Mary T. O’Sullivan helps people get past feeling “stuck” in their careers.
In 2013, with life-changing family events proving a distraction, O’Sullivan, of South Kingstown, took a voluntary layoff from Raytheon, where she was a subcontract manager, with the notion of becoming an executive and professional coach.
As she started to figure out what that might involve last April, she decided in August to pursue a yearlong master’s certificate in executive and professional coaching from the University of Texas Dallas. In September, she launched Encore Executive and Professional Coaching. Working out of The Hive in North Kingstown, O’Sullivan hopes to soon register Encore as a limited liability corporation.
O’Sullivan has had 30 years’ experience working for large and small corporations in aerospace and defense. She is discovering that by selling her credentials – essentially selling herself – she can help someone who is not getting promoted or is struggling with a boss or time management.
With about 40 people so far seeking her out and one-quarter of those sticking with the coaching, she uses a methodology taught at UT focused on moving through barriers to find solutions, she said.
“Through my training,” she said, “I’m able to reach folks and help them discern what they’re really able to do.” •
