Carolyn Baana, owner of Breakthrough Strategies, is an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation and has more than ten years coaching experience, gained during her corporate career and, since May 2011, through her own coaching practice.

Carolyn’s career has been a case study in successful transitions. From the very beginning of her career, Carolyn assisted others as they started their businesses, made career changes, and worked to balance their lives. By the time she was 20, Carolyn was traveling across the U.S. working with entrepreneurs as they set up their new retail stores. From there came a series of start-ups that included being on the initial management teams at a new Walmart and Gap as well as a small bio-technology company. Carolyn then landed in the software industry and had the good fortune of beginning and leading several teams within Great Plains Software and Microsoft.

As a part of Microsoft’s Commercial Support Services, Carolyn had the opportunity to hold a variety of roles spanning from an individual contributor to managing a team of 300 people across Europe. Whether functioning as a technical lead, project manager, support manager or regional director, Carolyn has been drawn to helping others as they make career decisions. She hasn’t shied away from making bold decisions of her own, like moving her family to Germany to gain international experience or pursuing her MBA while working and with school-age children at home. Holding this attitude draws people to her as they make their own courageous choices. Coaching allows Carolyn to focus on what she loves about leadership: growing and nurturing people in their careers.

While able to coach clients located anywhere in the world, Carolyn and her husband, Todd, call Fargo, ND home. She’s a proud mom to sons Eli and Davis as well as a devoted “mom” to dachshunds Nellie Lulu, Cocoa Bean and Moose.