problems, and making sound decisions.
Communication – Expressing your thoughts clearly, listening well, and building meaningful connections.
Creativity – Seeing things differently, coming up with new ideas, and finding innovative solutions.
Collaboration – Working well with others, contributing to teams, and achieving shared goals.
These skills are powerful because they drive excellence — in school, in work, and in life. They also give you the tools to navigate the world with confidence.
But skills alone are not enough. To really flourish, you also need a strong inner core — what we call the leadership mindset.
This includes:
Confidence – Trusting yourself, believing in your voice, and knowing that you are capable.
Compassion – Caring deeply for others, finding meaning in helping, and lifting people up.
Consciousness – Being self-aware, understanding your emotions, and seeing situations with clarity.
What’s powerful about the 7Cs is how these skills and mindset work hand-in-hand. When you sharpen your critical thinking and communication, your confidence grows. When you develop compassion, you naturally become a better collaborator. And when you gain consciousness — a deep understanding of yourself and the world — you make wiser choices, navigate tough situations with grace, and lead a life that feels meaningful.
We’ve seen again and again how students who cultivate both their skills and their mindset can transform not only their academic success but also their sense of direction and self-belief. They take on bigger challenges. They discover what matters to them. And most importantly, they begin to trust themselves — which is often the key to unlocking their full potential.
This is also exactly what leading colleges look for. Admissions officers are not only searching for strong academic performers — they’re looking for students who have developed independence, leadership, resilience, and the ability to make a positive impact. When students build both their skills and their mindset, they stand out in the college admissions process — not because they’re trying to impress anyone, but because they’ve genuinely become capable and self-assured individuals.
This is why we center our coaching around the 7Cs Leadership Framework — because we believe that when young people are equipped with both practical tools and inner strength, they’re capable of extraordinary things.
👉 Ready to help your teen discover their full potential? Let’s talk.
The 7Cs Leadership Framework
The name “7Cs Leadership” comes from a framework we created to help young people grow — not just as students, but as confident and capable individuals who are ready to take on life’s challenges. This framework guides our coaching, helping students discover their unique strengths, develop leadership skills, and build the mindset to thrive in school, life, and beyond.
Leadership Skills: The Tools for Excellence
The first part of the framework focuses on leadership skills — the practical abilities that drive performance and success. These skills are essential for navigating school, collaborating with peers, and eventually excelling in college and career.
Here’s what we focus on:
Critical Thinking – Asking thoughtful questions, solving problems, and making sound decisions.
Communication – Expressing ideas clearly, listening well, and connecting with others.
Creativity – Thinking outside the box, generating new ideas, and finding innovative solutions.
Collaboration – Working effectively with others, building relationships, and achieving shared goals.
These skills are powerful because they drive excellence — in academics, extracurriculars, and beyond. They give students the tools to succeed anywhere.
Leadership Mindset: The Foundation Within
But practical skills alone aren’t enough. True leadership comes from within — from a mindset that allows you to face challenges with courage, clarity, and compassion.
The leadership mindset is built around three core qualities:
Confidence – Believing in yourself, using your voice, and pursuing your goals with conviction.
Compassion – Caring for others, lifting people up, and making a positive impact.
Consciousness – Understanding yourself deeply, navigating tough situations with clarity, and making thoughtful choices.
These inner strengths sustain students through challenges and inspire them to pursue their passions with purpose.
Why This Matters for College Admissions
Here’s something important: this is exactly what leading colleges look for. Admissions officers are not only searching for strong academic performers — they are looking for students who demonstrate leadership, resilience, and the ability to make a difference.
When students cultivate both practical skills and inner strength, they don’t just look impressive on paper — they become compelling individuals that colleges want to admit. This is why our work at 7Cs Leadership is about so much more than just college acceptance; it’s about setting students up for lifelong success.
Why We Use the 7Cs Framework
We’ve seen time and again that when students develop both their leadership skills and leadership mindset, something remarkable happens:
They gain clarity about their strengths and direction.
They approach challenges with confidence and perseverance.
They begin to pursue their passions with purpose and conviction.
And yes — they become stand-out college applicants.
This is why we’ve built our entire coaching approach around the 7Cs Leadership Framework — because we believe that when young people cultivate both practical abilities and inner strength, they unlock their full potential.
👉 Ready to help your teen discover their full potential? Let’s talk.
Select quotes that resonate with me:
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
“Life is a never ending journey of reaching out of our comfort zone. We can always reach new levels.”
“Your fears are a kind of prison that confines you within a limited range of action. The less you fear, the more power you will have and the more fully you will live.”
“Events in life mean nothing if you do not reflect on them in a deep way, and ideas from books are pointless if they have no application to life as you live it.”
“Adolescents deserve the same civility their parents routinely extend to total strangers.”
“The truth is that creative activity is one that involves the entire self - our emotions, our levels of energy, our characters, and our minds.”
“The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them”
“Life is not linear. When you follow your own true north you create new opportunities, meet different people, have different experiences and create a different life.”
“What will happen when we think about what’s right with people rather than fixating on what’s wrong with them?”