Meet our Spring '26 Fellow - KJ Kozak, PhD

We are happy to introduce you to Kathryn (KJ) Kozak, PhD an Executive & Organizational Coach who helps ambitious people find the time, resources, and energy to achieve their “pie in the sky” goals. KJ was a graduate of our Level 2 Spring 2025 Cohort, and now returns as our 9th, Winter 2026 Fellow.

During her time studying with the IFCE, KJ brought care, strategy, and a deep commitment to anti-oppression to her coaching work. Not only did KJ receive the highest Capstone project score in her cohort, 100% of her classmates recommend her coaching services to their network.

Read on to learn more about KJ’s coaching work and what she has been up to since graduating. Follow her on LinkedIn to connect and check out her website to learn more about her coaching and consulting services.

“I help others develop habits, attitudes, and ways of life that are in line with socially just principles and values.”

Can you tell us about yourself?

I completed a doctorate in Applied Developmental Psychology at Suffolk University. My research interests center on demystifying and deconstructing structural inequality and systems of oppression. I am featured as a contributing author in the service-learning textbook, Alongside Community, and co-edited Helping to Promote Social Justice, a guide for advanced students and early professionals who work in community settings or helping careers.

In my free time, I like to read, go to the beach, and cook elaborate meals. I also host a podcast called Something You Can Do and am a season ticket holder for the New York Sirens, a PWHL team.

“Rather than making clients squeeze out motivation in short-term bursts, I focus on helping you re-balance priorities to build a team, schedule, or strategic plan that serves long-term needs.”

What motivated you to become a coach?

I wanted to provide high quality professional development services to individuals and organizations that are typically unable to access coaching, consulting, professional development opportunities, and leadership retreats. Nonprofit professionals, community organizers, social justice advocates, and individuals outside of the workforce often lack the time, funding, and support to engage in individual or organizational development. Our offerings are designed for people trying to make a big difference in the world despite limited resources.

What services do you offer?

As an executive coach and organizational consultant, I help others develop habits, attitudes, and ways of life that are in line with socially just principles and values. I help my coaching counterparts finish projects, navigate complicated organizational dynamics, and disentangle themselves from the capitalist expectations of productivity so they can pursue what really matters in their lives and careers. As of Fall 2025, I’m excited to launch a full suite of professional services:

• Coaching: I’m taking on new clients for leadership, empowerment, and executive coaching. I offer discounted packages and sliding scale rates to make services accessible.
  

• Consulting: Services include strategic planning, program assessment, curriculum development, and leadership retreats. I work with organizations and leaders to identify challenges, scope out appropriate projects, and follow up with appropriate stakeholders.
  

• Facilitation: In addition to monthly skills workshops, which are open to the public, I create bespoke workshops and seminars for teams looking to sharpen skills or address specific concerns. Sample workshops include Meetings that Matter, What’s Your Superpower?, and Writing Stronger Emails. You can always find my publicly available workshops at luma.com/kjkozakconsulting. 

"I help clients separate from hustle culture, recalibrate expectations, and prioritize their most deeply held values."

What are your core values and how do you approach coaching?

A few key features differentiate my approach from my peers and competitors:

• Expertise in adult development. I bring my academic background and research experience into my coaching and consulting, drawing from what we know about how humans learn, change, and grow. For example, I use clearly defined engagements of ~8 coaching sessions and quarterly consulting contracts to avoid “forever coaching,” add structure to client growth, and make it easier to measure progress.
  

• Disentangling “toxic productivity.” Sometimes the best way to achieve your goals is to do less. I help clients separate from hustle culture, recalibrate expectations, and prioritize their most deeply held values. Rather than making clients squeeze out motivation in short-term bursts, I focus on helping you re-balance priorities to build a team, schedule, or strategic plan that serves long-term needs.
  

• Cultivating quality experiences. Nonprofit organizations and community advocates don’t typically get to have nice things- either because they pour all they have into their mission, or because of concerns about “optics.” (Or, let’s be real: the C-Suite is enjoying expensive lunches and retreats while the field team runs on cheap pizza that they paid for out of their own pocket.) Our trainings and retreats provide high quality materials in comfortable environments to all levels of your team, because we dream of a world where everyone can enjoy nice things.

What methodologies and approaches inform your coaching work?

I take a transformative approach to all of my endeavors, centering Freire’s critical consciousness at the heart of my work as a coach, consultant, advocate, researcher, and facilitator. I have formal training in clinical psychology, developmental psychology, and data analysis along with experience in transformative pedagogy and community based participatory research (CBPR). These modalities have prepared me to support my clients in developing the habits, attitudes, and ways of life that are in line with socially just principles and values

What was it like being an IFCE student?

One thing that I most craved when I enrolled in this course was consistent time dedicated to my coaching practice and business development. Every Wednesday there were 3+ hours that I knew were going straight to honing my skills and focusing on my business, and that made a huge difference in terms of my own discipline and accountability. Having to carve out time for coaching hours, homework, and business development provided a strong foundation for the schedule and work-life balance I currently enjoy.

I also immediately gelled with my cohort - a diverse group of multi-talented, warm, and inspiring people. We made space to bond and chat about all sorts of topics, from coursework to professional resources to pictures of pets. There was so much love and support that we really did notice a vacuum in our weeks when classes were over! And we’re planning for a “cohort reunion” in the coming weeks.

KJ pictured with her Spring 2025 Cohort

What have you been up to since graduation?

In terms of coaching, I’ve been maintaining a roster of about 3 to 5 coaching clients to build up my coaching hours and prep for the ACC exam. I was able to test out target audiences, packages, and offerings during my time as an IFCE student that are now available.

I have some collaborations in progress with several of my IFCE cohort-mates - two of them so far have been featured on my podcast! We’re also cooking up partnerships for workshops and program development - more to come later this year.

I’m also putting a renewed focus on learning to ice skate…I can finally sort of go backwards!

"Explore the vast world of coaching, because it includes infinite possibilities in terms of niche, techniques, and outcomes."

What advice would you give to individuals thinking about becoming a coach?

Spend some time with coaches! Explore the vast world of coaching, because it includes infinite possibilities in terms of niche, techniques, and outcomes. I also think it helps to work with a coach so you understand what it feels like “from the other side,” if you haven’t already, because I’ve found that many people take steps to become a coach but have no idea what coaching really is or looks like. Finally, reflect on what it is you have to offer to others. Tapping into the parts of yourself that you want to share helps elucidate who you want to help and how, which is the first step in creating a niche for yourself as a coach (and figuring out what type of training or experience will be helpful to you).

Interested in working with KJ?

To learn more about KJ’s work as an Executive Coach, check out her newly launched website, email her directly, and follow her on LinkedIn. You can also visit her alumni profile on the IFCE website to learn more about her work. 

We appreciate the thoughtfulness, strategy, and authenticity KJ brings to her coaching work. We are excited to see what comes next in her journey and encourage you to reach out if you or your organization can benefit from KJ’s coaching.