I am an executive coach who empowers high-achieving professionals to elevate their leadership, embrace transitions, and thrive through change.

Change is hard, especially for high achievers who hold themselves to exceptionally high standards and value stability while often grappling with fear of failure.  

However, transitions don’t have to be daunting. Coaching can provide the tools and mindset to confidently navigate change with purpose and joy.

As your coach, I will partner with you through life's twists and turns, transforming these transitions into opportunities for growth and fulfillment. Through one-on-one coaching and tailored leadership development programming, I foster personal and professional growth through every step of the journey.

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My Story:

My story is filled with many unique chapters. In short, over the course of my career I’ve been a consultant, physician, military officer, healthcare leader, medical education leader, and professional coach -- often wearing three or more of these hats at the same time. Along the way, I’ve found the most joy in providing inspiring leadership through change and helping high-achieving individuals successfully navigate transitions and challenges. I look forward to utilizing my deep expertise in leadership, professional development, and coaching to help you elevate your leadership and thrive through change.

Gretchen Rickards

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺.

I attend a lot of networking events, and because of that, I’ve learned to trust that early instinct.

When I attended my first Next Level Networking event mid last year, I felt it immediately.

The vibe was warm and welcoming. We’re a diverse group of women who genuinely support and champion one another.

This week, I had the opportunity to give back to that community by presenting my talk, 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯 101: 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘝𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵.

The conversation was thoughtful, engaged, and practical. It was a reminder of how powerful learning can be when it happens in the right room.

Thank you, Next Level Networking, for creating a space where connection feels natural and support is authentic. Communities like this are rare and invaluable.

Not all networking spaces are created equal. The right ones do more than help you expand your network. They make it easier to show up, contribute, and keep growing.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆?

#CommunityMatters #WomenSupportingWomen #LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalDevelopment

Leadership and Transitions Coach | Physician | Educator | Lifelong Learner

This morning, I went to the wrong gym.

I’m a member of Orangetheory Fitness and rotate between three studios depending on the instructor or convenience. I intentionally booked today’s class for a specific coach, but out of habit, I drove to the gym I usually attend on Tuesdays.

It wasn’t a big deal, but it was a great reminder of why change is so hard.

It’s often said that we humans are "creatures of habit,” but there’s a reason for that. Neurobiologically, we are wired to prefer stability. Because of this, even minor deviations in our routine can feel disorienting. 

This is one of the reasons leadership communication during change is so important. Clear, consistent communication matters, and repetition is essential.

Research suggests people need to hear about a change multiple times before it sticks, with a commonly cited rule of thumb being seven times. That means one meeting or one email is rarely enough, even when the change seems obvious to the leader.

Bottom line: change is hard, whether you’re navigating it personally or leading others through it.

What’s one change you’ve led that required more communication than you expected?

#Leadership #ChangeManagement #ChangeIsHard #LeadingChange

Thank you to SoMeDocs(Doctors on Social Media) and everyone who joined last night’s 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 session. It was a privilege to help kick off such a meaningful event.

In my talk, “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘞𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘣 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦,” I explored something I see again and again in my work with women leaders across healthcare:

When challenges like responsibility without authority or change fatigue go unnamed, they’re often internalized as personal shortcomings. Once they’re named, they become leadership realities we can understand, address, and navigate.

Left unaddressed, these challenges contribute to a larger pattern. Women are leaving leadership, not because they lack ambition, skill, or resilience, but because leadership often asks them to compensate for structural gaps that were never theirs to fill, like shouldering invisible work or leading without adequate time or support.

Many of us respond the only way we know how – working harder, taking on more, and carrying it quietly. But over time, that pattern becomes unsustainable.

If you’re a woman leader in medicine who has ever thought, “Maybe it’s just me,” I hope this conversation can serve as a reminder: 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁.

The conference continues through the week and is free for live attendance, with a VIP option for recorded access to all sessions. 

I’ll share the agenda and registration link in the comments.

#WomenInMedicine #HealthcareLeadership #WomenLeaders
#LeadershipDevelopment #SustainableLeadership

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about superpowers.

One of mine is 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿.

As a physician, I was trained to look beyond surface symptoms to identify root causes quickly and accurately. Today, I apply that same diagnostic approach to help leaders understand what’s actually getting in their way before jumping to solutions.

Most leadership challenges aren’t about effort or capability. They’re the result of blind spots or skill gaps that haven’t yet been clearly identified.

Drawing on my background in medicine, adult education, and leadership development, I help leaders slow down, identify root challenges, and create a path forward that focuses their energy where it will have the greatest impact.

Because whether you’re treating a patient or leading an organization, the right diagnosis changes everything.

What’s a superpower you’ve developed over time, and how does it show up in your work?

#LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #DiagnosetheLeader

Many leadership challenges don’t stem from bad intent.
They stem from a lack of clarity, often driven by avoidance.

Avoidance shows up as vagueness, delayed feedback, softened messages, or conversations that never quite happen. We often tell ourselves we’re being kind by holding back. In reality, that restraint creates confusion and slowly erodes trust.

When leaders are transparent and direct, they show respect through honesty, not ambiguity. Clear expectations and timely, constructive feedback don’t just improve performance. They reduce anxiety, build trust, and give team members a the best chance to succeed.

Clarity isn’t always comfortable.
But it is one of the most generous things we can offer the people we lead.

Where might avoiding a hard conversation be getting in the way of clarity right now?

#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #Communication

Anyone else still struggling to put together 2026 goals?

Every January, I start with the best of intentions. 
A fresh notebook. 
A hot cup of coffee. 
A genuine desire to set goals.

And then... nothing.
Followed by avoidance.
Sometimes for months on end.

For many high achievers, goal setting doesn't spark motivation. It sparks discomfort.

Not because we lack discipline or ambition, but because something about the process feels unexpectedly threatening.

I wrote a new blog exploring why so many capable people quietly dread this process, and how shifting from achievement-based goals to identity-based ones can change everything.

If you've ever found yourself procrastinating on goals you 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 matter, this one's for you.

(𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴).

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𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱.

One of the most effective rules of habit-building is simple: 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆.

A Christmas gift for my daughters recently brought this to life in an unexpected way.

When they opened the piano keyboard, we had no idea how much joy it would bring or how it would change our days. After some experimenting, it now lives on a built-in desk in our kitchen, a space that had previously been a landing zone for mail and paper piles.

Placement mattered more than we expected.

Because the keyboard sits in a space we all pass multiple times daily, it gets used constantly. My daughters play before and after school. I play during lunch or when I drop my keys directly underneath it. My husband will sit down while closing up the kitchen for the night.

I see this pattern in my coaching work. People rarely struggle to build new habits because of lack of motivation. They struggle because their systems create too much friction.

As the book 𝘈𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘏𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘴 explains, humans are wired to conserve energy. When a habit requires extra steps or decisions, it becomes far less likely to stick, whether that's getting to an out-of-the-way gym, making thoughtful food choices in a house full of snacks, or choosing presence over scrolling when you're tired.

By placing the keyboard in a space we regularly move through, we removed the friction.

The result has been many hours of music in our home, more moments of presence, and a surprising amount of time spent creating rather than passively consuming.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲?

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲.

That discomfort often shows up the moment you decide to go after something new.

A role.
A goal.
A different way of working.
Or maybe a new direction altogether.

But instead of encouragement, you may notice:
• Subtle discouragement
• Skeptical questions
• Less support than you expected

There’s a term for this dynamic: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘯.

When crabs are placed in a bucket, any crab that tries to climb out is pulled back down by the others. Over time, none escape, so no lid is needed.

Humans aren’t crabs, of course. But during times of change, similar patterns can show up, often without intention or awareness.

I wrote a blog post about why this happens, why it shows up so often during transitions, and how to protect your momentum when it does.

If you’re in a season of growth and finding it harder than expected, this may resonate.

𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

#Leadership #Transitions #Mindset

𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸.

When someone recognizes your work, do you immediately downplay it?

“Oh, it was nothing.”
“Anyone could have done that.”
“I just got lucky.”

These responses might feel humble in the moment, but they quietly diminish your achievements and your leadership presence.

This habit, known as 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴, is often tied to playing small and avoiding the spotlight.

Here’s what happens when you consistently deflect praise:
• You train others to undervalue your contributions
• You reinforce your own self-doubt
• You make it easier for others to overlook you when decisions are being made

How you receive recognition shapes how others see your potential.

Consider trying this instead:
The next time someone offers you a compliment, pause and simply say 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 — and let it land.

You may be surprised by how powerful that one small shift can be.

#LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipPresence #StopPlayingSmall #Mindset

Military medicine shapes how we lead, often long after we take off the uniform.

I’m excited to share a new 𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 – past, present, or future.

This is a space for connection and honest conversation about leadership challenges and shared experiences across career stages.

✔ One hour
✔ No prep
✔ All career stages welcome
✔ Hosted by Women in Medicine®; membership not required

If military medicine has been part of your story, we'd love for you to join us.

𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘯-𝘶𝘱 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

#WomenInMedicine #MilitaryMedicine #WomenPhysicians #PhysicianLeadership

Women in Military Medicine: A Community Conversation

As the founder of Stand Up (for) Doctors!, I am dedicated to amplifying the voices of doctors, other healthcare professionals, and patients as they share their unique struggles, triumphs, and passions. 

Through my YouTube channel and Substack Newsletter, I spotlight the human side of medicine — from burnout and moral injury to moments of purpose, connection, and hope.

As a physical therapist and three-time cancer survivor, I bring a unique perspective shaped by both clinical practice and personal experience. I serve as the Community Ambassador for Medicine Forward, and an Ambassador for the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, and the Clinician Burnout Foundation, working to promote physician well-being and advocate for cultural and systemic change in healthcare.

My mission is to build connection and create advocacy for healthy doctors, driving positive change that benefits both doctors and patients. This is a space for everyone who cares about the future of healthcare — and believes that supporting physicians is essential to healing our healthcare system!

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The Battle

Gretchen Rickards

Kim Downey

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The Battle

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Kim Downey

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