About Cynthia
Trusted Partner. Seasoned Leader. Catalyst for Clarity.
I’m Cynthia Gill, bringing 30 years of mission-driven leadership to help you achieve impact in your mission.
Cynthia’s Philosophy
The Backstory
The Person
Credentials
Cynthia’s Philosophy
A trusted partner for your journey
My clients are smart, sharp and accomplished. Sometimes they also carry armor from working in the mission-driven world. Our work can take a heavy toll. I work with you to let go of what is not serving you, to rebuild from your core values, and to find clarity in knowing your superpowers and your purpose. I am here to help you trust yourself.
We are navigating a chaotic world, where many of us are losing our footing. I listen deeply for what you are saying—and for what you don’t say out loud. I bring kindness, insight, and humor to our work, holding space for whatever you face.
I have faced my own fear, grief, and the edges of my own resilience. I know what it takes to find your way back. I am virtually unshockable and will hold space for whatever you need on your journey to let go and reimagine who you can be.
As one of my managers reflected, In many ways Cynthia lives by the serenity prayer.
Conveniently, this journey works to bring you from doubt and fear to solid ground, but also from knowing you have more to offer to deep leadership impact and continued personal and professional growth. I help you through today’s unparalleled chaos and complexity.
As an ecologist and a systems thinker, I help you find your way in the system and context you inhabit. We find the threads you need to pull to enact change and build the embodied leader you are ready to unleash.
The Backstory
Forged in Mission-Driven Leadership
I found coaching through my own leadership journey. For 32 years, I worked at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), leading the conservation sector and building teams based on trust and honest conversation. I have been described as a consummate and revered leader, and I bring those skills and experiences to you.
We did incredible work, but we also navigated toxic environments and massive transitions. That experience is the foundation of my approach. I spent my last fifteen years at USAID leading organizational wellness efforts, learning exactly what works (and what doesn’t) in high-stakes leadership.
During this time, I also served as a dedicated youth leader, building deep connections with the generation that is now entering adulthood. This gave me a front-row seat to the journey of Gen Z and their unique pressures and superpowers.
“Cynthia clearly values and trusts her staff. She greatly promotes innovation and efforts to improve,...empowers her staff to make decisions and drive processes and offers timely coaching.”
~ Leader under Cynthia's management, 2023
Leading through the Collapse
When the Agency was dismantled in early 2025, I didn't just witness the transition; I experienced it and coached through it. I co-founded AID Coaching to support those going through traumatic job loss, providing over 300 hours of coaching to more than 50 clients in a single year.
A staff member noted that “She navigates the serious, the mundane, and the unbelievable professionally.” This unflappability proved essential when deep crisis hit.
I know what it feels like when the ground shifts beneath you. And I know how to help you find your footing again. I am the person you want in your lifeboat, and I am here for you.
“I am extremely grateful for the time spent working with Cynthia as my career coach. I knew Cynthia from my prior job and have held tremendous respect for her as an effective leader and colleague.”
~ Transition client, 2025
The Person
Anchored in Nature
When I am not coaching, I am usually outside. I am an avid hiker, backpacker, forager, ecologist, and a certified Master Naturalist. Nature is where I find my own ground.
I am a mother to two Gen Z humans and three dogs. I bring my full self—humor, compassion, vulnerabilities, and joy—to every session.
“Cynthia holds space for what you’re going through while empowering you to take the steps you want all while helping you cultivate a better relationship with yourself. Truly a gift to have received coaching from her!”
~ Gen Z coaching client 2025
Credentials and Certifications
Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching, Georgetown University
Accredited Associate Certified Coach, International Coaching Federation
Team Coaching Training, Georgetown University
Master’s Degree, Duke University
Bachelor of Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
