“It is not an exaggeration to say that I will soon be starting an exciting new teaching position because I’ve been working with Nedda as a coach. Regularly talking things through with Nedda helped me to see the disconnect between what I want now and what I imagined for myself (and thought I should want) in a different life stage. Nedda is a gifted interlocutor who contributed and helped draw out insights critical to navigating this moment of transition and transformation. Our discussions helped me see the importance of value alignment as well as truly feel my own value as an applicant. Having a knowledgeable, supportive guide during my most recent job search gave me the confidence I needed to make a change and land on my feet. I’m very grateful to Dr. Mehdizadeh for her wisdom, investment, and expertise. And I’m excited to begin this new chapter in my academic journey in the fall!”

-Jo A.

“Nedda’s resume and cover letter tips, as well as general advice on how to go about applications, and how to communicate with potential employers. I also had a ton of employment-related quandaries she helped me out with. Her suggestion to re-focus on jobs that actually centered my strengths (working with people, being outgoing, research and writing skills) was legitimately therapeutic and also helped me only apply for jobs that I would actually enjoy doing. If I had gotten any of the jobs I wanted when I first applied I think I would have been really miserable, and the job I have now is actually fun and something I thrive doing. Nedda made the process of doing job applications easier, simpler, and much more effective. During my time working with her, I went from sending applications out into the void to getting interview requests for more than half the applications I submitted. I am currently working a job in my field that I very much enjoy, and I absolutely would not be here without her.”

-Rebecca L.

“Many of us come to Dr. Mehdizadeh and Daena Coaching while we are in a liminal space. She meets us all with compassion and an unwavering belief that every person is capable of living a purpose-aligned life that allows greater career and financial freedom. The most helpful aspect of receiving coaching with Dr. Mehdizadeh is being able to know and collaborate with her closely. She creates the conditions for deep personal and professional exploration. She is a rare, dynamic, and highly skilled coach who prioritizes the needs and well-being of every client. Dr. Mehdizadeh goes above and beyond to tailor accessible and meaningful programming that emboldens clients to design and develop career pathways that support them in their wholeness. If you are looking for a coach who truly attends to your holistic needs and dreams for your life, look no further than Dr. Mehdizadeh and Daena Coaching. Your coaching is distinctly different from any I have experienced.”

-Andrea G.

“Nedda’s coaching has been an essential resource for me as I contemplate and plan my upcoming career transition. With her support, I have been able to overcome self-doubt and gain the confidence needed to pursue opportunities that align with my passions and skills. Nedda's ability to listen attentively and provide personalized advice has made a significant impact on my professional growth. Nedda’s warmth and concern for the happiness of others is unmatched. I am grateful for her expertise and dedication, which have empowered me to take proactive steps towards a fulfilling and successful career path.”

-Connie G.

“Nedda is a generous and attentive interlocutor, and her ability to go beyond the particular details of what we are discussing into underlying issues fundamentally reshaped the ways in which we dealt with topics. While I was expecting to work on particular issues--time management, work/life balance--the sessions moved between big picture discussions and detailed strategizing. Our work together modeled how I might adapt and adjust some of these strategies to other areas of my life.”

-Sarah S.

“Nedda found perceptive, caring ways to help me address the emotional factors driving my professional desires, which has in turn allowed me to better handle pursuing professional growth with less discouragement. Put differently, she has helped me understand how feelings and goals are tied to one another. I can make space for those feelings while also finding ways to make them productive for me, either personally, professionally, or both.”

-Ivette M.

“As an autistic person, I find self-reflection difficult to express in group settings, and find it hard to sort out and express my feelings with the appropriate vocabulary at times. My experience has been that Nedda has a way of gently guiding you to think through things that is absolutely not intrusive or intimidating. I really enjoy attending her sessions whenever possible!”

-Koel C.

“Nedda is an incredibly warm, thoughtful, and reflective person. During each session she had a remarkable ability to reflect back what I had shared, help me think differently about a situation, and consider short- and long-term practical approaches to shape my current and future work life. Perhaps most worthwhile, was the way Nedda helped me reconfigure my thinking about work/life balance and spend time clarifying my overall life priorities.”

-Carolyn S.

“I have known Nedda as a friend and collaborator for years, and I started working with her in a time of personal change. Knowing how fantastic Nedda is, I was excited to work with her in this capacity and learn from her as a coach and mentor. The experience was even better than I could have hoped. I learned so much from Nedda and her own experiences launching a side hustle, and she helped guide me from some broad and disconnected ideas to a viable plan to put into action. If you're thinking about taking steps in a new direction, whether into a new side hustle, a new position, or a new career, I cannot recommend working with Nedda highly enough!”

-Geoffrey W.

“Nedda was able to accommodate my unique needs and the hardships I have been experiencing in various ways. Her thoughtful guidance, practical insights, and encouraging approach have rebuilt my confidence and enhanced my strategies for navigating academic opportunities. The evening before an interview, Nedda offered me invaluable support that balanced life and work concerns. Her calm and thoughtful presence helped ease my stress. I went into the interview feeling ready and confident. Nedda is highly equipped with the tools to coach for academia. Her deep knowledge of the world makes it easier for international academicians like me to be seen and heard. She understands the challenges we face in adapting to new academic cultures and tailors her approach to meet our specific needs.”

-Suzi S.

“Nedda is able to interpret thoughts and body language very well and describe things so articulately that it brings clarity. She was able to make sense out of what I felt was a complete chaos of thoughts. She helped me highlight a lot of things I never realized about myself.”

-Sammi A.

“This session left me feeling more hopeful and prepared than when I first began. While the job market is uncertain, this gave me useful practical information about how to focus on applying for the jobs which suit me as opposed to contorting myself for jobs which do not suit my goals.”

-Christine W.

“Dr. Mehdizadeh's gentle encouragement helped me to recenter myself after a painful late-career layoff. She is kind and wise in equal measure, and I can't recommend her highly enough!”

-Maggie W.

“Nedda's coaching style is compassionate and caring, while remaining focused on helping participants build their visions. The emphasis not just on what you want, but how you want to feel and what steps you'll take to get there was a shift from how I'd approach vision boards in the past, and this approach helped me get more out of this process than I ever would have alone. Thank you, Nedda!”

-Nora W.

“Dr. Mehdizadeh offered deeply personalized and caring advice on my personal and professional concerns. During our sessions, she prioritized my needs and voice. She helped me reflect on the tools and skills I already have, empowering me to be more confident in my approaches to my personal goals and professional development.”

-Khristian S.