Career strategist
When a career breaks your heart... practical wisdom for what comes next.
I help you make sense of a career setback, get clear on what matters now, and move forward in a way that feels grounded and true to you.
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Let’s be honest.
Work can hit us right in the solar plexus.
A job disappears. A project tanks. Someone else gets the opportunity you were counting on. You try to shake it off, but it sticks. It shows up in your body, your thoughts, and even your meetings, interviews, and morning shower.
That’s career grief.
It’s what happens when something you were attached to at work ends, changes, or doesn’t become what you hoped. Sometimes it’s a layoff or firing. Sometimes it’s a pitch that goes sideways, an initiative that stalls, a reorg that erases your colleagues, or a public embarrassment.
When something you cared about disappears, it takes the wind out of your sails. Doubt creeps in. Anger flares. Sleep and appetite shift. You don’t feel like yourself. And moving on isn’t as simple as telling yourself you have to.
You don’t have to push through it solo. We all experience career bumps, missteps. The work we'll do makes sense of what happened so you can get your direction and self trust back.
Ignoring a loss doesn’t make you tougher. It drains the energy you need for the career and life you’re trying to build.
Hey, I’m Laverne!
Career Strategist and Grief Coach
I help leaders, entrepreneurs and creatives navigate high stakes change with a blend of spiritual grounding, strategic thinking, and practical action. You won’t get one without the other because they work together.
I’ve spent years coaching people through their toughest moments, and the biggest turning point is always the same. It’s the moment they give themselves permission to grieve and fold the change into the person they are becoming. That’s when the path forward looks clearer and feels a lot less heavy.
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Here’s how we move through this work
When you don't address the grief, it shows up everywhere. In the way you second-guess decisions. In how exhausted you feel by noon. In relationships that feel off.
Instead, when you make space for what happened, your energy comes back. Your confidence blossoms. Your identity and purpose become recognizable again. Your sense of belonging returns like a fuzzy blanket. Your next steps feel clear and grounded.
Understand the loss.
Name it, feel it, and stop pretending it didn’t matter.
Reconnect with your energy and values.
What you actually want, not what you think you should want.
Move forward with intention.
Create a plan that aligns with who you’re becoming.
"Life changing."
I was going through the aftermaths of grief, job loss and health issues. With Laverne's guidance each week, I learned what my boundaries are, and I gained my confidence back.
– Katy Chen Mazzara
Entrepreneur & Money Mentor
Five ways I help
1:1 Coaching
Solid Ground
Producer & Filmmaker Support
Retreats
Speaking
Not sure which path is right for you?
Let’s chat! Schedule your complimentary consultation.
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Don’t white-knuckle the transition
Join my Substack community where I share weekly guidance for people navigating career change. You’ll get support that’s spiritual, strategic, and practical, plus live coaching so you can bring your questions and leave with next steps. Along the way: guided meditations, journal prompts, and monthly career grief lessons with worksheets that help you process what happened and rebuild direction.
JOIN HERELooking for a speaker or corporate training? I do that, too.
Leaders are often asked to move fast after a pivot, a miss, or a major change. But when the human impact goes unnamed, it shows up later as hesitation, blame, and a drag on momentum. I work with executive teams to address that moment directly. My talks and trainings offer grounded insight, clear language, and practical tools, including my RISE framework, so teams can rebuild trust and keep moving.
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Laverne McKinnon is a speaker, career strategist, and grief coach. Sign up to get weekly advice sent to your inbox.
ABOUT
RISE Method™
Meet Laverne
FAQ
WAYS I HELP
1:1 Coaching
Group Work
Retreats
Speaking
TOPICS
Career Grief
Career Wellness & Fulfillment
Confidence in Leadership
Transitions & Pivots
RESOURCES
Newsletter
TBD
© Laverne McKinnon 2026 • Branding & Design by Good Brand Partners
