Hi, I'm Adanna—your coach for what's next.
I graduated right after the Great Recession into a $35K analyst job in an expensive city. The catch? Half of us would get a $15K raise at six months based on performance. I worked my ass off. And at the midyear review, I ranked in the bottom 50%.
This is my origin story. The moment I realized hard work wasn't enough...I needed to understand the game and how the system actually rewarded behavior.
So I figured it out. Within 12 months, I turned it around so dramatically that HR made a one-time exception to give me a retroactive $15K "gift" on top of my promotion and raise. By 27, I'd over 6x'd my salary. By 30, I was coaching others through the same system that I had to figure out the hard way.
Today, I'm a GTM leader in ed tech and the future of work, but what I'm most energized by is helping great people see the rules, play strategically, and build careers that don't drain them.
That's why I created Agence. Work should give you energy, not just take it. Whether you're making a career shift, negotiating what you're worth, or building something on your own terms—
there's space for it here.
Worked two jobs throughout college (semesters + summers), cold applied to startups senior spring and taught myself how to case. Employment was still down post-recession.
Work / Study
Life @ Yale
Boston Startup:
ConnectEDU
Recruitment Mgr - Education NPO
Joined a VC-backed company as a business development analyst, earned 0% of my first bonus since I didn't self-advocate or own my work. Fixed it. Won hearts and minds.
Took over a five-person team at 24. Recruited the largest, most diverse class in org history and got a tiny bonus. The growth potential wasn't there - started MBA Prep via MLT.
The hand I built
Started here. had MANY A WAKE UP CALL.
Completed my 2 Year, full-time MBA. Fought hard the entire way - several GMAT attempts, M7 rejections, and a first year blowout with MBB. Once started stress crying in an interview.
Moved to Chicago for Kellogg
Two wild years at Bain Chicago
Surprise turn: Guild, an EdTech Unicorn
Stayed in Chicago for Bain, which was my dream company. Did Industrials M&A, Private Equity Group, and Grocery strategy. Got the toolkit, then took it back to edtech.
The venture studio I joined in NYC got acquired 5 months in. Channeled my 2020 anxiety: got promoted to Director in 4 month, closed 9 deals in a year, and taught TikTok dances.
Started to move towards my purpose and coached part-time for MLT.
The hand I built
THEN IT CLICKED. BUILT MY PLAYBOOK. STARTED COACHING.
I was recruited to grow partnerships for Google Career Certificates. Liked the perks, didn't like RTO or running education under Marketing. Left to be a big fish in a small-medium pond.
Really Big Tech: joined Google
B2B for a Chegg Certificate offering
Student Success Agent
Chegg brought me in to sell Thinkful (adult learning business line) to companies. I drove all direct + channel deals and co-led sales team growth 'til 2024's B2B wind-down.
Joined as VP, Partnerships and GTM at Mainstay, a startup driving gains in higher ed retention + enrollment amid all things 2025... Lead new product strategy and pilot partnerships.
The hand I built
GOT REALLY GOOD. RAMPED UP COACHING.
Now I help others move from survival to agency.
Sometimes coaching looks very tactical, sometimes we to start with a more open-ended and exploratory career vision conversation.
In every single case, we meet for an exploratory session to work through the vision you hold for yourself, gauge whether we're a good fit, and sketch a plan in line with your goals and timeline.
From there, it honestly varies but no matter what, clients will leave knowing how to attract for aligned opportunities, tell credible and memorable stories of their impact, and hold some cards they can always play to their advantage.
Ace of Strategy
The sharp moves, pivots, and negotiations.
Ace of Boundaries
Managing energy, saying no, avoiding burnout.
Ace of Community
Networks, solidarity, finding your people.
Ace of Leverage
Your unique value and non-negotiables.
We MAY BE A GOOD FIT IF
THE FOLLOWING RESONATES:
- You're interested in making corporate work for you, not the other way around. I help people who don't fit the mold figure out how to navigate their careers strategically and to their advantage. That could mean climbing to leadership. Or it could mean finding a well-paid role that doesn't consume you so you can actually live: build your business, do your creative work, show up for your community, rest.
- You need real accountability and someone's full focus. I work with a limited number of people so we can go deep: we stay engaged until you're grounded, clear on your next moves, and ready to show up strong—whether that's in an interview, a negotiation, or a pivotal conversation.
- You're curious and love to keep growing—and you want a coach who genuinely loves this work. I do. I've been passionate about learning development, skilling, or coaching for over 15 years (longer, honestly), and can best support people who are serious about building their skills and examining who they are and what they value outside of work.
- You're ready to commit to your process. The people I've worked with have landed dream roles, negotiated offers above market rate, and successfully changed their career trajectories. Some of this happens quickly...clarity and strategy can shift in a few sessions. The real shift happens when people are ready to own their transformation.
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