Wonderful to connect with you. I am Sharon K. Summerfield, founder of The Nourished Executive. I am a Wellbeing Coach and a Holistic Nutritionist with demonstrated success in nurturing healthy employees and high performing organizations.
We help leaders invest in their wellbeing, with a holistic lens to prevent burnout. Prior to launching The Nourished Executive I worked extensively as a Project Manager/Executive Assistant. In my coaching I incorporate many of the lessons learned, both personally and professionally, around priority setting and the importance of creating boundaries in alignment with our values and purpose.
Part of this is helping you learn to move away from the idea of work-life balance to discovering those ways to harmonize your life, where your work does not come at the cost of living.
I believe there are three pieces to preventing and recovering from Burnout.
- Fostering Psychological Safety
- Investing in your wellbeing
- Creating boundaries in alignment with your values and purpose
I am a life-long learner, systems thinker, mentor and connector, with a love for reading. As well I have a strong commitment to investing in local community, giving back and lifting others.
A little history about me,
Working across the sectors I found I was pulled in many directions trying to keep many balls in the air, working harder not smarter, saying yes more than no, where investing in my self care and scheduling down time was getting further and further out of reach.
Sadly I was also experiencing symptoms of burnout.
My definition of burnout is:
Being exhausted on every level. The joy you once felt is gone and you feel isolated and alone. It is difficult to concentrate, connect and build relationships as that all takes energy, you are unable to find, no matter how hard you try.
Then life happened. In 2014, after working for a global engineering firm for more than 8 years I was laid off. The transition to my new role took 9 months, and I joined an e-health project working in a new sector and pursuing more learning in holistic nutrition.
When I accepted the new role I made a commitment to myself to harmonize my life.
In 2017 I graduated from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition from their Natural Nutrition Program and The Nourished Executive was founded.
After completing the natural nutrition program, I reflected on many of the lessons learned over the past few years and made the decision to leave my project role keeping the commitment to myself of greater harmony. In January 2018 I joined the Canadian Cancer Society working with a friend in the role as her executive assistant along with starting to build The Nourished Executive.
Then my life was disrupted again. In July 2018 I was injured when I fell off my husband’s motorcycle resulting in numerous injuries. My knowledge in nutrition and wellness, along with the ability to build relationships and connection, was instrumental in finding a new way forward.
Honestly it was learning to learn again.
My focus continues to be “What can I do?” “And how can I help to lift and share my appreciation for others?” This opened a window for me to expand my interest in photography and start turning my photos into cards. These cards are showcased on this page on Instagram.
I have gained extensive experience as project manager/executive assistant, in business development, document control, human resources, community investment, event/meeting/conference planning and executive calendar management, with a love for nutrition and the ways we can invest in our wellbeing.
I am a graduate of the Natural Nutrition Program at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition (CSNN), the YOGABODY Breath Coach Program, and hold several certificates in Business Management, Local Government Administration, Holistic Nutrition, Psychological Safety, and Positive Psychology. In 2022 I earned the designation as a “Love and Work Leader” from Harvard Business Review and Marcus Buckingham. Then in 2023 earned the certification as a Smart Growth Advisor with Disruption Advisors. I continued to invest in my learning and find those ways to make a difference.
At The Nourished Executive we coach leaders to invest in wellbeing, with a holistic lens, to prevent burnout.
Our founder, Sharon K. Summerfield, is a Wellbeing Coach, Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Smart Growth Advisor, with a demonstrated success in nurturing healthy employees and high performing organizations.
We have a strong commitment to giving back, investing in local community creating space for all students to consider careers in construction, science, technology, engineering and math.
We welcome the opportunity to work with you as you take this next step to invest in your wellbeing.
Be kind. Be patient. Be nourished in all you do.
Sharon
