Carrie Shapiro-Mendoza, PhD, MPH

About Carrie Shapiro-Mendoza

I am a public health leader and executive coach. I help leaders think clearly, lead authentically, and act with purpose.I spent more than three decades in maternal and child health, beginning as a nurse in the U.S. Air Force and Peace Corps, then leading national initiatives at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for over twenty years. This work taught me how leadership functions in complex systems, how decisions get made under uncertainty, and what it takes to lead with integrity when the path isn't clear.I bring that understanding to coaching. Leadership begins with self-awareness. Change happens when insight turns into action. Coaching creates space for both.My coaching is informed by formal executive coach training through Emory University and guided by the ethical standards of the International Coaching Federation.My work is evidence-based and empathetic, designed for change that lasts. I work with public health executives, academic leaders, and mission-driven professionals who want to realign with what matters and lead with greater confidence and clarity.I've coached senior public health officials through leadership transitions, academic leaders navigating institutional change, and scientists stepping into executive roles.

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Why Work With Me

I understand what senior leadership requires because I've lived it. For more than 30 years, I worked at the intersection of leadership, science, and public service, from the bedside to leading national initiatives at the CDC. I know how decisions get made in complex systems, what it takes to lead with integrity under pressure, and how insight turns into action.As a coach, I help you see patterns you're too close to notice, challenge assumptions that no longer serve you, and design strategies that stick. I listen carefully, ask questions that matter, and create space for you to connect what you value with how you lead.My approach balances structure with flexibility. We examine what's working and what's not, surface blind spots, and build practical strategies for sustainable change.Coaching with me is a reflective partnership grounded in curiosity, accountability, and respect for your experience.

Who This Work Serves

I work with experienced professionals who are facing decisions that carry real consequence in complex, mission-driven environments.You may be navigating a transition, stepping into greater responsibility, or questioning how you want to lead when the path forward is unclear and the stakes are high.This work is most useful when you are:
- Thinking about what comes next in your career, beyond the next title or role
- Navigating a transition, whether into greater responsibility, a new direction, or a period of uncertainty
- Making decisions where the data is incomplete and the consequences matter
- Working to communicate, influence, and lead effectively in complex environments
- Managing ongoing pressure while maintaining clarity and effectiveness
- Wanting your work to better reflect your values, strengths, and long-term aims

This May Not Be the Right Fit If…

Coaching with me may not be the right fit if you are looking for quick fixes, prescriptive advice, or someone to tell you exactly what to do. My work is for people who are ready to engage seriously with complex decisions and take responsibility for what comes next.

How Coaching Works

Coaching begins with a conversation. We'll clarify what you want to explore and whether we're the right fit.This initial call is confidential and exploratory, focused on what you're facing and whether coaching is the right support right now.Most clients meet for 60 minutes every two to three weeks. This cadence allows time for reflection and action between sessions while maintaining momentum. All conversations are confidential.Our work is structured and flexible. We define priorities, track progress, and adjust as you grow. I use evidence-based tools and reflective questions to help you recognize patterns, reframe challenges, and make decisions with confidence. Between sessions, you put new strategies into practice. Brief written check-ins or reflection exercises can support accountability.Engagements typically last three to six months, though some continue as new challenges emerge. The goal is sustainable change: greater clarity, stronger leadership, and alignment between what you value and how you lead.I draw on evidence-based frameworks and meet International Coaching Federation standards to ensure the work is rigorous, ethical, and focused on results.

How to begin

Our initial conversation is confidential and exploratory. It is an opportunity to talk through what you are navigating and decide, together, whether working together would be useful.

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