Hi, I’m Amy.

(she/they)

I help emerging leaders accelerate their growth and harness the power of their nervous system so they can achieve their professional goals and create safe, collaborative, and happy cultures for their team.

I founded Hummingbird Consulting Inc. with the vision of offering holistic leadership development programs that integrate head-based knowledge with body-based practices, progressive values and (eventually) energy healing modalities.

Amy Kellestine bio photo

I developed my unique mix of skills thanks to my own self-development journey, 15 years of leading teams to deliver big results on messy projects which included ten years of training and coaching emerging leaders in a complex, corporate environment, and my own battle with burnout.

Once upon a time, ​​I thought I had stress figured out. I would just get really capable and work really hard and get all the things on my ‘to-do’ list done, so I wouldn’t have to stress about them any more.

I would:

✨ Leave an unhappy marriage,

✨ Find some spiritual teachings that felt true to me,

✨ Start a mindfulness practice,

✨ Spend more time with people who made me feel awesome,

✨ Tackle my nagging ‘to-do’ list around the house,

✨ Systematically climb the corporate ladder and achieve professional success,

✨ Cut out alcohol,

✨ Give myself a regular bedtime,

✨ Limit my screen time,

✨ Set better boundaries, and

✨ Exercise regularly.

And each of those actions helped a bit. But not consistently. And not enough.

I still felt anxious, overwhelmed and had recurring negative thoughts that would invade my focus during the day and keep me awake in the middle of the night.

My heart would be racing and my whole body would be clenched or vibrating in important meetings when I wanted to be relaxed and patient. I also noticed my ability to be attuned and responsive to my team at work and son at home was diminishing. It was taking more and more energy to breathe deeply and keep myself from crying from exhaustion.

And then COVID hit, and George Floyd was murdered, and trying to work from home with a partner and kids around full time, and it was just all too much.

I quit what was once my dream job, started exploring social justice and the science of resilience and burnout, and became committed to finding a way to live and work in a heart-centred way that was fully aligned with my values.

I knew what it felt like to be deeply relaxed and grounded…

There were moments after a backcountry hiking trip, or a great massage and cranial sacral therapy treatment, or a meditation retreat where I could feel the tension release from my body. My heart rate would decrease, my breath would deepen and even out and I would feel at peace.

But they were fleeting.

And they either took a lot of time or someone else to support me.

At first I kept blaming myself.

If only I was smarter/more productive/more grateful, I would feel better. I had internalized the messaging from society that stress was inevitable, my value was based on my productivity and output, and I just needed to get better at self-care.

All of these experiences and training lead me to develop the Leadership Ecosystem Approach

As I learned and healed, I realized that I was creating a framework that others could learn and follow.

I had already collected a few stress-reduction strategies and embodiment practices that were working and I started seeking out more solutions that leveraged our mind-body connection and were developed with a commitment to justice.

My goal became creating a sustainable leadership training method that was inclusive and accessible.

I’m a unique mix of logical and strategic “engineer brain” mixed with a big heart that feels deeply.

I’ve participated in many expensive, “best in class” leadership conferences and retreats and did have some valuable takeaways.

And, my biggest gains in my leadership and self development continue to come when I add in my own embodied practices, build my inner resilience, and work with alternative healing practitioners.

My Coaching and Training services all work to make the Leadership Ecosystem actionable and easy to implement so that you can lead with clarity and confidence and avoid burnout.

Who am I as a leader and coach?

My values include connection, community, authenticity, growth, justice, and service.

My personal leadership metaphor is to be a candle - I create safety in the darkness, shine bright for others to follow, and share the flame along for others to do the same.

I’m a certified Presence-Based Coach and Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and am a Certified Resilience Toolkit Practitioner. I also hold a certification in Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy (Embody Lab).

My Credentials

I’ve completed a number leadership programs including graduate-level classes on leadership and social justice with Adler University. I also hold a certificate in Embodied Social Justice (Embody Lab).

I hold a BASc in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo and a BEd from the University of Alberta. I have a Certificates in Business Analysis (University of Alberta), Adult Education (St. FX University), and Change Management (Change Guides LLC).

And, just like you, I’m also more than the diplomas on the wall…

I’m a loving mom and lucky partner. I’m an imperfect minimalist and beginner permaculture gardener, and I start more books than I finish.

I love hiking, knitting, growing veggies, and having a cold drink on a sunny patio with live music playing in the background.

My partner and I are raising three loving, compassionate kids in a creative and unpredictable blended family. You can usually find us in the woods, at an open mic night, or making a mess in the kitchen.

My Commitment to Inclusion

I am committed to honouring diversity in my community and client base. I recognize my intersectional privilege including (but not limited to) race, gender, physical ability, wealth, mental health, sexuality, ability, education level, and citizenship.

I welcome all types of diversity to my practice including, but not limited to, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender, age, body type or size, religion, socio-economic status, and physical abilities.

I am committed to continuing to learn about justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity and trauma-informed approaches to training and coaching. I strive to consistently examine my unconscious biases, and know there will always be more to learn.

If you are a reader, client or colleague, and you ever see me expressing unconscious bias in a way that I seem unaware of, please tell me.

Credits

As the saying goes… many hands make light work. This site was made possible by the contributions of these fine folks, who I highly recommend if you are ever trying to get your own self launched: