Services
Upward Bound's transformative career and leadership programs support C-suite executives, entrepreneurs and rising talent from Fortune 500 companies to higher education and small businesses.
Mission
Upward Bound is on a mission to empower innovation leaders to reach greater career heights. More than 70% of the business is focused on supporting women-identified leaders in the workplace. We welcome strategic partnerships with women-focused organizations and talent development programs.
About the Founder
About the Founder
Caroline Vial, Ph.D. is an advocate for leadership innovation and team flow, and a board-certified executive coach. She helps clients tap into their innovative strengths and leadership potential, find inspiration to lead their organizations and teams with clarity, passion and results.
Thrilled Clients & Partners
Client Testimonials
Jennifer Keys, Senior Director at Northwestern University
"I am delighted to offer my highest endorsement for Caroline Vial, Ph.D., BCC, Founder and Chief Executive Coach of Upward Bound Executive Coaching. Caroline was referred to me by a colleague at Northwestern University, and her expertise in leadership development was immediately evident.
Caroline and I collaborated extensively to plan a strategic planning retreat for the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching at Northwestern University. Throughout the planning process, Caroline demonstrated exceptional professionalism and a deep commitment to our organizational values of listening, humility, and evidence-based practices. Caroline held eleven coaching sessions with my colleagues to explore their individual strengths, which are still referenced as some of the most valuable learning opportunities we have ever had at work. She built a comprehensive retreat agenda that significantly accelerated our strategic planning process, including a variety of thoughtfully designed activities, including:
Mindfulness Check-in; Team-Building Activity; Your Unique Contribution to the Team; Appreciating Others’ Contributions; Explore Team Strengths; CliftonStrengths and DEIJ; Vision Boarding Activity; Gallery Walk Activity; Tasting Exercise
Caroline's inclusive approach and ability to create a supportive and engaging environment allowed us to explore our strengths and aspirations fully. As we are about to officially launch our strategic plan, I think back on the importance of that retreat as enabling us to envision the future of the Searle Center and how it set the stage for concrete action steps.
I highly recommend Caroline Vial for her outstanding coaching and facilitation skills. Her commitment to fostering leadership development and her perceptive organizational insights make her an invaluable asset to any team."
Tenured Professor at Northwestern University
"Caroline is a brilliant coach who shows up with deep wisdom and empathy for each session. Plus, with a PhD from Northwestern University, she really gets academia. Working with her has transformed my life. I have gained greater clarity on what I truly want in my career and found amazing focus and energy as a result. Highly recommend!"
Michael Spikes, Program Director at Northwestern University
"Working as a coaching client of Caroline's has been a great experience. I've learned and grown as a leader from the tools that she has shared with me, along with observing her great coaching techniques, that I will look to implement in my own roles as a leader. Caroline was an easy person to open up to and share experiences with, that made our coaching relationship very valuable and formative. I'll look forward to drawing on her insights in the future!"
Associate Chair and Tenured Faculty at Northwestern University
"Caroline has changed the way that I lead the faculty and have difficult conversations with my colleagues. Each week, she helps me work through an issue by guiding me through a series of questions, such that I have an immediate plan of action to resolve the situation."
Anna Magnusdóttir, Software Learning & Development
"Caroline is a dedicated and insightful individual who exhibits a natural talent for connecting with people and a strong sense of empathy. Caroline's passion for empowering women is particularly commendable. She is committed to helping women reach their full potential, and she has a deep understanding of the challenges that women face in their lives. Caroline is a skilled listener and communicator, and she is able to help her clients identify their goals and develop strategies to achieve them. She is also a positive and encouraging coach, and she is always willing to go the extra mile to help her clients succeed. I wholeheartedly recommend Caroline. If you have the opportunity to work with her, you will witness personal and professional growth firsthand.”
Jennifer Green, Arts Non-Profit Director
"Caroline is an excellent coach and I highly recommend her. I found her to be a dedicated practitioner with excellent listening and engagement skills. In sessions, I felt inspired to expand my skill set and reinvigorated to embrace transformations in my own career. Most importantly, I felt I had actionable next steps to follow my vision forward.”
Ariana Klitzner, Founder & CEO of Gemarico
"I always look forward to coaching sessions with Caroline. She has helped me push my own assumptions and face my blockers to build my confidence and continue to push forward in growing my business!"
