For women of color leaders carrying so much
Support for the unseen, unspoken parts of leadership so you can lead with your full, grounded self.
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You know how to do the work. You’ve been doing it.
But leading? In the nonprofit or social impact space? That’s a different kind of tender.
Because here, the stakes feel personal. The work matters. And when the work matters, it’s easy to forget you matter too.
You care deeply. That’s not the problem.
You’ve stepped into more responsibility and with it comes the weight of visibility, decision-making, and complexity.
You might be feeling:
Frustrated with toxic management norms and unsure how to lead differently without burning bridges or burning out.
Unclear on how to navigate power dynamics without abandoning your values.
Exhausted by perfectionism, people-pleasing, and constantly going beyond your capacity.
Uncomfortable even calling yourself a leader like that word belongs to someone else.
You’re doing something that’s never been done by someone like you, with your values, your background, and your depth of care.
You’re not doing it wrong.
When I turned down a major promotion because I didn’t feel safe enough to say yes, I knew something had to change.
That change came through rest, spiritual practice, and reclaiming a version of leadership rooted in clarity, compassion, and wholeness.
Today, I support women of color leaders to do the same — to lead in ways that are sustainable, values-aligned, and deeply true to who they are.
I know what it’s like to lead from burnout: to care deeply in systems that reward disconnection.
Most of all, you want to lead in a way that feels sustainable, not just for your work, but for your spirit.
You want to…
Know that you’re showing up in ways that feel true to who you are and be effective without losing yourself
Build strong, trust-filled relationships with your team, your community, and yourself
Feel grounded and resourced, instead of stretched too thin
Lead with more confidence and clarity, even when the path feels uncertain
Trust yourself in moments of tension, conflict, or high stakes
Create change without replicating the harm you’ve experienced
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Where deep healing meets strategic leadership. Lead with clarity, courage, and sustainability, without leaving any part of yourself behind.
I coach from lived experience. As a Filipina daughter of immigrants, a systems change maker, and a recovering perfectionist, I know what it means to lead from both vision and vulnerability.
Hi, I'm Patti
I’ve spent over a decade advancing equity across government, philanthropy, nonprofits, and the arts, from shaping city policy and advising elected officials to supporting DEI efforts on Broadway.
I’m a certified leadership and life coach trained in trauma-informed practice, somatic coaching, and parts work. I also draw from ancestral, spiritual, and cultural wisdom, because true transformation isn’t just cognitive. It’s embodied.
And most importantly:
Together, we’ll weave a leadership practice that is sustainable, liberatory, and truly your own.
S
Self-Compassion
The foundation. We begin with reconnecting you to your worth beyond achievement.
I
Intention
We clarify your values and vision, so your leadership is purposeful and aligned.
H
Healing
We name and repair what’s been internalized or inherited, making space for more truth, trust, and ease.
T
Transformation
We root those shifts into your everyday life and leadership, creating ripple effects that last.
F
Fulfillment
We move from vision to action, taking meaningful steps toward the change you’re here to create.
This process is nonlinear, relational, embodied, and responsive: just like the work you’re doing.
My Approach:
The S.H.I.F.T. Framework
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Coaching with me is guided by the S.H.I.F.T. Framework: a decolonial, values-rooted approach to leadership and transformation.
Inspired by the weaving of a banig (a traditional Filipino mat), each coaching relationship is co-created through five interwoven threads
Coaching with me is guided by the S.H.I.F.T. Framework: a decolonial, values-rooted approach to leadership and transformation.
Inspired by the weaving of a banig (a traditional Filipino mat), each coaching relationship is co-created through five interwoven threads
My Approach:
The S.H.I.F.T. Framework
S
Self-Compassion
The foundation. We begin with reconnecting you to your worth beyond achievement.
H
Healing
We name and repair what’s been internalized or inherited, making space for more truth, trust, and ease.
I
Intention
We clarify your values and vision, so your leadership is purposeful and aligned.
F
Fulfillment
We move from vision to action, taking meaningful steps toward the change you’re here to create.
T
Transformation
We root those shifts into your everyday life and leadership, creating ripple effects that last.
Together, we’ll weave a leadership practice that is sustainable, liberatory, and truly your own.
This process is nonlinear, relational, embodied, and responsive: just like the work you’re doing.
APPLY FOR COACHING
Before coaching, I was feeling very insecure and overwhelmed about my career. I didn't have the confidence and direction I needed to move my life into a more fulfilling direction.
I loved Patti's honesty about her coaching style and how she immediately put me at ease with her own confidence and ability to seamlessly navigate our conversation.
Nothing came automatically or magically, but when I look back on my 3-month journey, it really feels like I began as a different person. The deceptively simple exercises that Patti took me through allowed me to have insight into my life in ways that I don't think I would have otherwise found. I better understood the parts of my life that I wanted to lean into, and began making simple changes in my life that brings me to where I am now - volunteering at an organic flower farm, confidently applying to new positions and believing in my own ability to determine a more fulfilling career path, and making the right life decisions that allow me to have more opportunity and less stress-- even if that decision wasn't obvious to me to begin with. It's been wonderful to just have an hour each week for Patti to take me on a journey and engage in really fun and insightful exercises. She's caring, delightful, a wonderful active listener, and a skilled facilitator.
Olivia O.
Case Studies
02.
As a neurodivergent woman of color in leadership, I've faced many challenges with planning, delegating, and time management. I spent a lot of time second guessing myself, which often made work anxiety inducing. I was beginning to wonder if I was even the right fit for my current role.
By working with Patti one-on-one for the past several months, she's helped me navigate my internal barriers getting in the way of me unlocking my best self, and not just my work self. I've picked up strategy in delegation, optimized communication and collaboration within my team, and most importantly, I actually feel like I belong in my role. My team now has a strong foundation for what to focus on in 2024. This keeps us on track for constant improvement where needed.
S.J., Program Manager
01.
That’s why Malaya Private Coaching is offered through a tiered, class-equitable pricing model, inspired by the Green Bottle Model from Worts + Cunning.
If you’ve been economically impacted by systems of race, class, gender, sexuality, or ability, this pricing structure is designed to return some of the value that’s been systemically withheld. If you’re in a position to pay more, your full investment supports the sustainability of this practice and increases access for others. I’m so grateful for that choice.
Coaching is an investment in your growth, sustainability, and impact, and I believe that support should be accessible without compromising quality or care.
The Investment
Many clients use professional development stipends to pay for coaching, and I’m happy to provide documentation or work with your workplace to make that process easy.
You can learn more about tiered pricing and available packages here:
This sliding scale is entirely honor-based — I’ll never ask for income verification or question your financial reality.
When you enroll, you’ll choose the pricing tier that reflects your individual or organizational capacity. Payment plans are available at no extra cost, because I don’t believe in penalizing clients for paying over time.
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I feel in my heart the joy of serving, and for the longest time I didn’t know how to - or felt not good enough to.
When I met Patti, I felt the compassion, care and authenticity radiate from her being. She made me feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable and unearth the limiting beliefs I had in place, and instead together we worked to establish new habits and beliefs. These have been progressional, tangible and life changing. I’ve learned to be more comfortable in my own skin, to own what I previously thought were flaws, and even not be defined by societal structures that have been put in place to make womxn of colour feel lesser or inadequate.
This transformation would not have happened with someone else other than Patti. She has been extremely supportive, kind and resilient. She has taught me so much and inspired me so much that I want to share the same energies with those who would benefit from coaching.
I said yes to coaching because I loved Patti’s energy and what she had to offer. As another woman of colour, I felt like I could trust her, and instinctively knew she would be there to support me and not judge. Her and her coaching came into my life at the perfect timing, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Over the course of our coaching, I have achieved so much I never thought possible - yet what I have been able to manifest externally, it all came from within first. As a young asian girl, I grew up feeling small, and wanting to conform to being obedient and was conditioned to people please. Yet this past conditioning has done me more harm than good, and while shifting and changing my habits and ways of being hasn’t been easy, it has been necessary as I am committed to my growth and transformation.
Through this coaching course with Patti, I was able to set strong boundaries, to establish realistic goals and achieve them - which ultimately led me to taking the leap of faith and starting my own business.
Yinki W.
Before coaching, I was content with myself and my life but always felt that there was something missing. It felt like there was this next level of happiness that was looming over me but I couldn't unlock it.
I had done a lot of work on my own but knew that there was a deeper level of understanding and comfort that I could not attain on my own. I had been thinking about therapy for a while but didn't feel fully aligned and never took the plunge. I really prioritized looking for someone that I thought would be able to understand me and my experiences as a WOC. So when I saw the Your Best Self program, I knew that I wanted to sign up. I was already familiar with Patti and she was someone who I could relate to as a Filipina and WOC, and as I read the program description, I found myself saying 'yep' or 'oof, that's me' to every item on the list. It just felt like the right fit.
I feel like Patti and I have accomplished so much in the ~6 months we've worked together that it's difficult to write everything out!
Jackie P.
We've overcome so many hurdles that I can confidently say I am stepping into this new year as the happiest, healthiest, and most authentic me to date. I have more gratitude, joy, alignment, and comfort in my life and it's because all of those are within me. As I became more grateful, happy, in tune with myself, and comfortable in my own skin, I also became a better daughter, sister, relative, friend, colleague, and member of society.
During the program, I was debating whether or not to make a career pivot and ultimately decided (with Patti's support) that it was the right decision. So, I quit my job, enrolled in a 3-month full-time immersive course, and am now in search of a new job in a completely different industry. I was expecting to be much more anxious and nervous but I have found myself to be surprisingly very calm and feeling very much in control. I am much more in tune with myself and trust that things will work out. Don't get me wrong, I'm still putting in the work, continuing to learn, and applying to jobs but I'm certainly not as stressed or worried as I thought I would have been during such a huge transit point in my life.
Patti has truly helped me unlock a version of myself I hoped existed and thought was unattainable. This was more than enough for me but I have also had my connections tell me that I seem "different" and that I am "authentically me and becoming more comfortable with that". It was one accomplishment to feel like and know that I was my most authentic me, but to also have others externally confirm it was just the cherry on top of this experience.
Through our group sessions, I was able to be in community with other amazing WOC and we facilitated a safe space for each other to feel seen, heard, and understood. It was so refreshing to connect with other WOC who really just get it.
They made me feel comfortable being vulnerable and we were able to share some truly special moments with each other. It was such a beautiful space that I would love for other WOC to experience themselves.
Jackie P. CONTINUED...
Patti is really such a fantastic coach and human being. I'm infinitely grateful for her support, love, and guidance throughout our journey together. She genuinely cares about her clients and tailors the experience to you and your goals. Her work pushes you outside of your comfort zone but there is never a step that you take alone --Patti is always there as an ear to listen, a shoulder to lean on, and a hand to pick you back up.
Working with Patti was one of the best decisions I've made in my life and I would highly recommend Malaya Solutions to my fellow WOC who are looking to love themselves as deeply as they love others.
You might be wondering…
You don’t need a title to lead. If you care deeply, hold responsibility, and want to create change with integrity, then you’re already leading. This space is for you, even (especially) if you’re still stepping into that identity.
“Am I really a leader?”
That’s why I use a class-equitable, tiered pricing model. You choose the investment that reflects your current financial reality. No explanations needed. Payment plans are available at no extra cost.
“Can I actually afford this?”
Absolutely. Many of my clients use their PD stipends to pay for coaching. I’m happy to provide documentation or coordinate with your employer to make it seamless.Coaching helps you have your own back, whether it's in boardrooms, on stages, in new relationships, and in your relationship with yourself. It’s about growing the inner steadiness to move through life with courage and compassion.
Yes! I love collaborating with funders, coalitions, and organizations to support group coaching for teams, grantees, or communities. Let’s co-design a coaching package that meets your people’s needs. Learn more here.
“Can you coach my team or grantees?”
“Do I have time for this?”
One client described our work like this: “Before coaching, I felt like the leaves of a tree — tossed around by everything happening around me. After coaching, I felt like the roots.” Coaching helps you have your own back, whether it's in boardrooms, on stages, in new relationships, and in your relationship with yourself. It’s about growing the inner steadiness to move through life with courage and compassion.
“What can coaching actually do for me?”
“Can I use professional development funds?”
“What’s your coaching style? What is a session like?”
“I’m not sure coaching can address what I’m going through.”
This coaching doesn’t add to your to-do list. It helps you create more space — to breathe, to reflect, and to move with intention. The goal is more clarity, more sustainability, more you.
I lead with compassion, not “tough love.” You’re already carrying enough. Each session blends inner work (mindset, emotion, identity) with outer work (strategy, action, accountability). We center your full self: your work, your wellness, your relationships, your lineage. I bring tools like parts work, yoga philosophy, racial equity frameworks, and breathwork — all integrated through a trauma-informed, culturally grounded lens. You’ll feel the shift right away. And the impact will stay with you for years.
My coaching meets you where you are. Whether you’re navigating burnout, big transitions, organizational dynamics, or internalized pressure, I help you lead from a place of cultural authenticity, clarity, and care. My clients have led boldly through change, built sustainable practices, and deepened their leadership by returning to their roots.
You don’t have to push through, shrink yourself, or carry it all alone.
You don’t have to choose between impact and integrity.
You don’t have to leave your culture, your softness, or your humanity at the door.
This is coaching that honors your full self, not just the version that performs well under pressure.
You don’t have to lead like everyone else.
Here, you get to lead with clarity and care, in ways that feel aligned, sustainable, and deeply yours.
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Case Studies
When I started seeing Patti, I was in a very depressed state and felt hopeless. I described my days as feeling like I was stuck in a hamster wheel and I was drowning in a lot of negative self-talk. My job left me feeling completely drained of energy each day and I didn't know if I should stay or leave. Also, I had gotten out of a long term relationship almost a year prior and felt that I would never meet anyone new.
I was referred to Patti by a friend for a breakout session. After just one session, I realized how much I needed a push in the right direction and felt that coaching was the right choice to learn and explore how to improve my life.
At the end of my program, I feel so much more energized about each and every day. I have become much more self-aware and learned several ways to get myself away from a negative state of mind. I determined that changing workplaces is the right next step for me and I'm now on my way to making that happen. I also entered into a new relationship during the course of my program which has flourished through the work I've done with Patti. I have learned how to be a much more present person in my life and enjoy each day as it comes. I am so thankful to Patti for the complete life and mindset change that has happened over these last few months!
Jessica H.
04.
While I was able to acknowledge my past work traumas, I was also able to see the ways in which I was playing a role in perpetuating them. While it was not easy at times, going through coaching made me realize how my rigid behaviors were keeping me from being present and enjoying the process — whether it was working or searching for work. Simply put, the sense of fun was entirely missing from the purpose-filled career I’d spent so much time cultivating.
I now prioritize finding enjoyment and lightness in my work, which has helped build ease in approaching challenges. Within a month of our coaching period wrapping up, I got a job at my top pick organization, I taught a graduate level course, and I helped grow a startup ahead of its launch. None of this would have been possible without the tools I’d learned in coaching that helped me loosen up and trust myself.
Patti is wonderful to work with, easy to talk to (and vent to when the going gets rough), and employs very creative coaching tools to expand your self-perception. This was very refreshing and a huge departure from the white-washed and western coaching practices that don’t take into account POC lived experiences. With her, I felt very seen and validated while also held accountable—a necessary combo.
K.T.
05.
I was a burgeoning leader who did not trust my instincts. Patti helped me unleash my confidence as a leader. She helped me create my own path as a leader through patience and encouragement that allowed me to create a new paradigm of leadership away from patriarchal leadership that can lean towards a toxic work environment.
Instead, through exercises, guidance, and rumination, Patti helped me find a leadership style that married feminine and masculine archetypes where grace and action met to create sustainable results for myself and my team.
Through consistent training, I am now a confident, effective leader, paving the way to create a safe place for women to excel on their own path. I am a more thoughtful leader who values and encourages feedback from my team in order to make processes that benefit them while also hitting our collective goals.
R.T., Program Manager at a leading sustainability consulting firm
02.
When I signed up for coaching, I was looking for an answer to my questions. Can I change to a new career? What other career opportunities are there for me? What career allows me to help other people in their lives? I was bored of my current job and felt that I already accomplished the maximum that I can in my career.
Now let’s fast forward to my results…. LOL I didn’t change my career. I am still in the same field of work with over 20 years of experience. What changed is my mindset. Now I want to stay where I am to teach and mentor others. Share the skills and experience that I’ve learned throughout my career path. I am helping others to achieve their goals and to help guide them to get them to where they want to be in the career paths. It's so funny that I’m saying this now… I finally realize that the answers to my questions have always been in front of me the entire time. Thank you for being my coach. You help me get clarity on my feelings, thoughts, and what I want to do in life. I appreciate you! You understand me!
Cathy C., Licensed Customs Broker
01.
Through coaching, I’ve significantly reduced my anxiety and gained more trust in the timing of my journey. It’s not that the doubt has completely gone away, but now I feel more capable of moving through it. I’m more connected to the possibilities around me and feel confident enough to embrace opportunities, even if they seem daunting.
This coaching experience has been the most helpful I’ve ever had. I didn't know what to expect going into this, but I was open to trying it. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how beneficial these sessions have been. Even if the same things were happening, I wouldn’t have had the awareness or reflection without this coaching. I’ve found this incredibly helpful, and I appreciate you. Thank you. I will definitely recommend you to friends who are looking for this kind of transformative work.
K.M.
06.
Patti is my beautiful, wonderful, frankly magical coach. She is committed to the health and healing of womxn of color, and has been an incredible force of love and affirmation for me.
She has helped me unpack and dismantle so many of my harmful beliefs and expectations about myself and my body and my relationships, and has taught me tangible skills to help open up my consciousness and awareness of my own strength, needs, and capacity.
She has taught me to forgive myself, and thank my body, and in so doing, I’ve had a new perspective on the value of my time, my health, and my wellbeing. If you need this, if this calls to you, please reach out to her. You won’t regret it.
Kirklyn E.
03.
You’re not here by accident
Something in you knows it’s time to lead differently:
with more care
more clarity
and more connection
You don’t have to do it alone.
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This is a space for rest, for reckoning, for realignment.
Let’s find out what’s possible together.
