Hi, I’m Kristen Bor – leadership and transition coach
Taking risks has shaped every chapter of my career
I’ve never taken change lightly. But when I’ve known that a path no longer matched my values, priorities, or the life I wanted to build, I’ve been willing to do something about it. That has meant leaving a secure career, building a company from scratch, and eventually choosing a new direction again.
Along the way, I’ve learned what it feels like to make decisions that affect more than just me, to carry responsibility for other people, and to keep growing when the way I had always operated was no longer enough.
Today, I help other capable people grow their leadership capacity, change habits that are holding them back, create a healthier balance between work and the rest of their lives, and make thoughtful decisions about what comes next.
What I bring to the room
Experience that shapes the way I coach
My coaching is informed by nearly two decades of experience across leadership, entrepreneurship, public policy, and communication. I’ve worked inside complex institutions, built a company from the ground up, led teams and events, and made decisions when the right answer wasn’t obvious.
Founder and business leader
12+ years building Bearfoot Theory
Built an established outdoor media company with millions of readers from the ground up, led a remote team, managed business operations and strategy, developed major partnerships, and adapted the company through periods of growth and change.
Leadership in high-stakes environments
4 years working inside Congress
Supported elected leaders, congressional committees, and bipartisan coalitions in an environment shaped by public scrutiny, competing priorities, and decisions with real consequences.
Event design and facilitation
Founder of Open Roads Fest
Created and led two four-day events for 450 attendees, overseeing programming, speakers, sponsors, vendors, staff, budgets, and the on-the-ground experience.
Communication and coalition-building
Across government, business, and community
Worked with elected officials, federal agencies, nonprofit leaders, national brands, and diverse communities — often bringing together people with different interests and perspectives.
Whole-person training
Certified breathwork facilitator
Trained in breath-based practices that support presence, awareness, and a greater connection between the mind and body.
Breathwork isn’t a required part of my coaching, but it may be available as an optional tool when it supports a client’s goals.
EDUCATION
Master’s in Environmental Management
B.S. in Chemistry
Professional coaching qualifications
Hudson Institute of Coaching
I’m currently completing my professional coaching certification through the Hudson Institute of Coaching, one of the field’s most established coach-training programs. Hudson’s ICF-accredited curriculum is grounded in adult development, decades of research on how people create meaningful change, and a strong focus on leadership and transitions.
My training includes intensive coursework, supervised coaching, hands-on practice, ongoing feedback, and adherence to the ethical and professional standards of the International Coaching Federation.
What my experience has taught me
Lessons I bring into my coaching conversations
These lessons came from feeling the weight of choices that affected my employees’ livelihoods, making calls that were necessary but painful, and watching the job I had once dreamed of take up far more of my life than I intended.
They also came from having to rethink a successful business as the industry changed and admitting that the path I had built no longer fit my values or priorities. Because I’ve lived through many of these tensions myself, I understand what may be at stake for you, as my client.
01 — Leadership
Leadership requires a different skill set
The skills that get you promoted aren’t always the skills that make you a good leader. Effective leadership takes self-awareness, clear and honest communication, and a willingness to trust people who approach the work differently than you.
02 — Change
The path from A to B is rarely direct or obvious
First, something feels off. Then you start questioning, trying small experiments, and noticing what gives you energy or drains it. Over time, those experiments help clarify what needs to change, and bigger decisions feel less like a leap in the dark.
03 — Identity
Change can shake your sense of self
When a role has shaped how you see yourself and how other people see you, moving on can feel like losing a piece of who you are. The challenge is separating your identity from the title or career without dismissing everything that chapter gave you.
04 — Responsibility
Just because you can carry it doesn’t mean you should
When you’re the person who can fix things, it’s easy to keep stepping in. The harder lesson is deciding what is actually yours to own, what someone else needs to handle, and when stepping back gives your team room to grow.
05 — Alignment
Success that costs you everything else isn’t success.
What once felt worth the long hours and sacrifices may not feel worth it now. As your life changes, you have to be honest about what still matters, what is consuming your time, and how to design your life around your priorities.
“Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life.”
John Muir
A little more about me
The non-résumé version
You’re going to be telling me things you haven’t told many people. It seems only fair that you know a little more about me.
- Home base: Park City, Utah, where I live with my partner, our 3 year old son, and two dogs
- Most mornings: Coffee, toddler chaos, a protein shake, and a short meditation session
- The trip I’d do again tomorrow: Backpacking all 212 miles of the John Muir Trail
- Currently reading: Working Identity – Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing your Career by Herminia Ibarra
- Outside of coaching: I love live music (especially Phish), long hikes, vegan food, photography, and planning trips
- Least coach-like thing about me: I sometimes keep looking for more information when what I really need is to trust myself
The introductory call
Let’s find out whether we’re a good fit
A complimentary 30-minute chemistry call over Zoom. We’ll talk about what you’re navigating, you can ask me anything, and you’ll get a real feel for how I work before committing to anything.
No preparation needed. You don’t have to arrive with a clear goal.
Have questions? Contact me here.
Still deciding which kind of coaching fits? Read about executive coaching, leadership coaching, or major transition coaching.