Frequently Asked Questions

  • Alice Chen is a PCC-certified executive coach, organizational consultant, mentor coach, and facilitator based in Asheville, North Carolina. She is the founder of Wayfinding Wisdom, a leadership coaching and organizational development practice rooted in the ancient art of Polynesian navigation. She has been working with leaders, teams, and organizations since 2006.

  • Wayfinding Wisdom is a leadership coaching, strategic consulting, organizational development, and mentor coaching practice founded by Alice Chen in 2016. It serves executives, founders, nonprofits, small teams, and coaches across sectors and stages — nationally and globally.

  • The Wayfinding methodology is an approach to leadership development inspired by the ancient art of Polynesian navigation. Rather than navigating by force — setting a straight line toward a goal and powering through — Wayfinding develops leaders who can read the conditions around them, integrate multiple ways of knowing, and navigate wisely through complexity and uncertainty. It is built on a both/and principle: integrating analytical and intuitive intelligence, individual and collective wisdom, strategy and soul.

  • Alice Chen specializes in executive and leadership coaching for leaders navigating complexity and transition, strategic clarity consulting for nonprofits and small organizations, mentor coaching and coach training for ICF certification and practice development, and leadership workshops focused on listening, influence, trust, and navigating complexity.

  • Wayfinding Wisdom works with executives, founders, organizational leaders, coaches, and teams — particularly those in nonprofits, education, and mission-driven organizations. The practice is especially resonant with what Alice calls "paradigm shifters and possibility makers" — leaders who sense that conventional approaches aren't adequate for the complexity they're navigating and are ready to work differently.

  • Alice Chen is based in Asheville, North Carolina. She works with clients nationally and globally, primarily via Zoom and phone. In-person engagements including site visits, team observations, and workshops are available depending on context.

  • Yes. Alice Chen holds a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential from the International Coaching Federation and is an ICF-approved mentor coach. She has been mentoring coaches since 2006.

  • Investments vary by offering and scope. As a general guide: executive and leadership coaching partnerships for senior leaders typically begin at $8,000–$10,000 for six months. Strategic clarity and organizational consulting engagements typically begin at $8,000–$10,000 for a full scope, with larger or more complex projects priced accordingly. Leadership workshops begin at $5,000 for a two-hour standalone session and vary based on duration, scope, and travel. Mentor coaching pricing depends on your credentialing path and the number of hours needed. All engagements begin with a discovery conversation — reach out to discuss what makes sense for your situation.

  • Every engagement begins with a discovery conversation. You can book a discovery call directly through the website or reach out via the contact page. Alice works with a limited number of clients at a time to ensure the depth and quality of each engagement.