I have always believed that my life’s work is to make a difference in people’s lives; and with wisdom and age, I now recognize that I can not change the world; and I do make a difference…one person at a time.

I listen and learn people’s stories, build knowledge which leads to caring, and then gently guide their internal conversation to help them understand what’s working in their life and where there are opportunities and a willingness to grow. My life speaks of change, risk, growth, continued learning, challenges and JOY, and I show my vulnerabilities by sharing my lessons.

I am especially passionate about helping people value the relationship first and foremost, as I believe that is the key to success in all avenues of our lives. I have learned that conversations are the relationship and strive to have the conversations in my life that will keep relationships filled with integrity and build lifelong trust.

My natural tendency and experience is to have the easy conversations…the ones where you are building people up and encouraging them. I have a passion to help others have those more difficult conversations because they are hard for me as well. I always hoped that they would just “go away” and everything would be fine. A little fairy tale that doesn’t match real life!

I absolutely enjoy guiding people to be playful, to laugh, to take risks, to be passionate about their work and their life, and to find their JOY today! I like to bring out the “childlike qualities of participants in my sessions because I believe that we are just “babies in big bodies” who have forgotten how to play and be creative and energetic and lively and JOYFUL!

Employed by BP Exploration in Alaska for eighteen years, I changed my career path to organizational and team development when I was selected from the supervisor ranks to be a coach and trainer as part of a change initiative at BP called Enhanced Organizational Teamwork.  

I have been instrumental in the design and facilitation of several strategic leadership initiatives at BP.   I continue to consult to BP and am part of a global consulting team that is facilitating a four day highly acclaimed leadership training program for First Level Leaders which is targeted to train 12,000 BP leaders as well as another three day program called “Developing Leadership Potential”.

I moved my consulting practice to Naperville , Illinois in late 2004, and have built a strong consulting business in the Chicago area.

The JOYS of my life are my three sons, Shawn, Brian and Brett who now often “coach me to take steps and make progress in my life.”

Please call me at 630-947-5389 or email me at info@connections-leadership.com  so we can have a conversation about how I might help you take the next steps in your growth to bring you fulfillment.

Carolyn Rowe

“In friendship, let there be laughter and the sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things, the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.

Kahil Gibran