Common Good Coaching

Helping leaders and teams align with their values, listen to their inner wisdom and take a more easeful approach to their work and their life .

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Have you or your team found yourself saying these out loud lately?

“I’ve lost sight of what really matters to me."

"I don’t feel present at work or at home."

“I’m stifled and unsupported.”

“I can’t seem to reignite my spark.”

“I’m trying not to be such a people pleaser.”

“I don’t know how to be a leader.”

“I’m burdened by guilt lately.”

“I’m suffering from Imposter Syndrome.”

“I’m stuck and I don’t know what my next steps are.”

“I’m spread so thin.”

“I feel so disconnected from my values."

"I don’t trust myself to make the right decisions."

"I feel like I have to do it all."

"I'm exhausted but can’t slow down."

"I don’t have time for myself."

"I keep pushing through, but I’m running on empty."

"I struggle to say no most of the time."

“The mental load I’m carrying is just too much.”

“I feel like I’m letting everyone down."

"I’m constantly second-guessing myself."

You’re not alone

So many teams, organizations and individuals that work for the common good are feeling burnout, stress, and overwhelm in unprecedented numbers.

In government, over 50% of employees report feeling burned out, with heavy workloads and staffing shortages as key contributors*.

Education workers are also struggling, with a survey showing that three-quarters of teachers in Texas are considering leaving the profession due to factors like large class sizes, low pay, and student behavior challenges.**

Similarly, the nonprofit sector is facing its own crisis, as nearly 95% of nonprofit leaders express concern over staff morale, which is hindering their ability to fulfill organizational missions.***

A recent survey also revealed that 41% of senior leaders experience stress, 36% feel exhausted, and 69% are contemplating resignation due to poor well-being.

AND 72% of leaders report feeling burned out by the end of the day, an increase from 60% in 2020. If we’re more burned out now than we were at the height of COVID, well…that’s saying something.

*Eagle Hill Consulting report, 2023 ** Houston Chronicle, 2025. *** Center for Effective Philanthropy, 2024 report

I’m Jennifer McDowell, and I founded Common Good Coaching to invest in people who help people.

I’m a coach, consultant, and community builder with over 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, education, and community development. As the Founder and Principal Coach of Common Good Coaching, I work with nonprofit and education leaders to help them break free from burnout and perfectionism, while centering compassion, dignity, and justice in both their work and personal lives.

My career has taken me from being a Peace Corps volunteer to leading community school initiatives, always with a focus on creating sustainable, people-first solutions. I’m also a Founding Partner at Community Schools Partners, where I support agencies in designing and implementing community school models, and a contributing member of the Center for a Loving Workplace, advocating for work environments rooted in care and equity.

Through my coaching and consulting, I help leaders rewrite their scripts so they can thrive at work and at home, making a meaningful difference in their lives and the lives of those they serve.

Here’s How I Can Help

  • You don’t need to be perfect to be an effective leader. You need to be you—with confidence, clarity, and the right tools to navigate challenges. Through personalized coaching, I help leaders break free from burnout, perfectionism, and self-doubt to lead with authenticity and ease. Together, we’ll refine your leadership approach, strengthen your decision-making, and build habits that make leadership more sustainable—and more fulfilling.

    Perfect for: New or experienced leaders who want to step into their leadership with more confidence, impact, and ease. I can be hired by the individual, or the company that wants to add personal coaching to their employees’ professional development package.

  • Sometimes, you need more than coaching—you need a strategic partner. I help mission-driven organizations tackle leadership, culture, and operational challenges with practical, people-first solutions. Whether you’re looking to improve team dynamics, align your leadership structure, or implement a new initiative, I bring a blend of coaching, strategy, and hands-on experience to help you move forward with confidence.

    Perfect for: Nonprofits, educational institutions, and mission-driven organizations navigating leadership transitions, team development, or strategic planning.

  • Creating high-quality community schools takes vision, strategy, and deep collaboration. I partner with state agencies, school districts, and nonprofits to design, strengthen, and sustain community school initiatives that drive real transformation. Whether you’re launching new community schools, developing leadership and systems, or focusing on continuous improvement, I provide expert guidance to help you build thriving, student-centered ecosystems that serve both schools and communities.

  • Bringing people together is one thing. Helping them connect, collaborate, and create meaningful change? That takes skilled facilitation. I design and lead engaging workshops, retreats, and team sessions that foster trust, spark new ideas, and align your team toward shared goals. Whether it’s a leadership retreat, a tough conversation, or a strategy session, I create a space where real progress happens.

    Perfect for: Teams and organizations seeking stronger collaboration, alignment, and engagement.

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  • "Everything I need to be a successful supervisor "

    "Four weeks ago, I would have said that I'm not equipped to be a leader, and after this experience and taking a deep dive into myself, my past, and my future, I am certain that I have everything I need to be a successful supervisor and lead my team and am much more confident in my ability."

    - Jessica C.

  • "Big picture clarity & concrete short-term goals"

    "I came away with both big picture clarity on issues I have been grappling with for years and concrete short-term goals I am achieving with Jen’s support. Her thought and introspection-provoking coaching style will coax you out of your comfort zone into the places where real self-improvement happens.”

    - Owen Andrews

  • "An exemplary job"

    Jennifer did an exemplary job of curating learning opportunities that included strong equity practices, provoked critical thinking and joint development of our team's values, mission and vision. I would recommend Jennifer to other leaders who look to ground their teams in shared vision while addressing their individual professional needs/areas of growth.”

    -Shana McIver, Senior Director, Learning & Practice

  • "Focus on my strengths"

    “Jen’s style of leadership and coaching made it easy for me to think creatively about actionable steps I could take at the moment to achieve my long-term goals. Through facilitated conversations and set session objectives, Jen reminded me to focus on my strengths and address challenges keeping me from seeing myself as self-reliant.”

    -Renato Mendoza

  • "Rejuvenated, more open-minded, and curious"

    “With Jen as your coach, you’ll feel rejuvenated, more open-minded, and curious about new and different things. She tailed our sessions to my specific interests and needs, but also let me lead in the ways that felt right for me. I feel like I shed some unwanted insecurities and anxieties in my professional and personal worlds. Highly recommend!”

    -Ruth Farfel

  • "The tools to succeed"

    Jennifer exudes warmth, asked pointed questions, and engages in active listening, which allowed me the comfort to be open and honest during our relationship. Over the course of our many sessions, she helped build my confidence and heal from past workplace trauma, while providing me with the tools to succeed. Jennifer has a wealth of knowledge and resources to help you along your leadership journey, and is a coach who balances empathy while helping you achieve your goals.

    -Jessica Johnson, coaching participant in the Next Level Leaders program though Towson University’s Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute

  • "Our clients rave about Jennifer’s facilitation "

    Our leaders who have received coaching from Jennifer have shared that it has been a truly transformational experience. Meanwhile, our clients rave about Jennifer’s facilitation and express that participants truly connect with the content and are able to apply their learnings immediately.  We are very fortunate that Jennifer is part of our extended team.”

     - Erin Moran, executive director of Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute 

  • "A life-changing experience"

    Coaching with Jen allowed me to recognize and learn valuable insights about myself. It has been a true blessing and life-changing experience to have her by my side. Her ability to truly listen, create a safe space, and guide me towards breaking free from unhealthy emotional responses and fears has been transformative. I cannot express enough gratitude for her role in helping me grow and heal.”

    -June Sim, coaching client

  • "Jennifer’s impact was transformative"

    “I found immense value in partnering with Jennifer McDowell, my executive coach, for 18 months during a pivotal moment in my career. Managing a team in transition and returning to in-person client services after the pandemic while navigating the challenges of new motherhood made for a complex professional landscape. Jennifer’s impact was transformative, fostering an environment that honored, respected, and celebrated my authentic self. I consistently felt seen and heard. This coaching experience challenged me in formative ways, pushing me to examine assumptions and perspectives.”

    -Molly Larson, VP of Program Operations

  • "A true partner in creating and executing a vision for professional development"

    Jennifer McDowell helped us plan professional development opportunities for 130 community school coordinators along with the community at large. From conducting focus groups to fine tuning and articulating objectives and activities to fostering connections, she was instrumental in all planning stages. She is an active listener and a true partner in creating and executing a vision for professional development. We received a lot of positive feedback, much that can be traced to Jennifer.”

    -Amy Bopp, Director of Staff Development & Engagement

If you’re ready for…

…your shoulders to soften, putting down the weight you’ve been carrying…

…the re-ignition of your spark and the deepening of your purpose…

…to clarify your values and align your life and work accordingly…

…boundary setting, self-compassion, and lots of reflection…

…the realization - and confidence - that you have all you need to be the impactful leader you’re yearning to be…

…a team that works together, feels supported, and takes action…

…a more easeful approach around your whole life…

…identify your strengths and use them to reach your goals…

…leadership from love, for the common good….

Book an exploratory call