Dr. Kari Sulenes

Strategic Systems Coaching for Aligned Leadership

Get to know Kari

Dr. Kari Sulenes is the founder of Heartwood Collective and a strategic systems coach for visionary leaders. She works with founders, executives, and teams to evolve how they work together, transforming organizations into systems of healing and high performance.

Kari brings unique depth to her coaching, pulling on her psychology training in organizational behavior and experience leading platform support for a venture fund. Her approach blends somatic intelligence, business fluency, and clear-eyed challenge to help leaders dismantle outdated patterns and lead in alignment with their values.

Her work meets both the human and the business. For Kari, success is when leadership feels like an authentic expression of self and culture becomes a catalyst for impact. 

A recovering striver, Kari now lives more fully through yoga, immersion in nature, and cutting loose at costume parties.

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What Clients Say

  • "I have found that sessions with [Kari] are always thought provoking, and that I usually come away thinking differently about a particular situation. She provides a great balance between listening and pushing me to evaluate a situation differently. I look forward to my meetings with Kari."

  • "Talking to someone who's actually inserted in the company context makes a huge difference; it helps a lot with perspective."

  • "I don't know how I can quantify how much I appreciate Kari. She has been fundamental in the rehabilitation of my mental health. And physical health, as she helped pull be back from the brink of 100 hour weeks down to a more manageable 60-80. She continues to help channel my drive to helping create a road for others in the company, vs leaving a path of destruction behind me."

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    Trainings & Certifications

    - PsyD in Clinical Psychology with a focus in Organizational Behavior and Integrative Healthcare, Pacific University

    - RYT-200, Daya Foundation (Neuroscience and Social Justice-Based Yoga)

    - Facet5 Certified Administrator

    - Conversational Leadership Training, David Whyte

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    Areas of Focus

    - VC People Diligence and Design

    - Individual-Based Systems Coaching

    - Assessments and Systems Mapping

    - Co-founder Alignment (including romantic partnerships also acting as co-founders)

    - Speaking, Workshops & Retreat Facilitation

    - Lead Organizational Systems Coach and Supervisor

Meet Kari