Human Resources Professionals: Insights & Resources

Best Life Coaches in Chicago

Ryan Stevens
February 17, 2026
All Insights
HR Professionals: Insights & Resources

Best Life Coaches in Chicago

Best Chicago Life Coaches

Chicago has always been a city built on grit, industry, and reinvention. From the trading floors of the Loop and the corporate corridors of River North to Naperville’s growing executive communities and Elgin’s expanding professional base, the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin metro area reflects a workforce shaped by resilience and performance. Human Resources in Chicago has long played a pivotal role in shaping organizational culture — from manufacturing powerhouses and healthcare systems to Fortune 500 headquarters and fast-growing startups — making leadership development and talent strategy part of the city’s DNA.

Today, HR leaders across Chicagoland are navigating hybrid work realities, executive burnout, DEI strategy, retention challenges, succession planning, and performance culture — all while competing for top-tier talent in a dynamic Midwest market. It’s no surprise that life coaches have become trusted partners to both individual leaders and HR teams seeking to build emotionally intelligent, adaptable, and sustainable leadership pipelines.

At Digital Reference, we’ve seen firsthand how coaching impacts the Human Resources ecosystem. Through our ongoing research and interviews with professionals across the country — including our deep dives into leadership markets like Chicago — we’ve identified standout consultants who are truly shaping how leaders grow. If you’ve explored our broader insights on executive growth trends or leadership ecosystems on Digital Reference, you know we prioritize substance over hype and credibility over popularity.

This curated list highlights exceptional life coaches located in the Chicago metro area — professionals serving executives, founders, HR leaders, and high-performing individuals across Illinois and neighboring Indiana and Wisconsin communities.

🏀 Our Methodology - Building This List of Top Chicago-Based Life Coaches

We don’t “rank.” We research. Our selection process involves:

  • Extensive LinkedIn analysis to understand career history, thought leadership, endorsements, and professional trajectory
  • In-depth website evaluation to assess services, frameworks, philosophy, and clarity of positioning
  • Market presence research within the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin region
  • Review of niche specialization (HR alignment, executive leadership, trauma-informed coaching, performance psychology, healthcare leadership, etc.)
  • Evaluation of community impact, certifications, and professional credibility

All consultants listed here are actively operating in the Chicago area. Some are solo founders. Some run boutique firms. Others operate as independent consultants with deep professional roots.

This is about fit, depth, and impact — not popularity contests.

🌟 Meet the Best Life Coaches Supporting Chicago's Professionals

Below are professionals helping Chicago’s leaders build resilience, clarity, confidence, and strategic growth.

🟢 Rosie Guagliardo

Founder at InnerBrilliance Coaching

Rosie Guagliardo brings a deeply transformational approach through InnerBrilliance Coaching, focusing on helping high-achieving professionals reconnect with purpose and authentic leadership. Her LinkedIn presence reflects years of coaching experience centered on self-awareness, emotional clarity, and personal empowerment — all critical components for HR leaders navigating organizational change.

✨ Rosie emphasizes inner alignment as the foundation of outward performance, making her work particularly valuable for Chicago executives facing burnout or leadership transitions.
✨ Her approach blends mindset reframing with actionable strategy, helping clients bridge insight with execution.
✨ HR teams appreciate her ability to support leaders who are technically strong but seeking deeper emotional intelligence development.

🟢 Brian Tucker

Owner at Chicago Life Coaching & Hypnosis

Brian Tucker integrates life coaching with clinical hypnosis to help professionals overcome imposter syndrome, anxiety, and performance blocks. His Chicago-based practice focuses on measurable mindset shifts, particularly for executives navigating high-stakes environments. HR teams often appreciate his ability to address subconscious patterns that traditional leadership training doesn’t reach.

✨ Brian’s integration of subconscious work makes him particularly effective with professionals dealing with imposter syndrome or leadership hesitation.
✨ His Chicago-rooted brand speaks directly to driven individuals who want measurable shifts, not abstract reflection.
✨ Organizations seeking alternative development tools often find his approach refreshing and results-oriented.

🟢 Claudia Braun

Owner at Claudia Braun Coaching

Claudia Braun specializes in helping professionals gain clarity, confidence, and momentum during career transitions or leadership expansions. Her coaching emphasizes resilience, mindset reframing, and authentic self-expression in competitive markets. Organizations benefit from her work with emerging leaders stepping into stretch roles or redefining their professional identities.

✨ Claudia’s coaching style supports professionals navigating career pivots or leadership identity shifts.
✨ Her presence highlights positivity balanced with accountability.
✨ HR leaders may find her work beneficial for high-potential employees stepping into stretch roles.

🟢 Kim Ramos

Owner & Founder at Elevance Life Coaching & Consultation

Kim Ramos brings a strong healthcare leadership background into her coaching, supported by advanced nursing and education credentials. She works with professionals in high-stress industries to prevent burnout, strengthen communication, and build sustainable performance strategies. HR departments in healthcare systems especially value her firsthand understanding of clinical leadership pressures.

✨ Kim integrates evidence-based insight with leadership coaching.
✨ She understands burnout from firsthand experience in medical systems.
✨ HR departments in hospitals and healthcare organizations may particularly value her nuanced approach to resilience and performance.

🟢 Linal Harris

Founder and CEO at Insights 4 Life, LLC

Linal Harris structures her coaching around her “4 Pillars of Life” framework, focusing on mindset, relationships, purpose, and personal growth. She supports professionals seeking balance without sacrificing ambition, helping them align career success with emotional well-being. Her structured methodology resonates with HR leaders implementing whole-person development initiatives.

✨ Linal supports professionals seeking balance without sacrificing ambition.
✨ Her structured methodology appeals to analytical leaders.
✨ HR teams exploring whole-person development strategies may find alignment with her philosophy.

🟢 Drew Beshku

Founder at Blissful Life LLC

Drew Beshku focuses on mindset mastery and fulfillment-driven success for entrepreneurs and professionals seeking deeper clarity. His coaching helps clients dismantle limiting beliefs while building confidence and intentional life design strategies. Chicago’s startup and creative communities benefit from his emphasis on identity alignment and purposeful growth.

✨ Drew’s focus on clarity and confidence resonates with entrepreneurs and emerging leaders.
✨ His coaching often intersects with personal branding and identity development.
✨ Chicago’s startup ecosystem can benefit from his growth-focused mindset work.

🟢 Nick Henning

Founder at Henning Coaching & Consulting

Nick Henning blends business consulting with personal development coaching to support leaders in strengthening both strategy and self-awareness. His approach appeals to operational executives who want measurable growth alongside mindset refinement. HR professionals often value his ability to connect performance metrics with leadership behavior.

✨ Nick bridges business strategy with mindset work.
✨ His approach may resonate strongly with operational leaders.
✨ HR teams looking for coaches who understand performance metrics may appreciate his hybrid style.

🟢 Ilene Kastel

CEO at Mindfully Modern

Ilene Kastel, a licensed clinical professional counselor, integrates therapeutic insight with leadership and lifestyle coaching. Through Mindfully Modern, she supports executives navigating burnout, stress management, and emotional regulation. HR leaders prioritizing well-being and mental health initiatives often find her clinically grounded approach especially impactful.

✨ Ilene’s background provides strong grounding in mental health awareness.
✨ Her work aligns with burnout prevention and emotional resilience.
✨ HR departments prioritizing well-being initiatives may find her perspective especially valuable.

🟢 Jacqui Pugh

CEO and Founder – Full Life Transformation Coach

Jacqui Pugh focuses on bold, confidence-driven transformation for professionals ready to elevate their careers and personal lives. Her coaching centers on accountability, clarity, and decisive action during major life or leadership pivots. Organizations benefit from her work with high-potential employees stepping into expanded responsibility.

✨ Jacqui supports clients through major life and career pivots.
✨ Her energy-driven approach appeals to ambitious leaders.
✨ HR leaders may refer employees navigating confidence or identity shifts.

🟢 Maria Anthony-Ofoegbu

Founder at LYV.on

Maria Anthony-Ofoegbu leads LYV.on with a mission rooted in intentional living, clarity, and purpose alignment. She supports leaders in creating structured, forward-thinking strategies that integrate personal fulfillment with professional ambition. HR teams appreciate her emphasis on long-term growth rather than reactive career decision-making.

✨ Maria emphasizes intentional strategy over reactive decision-making.
✨ Her work resonates with leaders seeking clarity in complex environments.
✨ Chicago’s diverse executive community benefits from coaches who integrate vision with structure — and Maria embodies that blend.

Final Thoughts on Life Coaching in Chicago

In a city where high performance is the baseline and resilience is often taken for granted, coaching creates critical space for thoughtful reflection, strategic recalibration, and sustainable growth. HR leaders navigating culture change and organizational transformation should not have to shoulder that responsibility alone. Across Chicago, the life coaching community is strong, diverse, and closely aligned with the evolving demands facing today’s executives and organizations.

👇 Continue exploring Digital Reference resources:

At Digital Reference, our mission is clear: to research, assess, and highlight the professionals shaping leadership markets in major cities. Whether you’re an HR leader, founder, or executive seeking a deeper understanding of the advisory landscape — or a consultant aiming to increase visibility among key decision-makers — we invite you to explore more insights and analysis through Digital Reference.

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