I providestrategy partnership for leaders
Hi game-changing, health and human-system leader. I’m glad you are here! I want to help you thrive. Your vision is ambitious, and we all would benefit from seeing it implemented. And you deserve support too.
VIRTUAL 1:1leadership coaching
Leadership coaching is a series of sessions where time is protected just for you. These virtual sessions are 1:1 time once or twice a month (3-month minimum) where you allow yourself the supported breathing room you know you need, to think and feel your way forward. You are the expert in your context. I’m there to help you excavate and advance the most value-aligned options. I can help you create focus, reflect, ask tough questions, see where you are stuck, share my experiences and thoughts, acknowledge new insights, celebrate progress, encourage you, and nudge you to identify actionable steps forward.
You are doing game-changing work. We all thrive when you do. You have a vision for how you want to show up and lead. (And getting there doesn’t have to feel so lonely). Let’s connect.
IN-PERSON 1:1executive strategy sessions
Sometimes the tangle you are holding needs more room to breathe away from the swirling distractions of your day-to-day. In-person executive strategy sessions are designed to help protect at least a ½ day of supported and uninterrupted space to map out a path forward. I love hosting these at our office in Hendersonville, NC, or I can come to you. What matters most is that you get the space you deserve to help think through the complexity you’re facing so that you have the clarity you need to show up with intention, clarity, and confidence.
I’ll show up with care & curiosity (and probably a lot of large sticky notes) to help you map out clear, values-aligned actions that move you closer to the vision you have for yourself, your team, and the work.
LEADERSHIP GATHERINGS women’s leadership retreat – stay tuned for fall 2027
Let’s connect if you’re interested and want to be the first to know when details are available.
Heather brings a rare combination of rigor, creativity, and deep understanding of the public health landscape—qualities that have proven invaluable to our organization and to our field leaders as we navigate some of the most significant shifts of our lives in public health. Her approach consistently transforms what can often feel like an overwhelming or draining process into one that is engaging, energizing, and highly productive. Perhaps most importantly, Heather understands the demands placed on today’s public health leaders. She meets teams where they are—often weary from sustained response efforts—and re-energizes them with a process that feels both manageable and even, at times, genuinely enjoyable. Heather Gates and Human-Centered Strategy bring clarity, energy, and a truly human-centric approach to strategy—helping our teams turn complexity into confident action, whether the problem is small and manageable or significant and challenging.
Heather was incredibly supportive and practical in helping me map out a new area of work. The project was unexpected and overwhelming- she helped me develop a manageable plan which I’m still using.
Working with Heather Gates for an executive strategy session was exactly what I needed this spring. Being an executive leader of a dynamic organization means there is rarely time to slow down and just think. Heather helped me answer some difficult questions, get honest about capacity, and reprioritize important work by centering our vision. It was an important opportunity to take it all out of my head and put it onto the page. Heather is insightful, supportive, and deeply experienced in human-centered leadership. I’m building this into my budget twice a year for as long as Heather offers this service.
Heather Gates of Human-Centered Strategy, LCC. provided me direct coaching as Interim Executive Director and facilitated a leadership retreat during a critical time in our organization's development. Her compassionate, clear and supportive approach enabled us to connect with more authentic vulnerability than we had previously and effectively forge a plan for navigating the path ahead.
While I have benefited from guidance and coaching from many unofficial mentors in my career, my very first official professional coach has been Heather Gates. Heather’s approach to coaching feels authentic, genuine and incredibly tailored to you and your needs. Heather is equally skilled at assisting you with long-term goals as well as surviving the remainder of the work day. Each time I have a break through with Heather, while I know she lead me there-she does so in a way that makes you feel an accomplishment for finding a solution or best next step, which builds confidence. Prior to working with Heather, I would most likely have described coaching as unnecessary and just another meeting to side-track the to-do list. Since working with Heather, I am a staunch proponent of the value found in individual career/professional coaching. Coaching sessions with Heather go beyond our time slot as I often times reference themes in our discussions with those I supervise. The experience has been a 10 out of 10.- We reached out to Heather in the midst of major organizational change facing challenges recovering from COVID, leadership transitions, and a shifting public health/healthcare landscape. From the first meeting, it was clear we could not have found a better fit as she helped us identify underlying issues and build a foundation for a much-needed organizational realignment. Over several months, she helped our Management Team work through a number of competing interests, reimagine our role in the community, prioritize needs and next steps, and most importantly build capacity – and trust - among our team to tackle tough things together in the future.
Heather is an incredibly skilled listener and thought partner, who provides insight, tools, and support that are practical, actionable, and lead to growth and improvement. She meets individuals and organizations wherever they are, and takes great care to understand how she can support and help guide toward success, while keeping the work and the priorities focused on the client needs, rather than her own agenda. After working with her through the COVID-19 pandemic, I can state with confidence that she and her work are flexible, creative, inspirational, and human-centered.
Human-Centered Strategy is a valued partner of Granville Vance Public Health as we continue to position our health department to meet our community's needs, strengthen our workforce, and implement foundational capabilities to expand our services. Having a partner like Human-Centered Strategy, with its deep understanding of public health and ties to North Carolina initiatives, has allowed us to quickly adapt and improve as we look to meet the challenges of public health in an ever-changing landscape.
Working with Heather has been a dream. I never have to wonder whether deadlines will be met or promises kept – Heather consistently delivers project materials that exceed my expectations. Not only does she produce high-quality content, Heather is a skilled facilitator and genuinely connects to people (even virtually) in an approachable way. Heather has elevated and accelerated our grant leadership team’s strategic planning efforts by regularly engaging and nudging us along in a time where we could easily be pulled away to a number of other job duties. I would enthusiastically recommend Heather to any organization or professional looking to improve their quality of work. Whether it be through written material, strategic partnership, or speaking engagements, Heather has proven herself to be a valuable addition to our team.