Hi, I’m Ellen Whitlock Baker

I help leaders and professionals make meaningful decisions and implement changes that protect their well-being, strengthen their leadership, and create healthier workplaces. My approach is practical and empathetic, rooted in two decades of lived experience navigating both the inspiring and exhausting sides of work.

Over the last 20 years, I’ve led teams, built programs, launched partnerships, and managed through the red tape and politics that shape modern workplaces. Most recently, I served as Assistant Vice President of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at Seattle University, where I led a 10-person team and served 90,000+ alumni. Those experiences deepened my understanding of the pressures leaders face — and fueled my passion for helping people lead without sacrificing their health or values.

Now, as an ICF-certified executive coach, speaker, and host of the Hard at Work podcast, I support clients and audiences in pushing back against outdated expectations, uncovering their core values, and finding new ways to lead with clarity, authenticity, and impact. My insights have also been featured in Forbes, where I write about leadership, equity, and the urgent need to redesign workplace culture.

I know from personal experience what burnout feels like — and I also know how transformative it can be to find clarity and reclaim your voice. My goal is simple: to create space for honest reflection, realignment, and lasting growth so you can thrive at work and beyond.