I’m passionate about supporting courageous women as they explore new frontiers
Why Sidecar?
It connotes adventure of the old-fashioned kind, when traveling was purposeful and fun, and when real people, not Siri, gave directions and provided company. It also describes my role: I provide advice, assistance and commentary, while you remain firmly in the driver’s seat. Finally, it reflects my style, which is decidedly more notebook than Facebook.
I’m Bridget, your Sidecar Counsel
Adventure has been in my blood from birth. Progeny of homesteaders and an Irish immigrant mother, I grew up in the Wild West state of Montana, absorbing its pioneering spirit while taking every opportunity to travel beyond its borders. After high school, those travels took me to Harvard, where I expanded my horizons and connections, and then took off for more exploring in Egypt (American University in Cairo) and Indonesia, where I taught High School English and served as college counselor and community service organizer at the Jakarta International School. My growing fascination with the links between education and global prosperity led to an MA from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Over the course of my subsequent 30-year career I have counseled leaders in the education, corporate and social sectors who are seeking to shake up the status quo in pursuit of a more equitable, prosperous and sustainable world. I have found my calling in serving as a trusty ‘sidecar counsel’ to these leaders on the front line of creating social change.
My focus in recent years has been on women in leadership, as I see both an aching need for female leadership in today’s overly-masculinized world and an abundance of incredibly gifted women who, with appropriate support, can shake up the status quo and help create a more harmonious and thriving society. I coach any courageous soul of any gender who is ready for adventure.
I live a rather nomadic lifestyle, currently exploring southern Europe as I continue the search for that perfect ‘nest with a vista.’ My coaching adventures with leaders take me to places far and wide – sometimes in person (for Sidecar Summit gatherings, for example), but mostly through my laptop dashboard, which serves as my sidecar windshield. To keep my daring spirit alive, I challenge myself to stretch beyond my comfort zone on a regular basis. Recent examples include paragliding, staying in a nunnery for two weeks, and swimming in the frigid North Sea.
Invitation: When your adventures bring you face-to-face with an actual sidecar, send me a pic for my collection!
Who I work with
Women Navigating the Wild Roads of International School Leadership
You know those mountain roads that look thrilling on a map but turn out to be full of hairpin turns, muddy patches, fickle weather, and signs in languages you're still learning to read? That's international school leadership.
My clients are women riding those roads, sometimes confidently, sometimes white-knuckled, often wondering if there's a better route or if they're even heading the right direction. And then when they reach those vista points, they remember why they’re riding in the first place.
What My Clients Have in Common
A Sense of Adventure: They see leadership as containing core elements of adventure: risk, vulnerability, uncertainty. They embrace this, knowing that certainty never lasts. Especially in the world of international schools.
A Deep Well of Curiosity: They are continuously in learning mode: about themselves, about leadership, about what might be possible if they tried something different.
A Firm Commitment to Growth: They're ready to show up as themselves, for themselves. They’re not in coaching to ‘be fixed,’ but to be active co-creators in their own growth.
NOTE: Yes, I do also coach men and non-educators, as long as they have a sense of adventure, a deep well of curiosity, and a firm commitment to growth.
Some Recent Riders (details kept generic for privacy)
HS Principal in East Asia – Stuck in a toxic situation, needed clarity on whether to stay or go. We worked together to see the situation clearly, trust her gut, negotiate her exit, and land somewhere that better suits her talents and values.
Aspiring Leader in the Middle East – Talented but kept getting passed over for internal promotions. We worked on developing case studies demonstrating her suitability for more senior leadership positions, and believing she deserves the roles she’s applying for. She's now confident that she’ll be a better candidate for future promotion opportunities.
New Director in a For-Profit School – Brilliant leader, nightmare management structure. We worked on strategies for managing up while staying sane and leading her team well, all in a tight fiscal environment.
Seasoned Head of School with global experience – Burned out and wondering if she even wanted to stay in education. We explored what else might call to her and created a pathway toward something new.
First-Time Head in Northern Europe – Plenty of confidence until she was 6 months into the job. We worked on managing tricky team dynamics, maintaining healthy board relations, and finding her footing.
Head of Teaching and Learning in Asia – New to the role. Lacked clarity on her mandate and responsibilities and received little guidance from highers up. We practiced communication strategies aimed at gaining that clarity and behaviors that she would engage in if she had it.
