Book a Coaching Package
and craft your character arc today!
"You are the only mystery
worth solving."
~The Eleventh Doctor, Doctor Who, Hide
Evolve Your Character Arc
Are you ready to embrace your next significant personal or professional chapter? Our coaching packages aren't just about identifying what you're good at; they're about leveraging your natural talents to intentionally design and live the life you truly desire.
Here's why investing in this journey will be transformative for you:
👉 Discover Your Authentic Power: Stop guessing and start leading with genuine confidence. You will gain profound clarity on your innate talents and how they uniquely equip you to navigate challenges and seize opportunities. This isn't about changing who you are, but becoming more powerfully you.
👉 Accelerate Your Growth, Naturally: Instead of focusing on weaknesses, we will build on your strengths. This approach is more energizing, efficient, and sustainable, leading to faster progress and greater satisfaction as you lean into what comes naturally to you.
👉 Craft Your Compelling Narrative: Whether it's a career pivot, a leadership transition, or a personal reinvention, we'll help you articulate your unique story. You'll learn to position yourself effectively for new roles, opportunities, or life paths, making your next steps feel authentic and aligned.
👉 Gain Unwavering Clarity and Direction: Feel stuck or uncertain about what's next? Your strengths act as your internal compass. This coaching will provide unshakeable clarity on your purpose, priorities, and the most effective path forward, ensuring your next chapter is built on a solid foundation.
👉 Maximize Your Impact and Fulfillment: When you operate from your strengths, everything flows more easily. You'll not only achieve your goals but do so with greater joy, less effort, and a deeper sense of fulfillment, creating a ripple effect of positive change in all areas of your life.
👉 Invest in Your Most Valuable Asset: YOU: Working with a coach is an investment in self-awareness, strategic personal development, and a future where you lead with authenticity and impact. It’s about ensuring your next chapter isn't just any chapter, but your best chapter yet!
Character Arc Leadership Coaching - Program Packages
At Character Arc Leadership Coaching, we believe in guiding you through a transformative journey, leveraging your unique Clifton Strengths to unlock your fullest potential. Each package is designed to meet you where you are and propel you toward your next chapter of authentic, unique, and powerful leadership.
The Prologue Package
Goal: Lay the foundation for self-awareness and introduce the power of your innate talents. This package is perfect for those beginning their leadership development journey or seeking initial clarity on their strengths.
- Number of Sessions: 2 x 60-minute coaching sessions
- Key Activities & Goals:
- Clifton Strengths Assessment (Top 5): You will receive access to complete the official Clifton Strengths assessment to identify your dominant talents.
- Strengths Discovery Session: A dedicated session to debrief your Top 5 Strengths, understand their nuances, and begin to see how they manifest in your daily life and work.
- Initial Goal Setting: Identify 1-2 immediate areas where you can consciously apply your strengths to enhance your effectiveness.
- Introduction to Your Character Arc: Begin to conceptualize your personal leadership narrative.
The Protagonist Package
Goal: Deepen your understanding of your strengths, align them with your values, and begin to actively shape your career vision and leadership presence. This package is for those ready to take a more active role in directing their professional path.
- Number of Sessions: 4 x 60-minute coaching sessions
- Key Activities & Goals:
- Clifton Strengths Assessment (Full 34): Gain a comprehensive understanding of all 34 of your Clifton Strengths, uncovering your unique talent hierarchy.
- In-Depth Strengths Integration: Explore how your full Strengths profile impacts your decision-making, communication, and problem-solving.
- Values Exploration & Alignment: Identify your core personal and professional values and understand how they intersect with your strengths to guide your choices.
- Career Visioning & Narrative Development: Begin to articulate your desired future career path and craft a compelling personal brand narrative.
- Applying Strengths to Current Challenges: Work through specific leadership or career challenges, applying your strengths for practical solutions.
- Introduction to Leading with Strengths: Explore how your talents can enhance your influence and effectiveness in your current leadership responsibilities.
The Pinnacle Package
Goal: Achieve advanced strengths integration, strategic leadership mastery, and sustained personal and professional evolution. This comprehensive package is designed for seasoned leaders ready to elevate their impact, influence others, and build high-performing teams.
- Number of Sessions: 8 x 60-minute coaching sessions
- Key Activities & Goals:
- Comprehensive Strengths Mastery: Deep dive into the strategic application of your full 34 Clifton Strengths across all aspects of your leadership and life.
- Advanced Career & Life Visioning: Develop a detailed, actionable roadmap for your long-term career and personal aspirations, fully aligned with your strengths and values.
- Strategic Leadership & Influence: Focus on leveraging your strengths to drive organizational strategy, inspire teams, and effectively influence stakeholders.
- Partnering with Others & Team Dynamics: Understand how your strengths interact with those of your team members, fostering stronger collaboration, conflict resolution, and collective performance. (Option to include team strengths debriefs/workshops for an additional fee).
- Building High-Performing Cultures: Explore how to cultivate a strengths-based culture within your team or organization.
- Navigating Complex Leadership Challenges: Address multifaceted leadership dilemmas with a strengths-informed, strategic approach.
- Sustained Growth & Accountability: Establish mechanisms for ongoing personal development and maintain momentum towards your evolved leadership narrative.
- Becoming a Strengths Advocate: Empower yourself to coach and develop others using a strengths-based mindset.
"You cannot be anything you want to be, but you can be a whole lot more of
who you already are.
If you spend your life trying to be good at everything, you will never be great at anything."
~Tom Rath, Strengths Finder 2.0
It's time to STOP...
✔ Reacting to every plot twist instead of writing your own script
✔ Investing all your creative energy in supporting other characters' arcs while your own is on pause
✔ Investing all your creative energy in supporting other characters' arcs while your own is on pause
✔ Allowing your organization or external circumstances to dictate the entire plot of your professional and personal story
And time to START...
✔ Navigating challenges and igniting growth: Take decisive action to navigate setbacks, transforming them into strategic stepping stones towards peak professional and personal development
✔ Investing in your best self: Commit to your growth journey to fully unlock your potential, bringing increased confidence, clarity, and positive influence to all your interactions and relationships
✔ Investing in your best self: Commit to your growth journey to fully unlock your potential, bringing increased confidence, clarity, and positive influence to all your interactions and relationships
✔ Define your epic story: Take control of your career narrative, actively designing and sculpting the inspiring character arc of the leader you are becoming!
What people are saying
Working with Des was nothing short of transformative. Her unique gift of deep listening and asking powerful, thought-provoking questions helped me uncover perspectives I hadn’t considered before. Des brings not only strategic intelligence but also a deep well of empathy and intuition – she sees the whole person, not just the professional.
Her passion for the arts adds a refreshing layer of creativity to her coaching. She helped me and other colleagues who have never considered themselves as “creative” – unlock new ways of thinking and approaching challenges. Her communication style is clear, constructive, and always uplifting, which created a safe-judgement-free space where I could be honest, reflective, and bold in tackling professional hurdles.
What truly set Des apart is her authenticity and integrity. As my supervisor, I trusted her completely. She consistently honored confidentiality and modeled grace under pressure. With her support, I was able to set meaningful goals, stay accountable, and grow in ways I didn’t think were possible.
Des is an extraordinary coach for anyone ready to grow with purpose, clarity, and confidence.
Working with Desiree E. Santiago has honestly been a game-changer for me. She’s one of those leaders who makes you feel like you're never alone in your work. She checks in often, asks if you need anything — whether it’s training, guidance, or just a sounding board — and actually means it. You don’t feel like you're being managed; you feel like you're being supported.
What I really appreciate is how open she is. If you don’t understand something, she’ll break it down without ever making you feel small. She wants you to succeed and helps you get there step by step.
She builds trust by showing up, listening closely, and creating space for real conversations that lead to growth — not just in your work, but in how you think and approach challenges.
Desiree doesn’t just guide the team; she invests in each of us. She leads with purpose and makes sure we’re all equipped to bring our best.
Desiree makes you want to bring your best, not because you have to, but because you know she’s in it with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is leadership coaching, and how can it help me?
Leadership coaching is a partnership designed to help you clarify your goals, identify obstacles, and create action plans to achieve your highest potential. It's about empowering you to lead yourself and others more effectively, authentically, and powerfully.
How is coaching different from therapy, consulting, or mentoring?
Coaching is forward-focused, helping you unlock your own solutions and maximize future potential. Therapy often addresses past traumas or emotional healing. Consulting provides expert advice and solutions. Mentoring shares direct experience and guidance. Coaching uniquely empowers you to find your best path.
Who typically benefits most from leadership coaching?
Individuals seeking clarity on their career path, emerging leaders navigating new responsibilities, seasoned executives facing complex challenges, and anyone committed to personal growth and maximizing their impact.
Additionally, your leaders, colleagues, teammates and family members will benefit from your embodying your best self in all you do!
What does "Character Arc Leadership Coaching" mean?
Your "character arc" is the transformative journey you undertake to become your best self. Our coaching guides you through this evolution, leveraging your strengths and insights to intentionally shape your leadership narrative and achieve profound personal and professional growth.
What makes Character Arc Leadership Coaching unique?
We combine deep expertise from over 20 years in Federal HR strategy and operations, 12+ years leading high-performing teams, and a certified strengths-based methodology. Our unique approach focuses on integrating your innate talents with practical leadership strategies to ensure authentic and sustainable evolution.
What is your coaching philosophy?
My philosophy is rooted in the belief that true leadership emerges from authenticity and leveraging inherent strengths. I partner with clients to foster self-awareness, unlock potential, and empower them to lead from their unique zone of genius and superpowers.
What are Clifton Strengths, and why do you use them?
Clifton Strengths is a globally recognized assessment that identifies your top natural talents (your strengths). We use it because understanding your unique talents provides a powerful foundation for self-awareness, personal development, and highly effective leadership. It's about building on what's already strong within you.
Do I need to complete a Clifton Strengths assessment before starting coaching?
While not strictly required for an initial consultation, our coaching packages include the Clifton Strengths assessment. It's highly recommended as it provides invaluable insights that accelerate the coaching process and deepen your self-understanding.
How do you integrate Clifton Strengths into your coaching process?
Your Strengths insights become a core lens through which we explore your goals, challenges, communication style, and leadership approach. We focus on how to consciously apply your dominant talents to overcome obstacles, enhance performance, and achieve your objectives more naturally and effectively.
How do coaching sessions work?
Sessions are typically 30-60 minutes long and are conducted virtually via video conference, allowing flexibility regardless of your location. Each session is client-driven, focusing on your goals, insights, and actionable next steps.
How long does a typical coaching engagement last?
Our coaching packages range from 2-session "Prologue" introductions to 8-session "Pinnacle" transformative journeys. The ideal duration depends on your specific goals and desired depth of transformation. Additional sessions can be purchased after your initial package has completed.
What is the time commitment outside of our sessions?
While sessions are dedicated time, the real work happens between sessions. This includes reflection, practicing new behaviors, implementing action steps, and journaling. The more you commit, the greater your results.
Is my coaching confidential?
Absolutely. All coaching conversations are strictly confidential, adhering to the highest ethical standards of the coaching profession.
What can I expect to achieve through coaching with Character Arc Leadership Coaching?
Clients typically experience increased self-awareness, enhanced leadership effectiveness, greater clarity on career direction, improved communication skills, boosted confidence, and a more authentic and fulfilling professional life.
How quickly will I see results?
Results vary by individual and commitment. Many clients experience shifts in perspective and clarity from the very first session, with tangible progress towards goals often evident within weeks. Sustainable transformation unfolds over the duration of the coaching engagement.
How much does coaching cost?
Our coaching is offered through structured packages designed to provide comprehensive support and value. You can find detailed information on our website or schedule a discovery call to discuss your needs and find the best fit.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes, flexible payment options are available for longer-term packages. We can discuss this during your discovery call.
Your Journey Awaits
it's time to....
- Step out of the Shire
- Rappel into the Rabbit Hole
- Opt into Oz
- Press through Platform 9 3/4
And embark on the journey of your lifetime!
