Valeria Lopez, MA
Valeria Lopez is a leadership and career coach, consultant, and organizational designer who supports job seekers, career pivoters, and growth-minded professionals in securing opportunities, advocating for themselves, and showing up more authentically at work. Valeria has worked with leaders across technology, human resources, defense, financial services, education, healthcare, nonprofit, and startup sectors. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese, she partners with individuals, teams, and organizations across the United States and Latin America.
Her coaching expertise spans career strategy, resume review, self-advocacy, workplace conflict navigation, interpersonal communication, networking strategy, and interview preparation. A career pivoter herself, Valeria firmly believes in designing a portfolio of experiences congruent with evolving personal and professional priorities and values. She describes her coaching as a dance—an evolving partnership where she listens deeply, challenges constructively, and creates space for reflection, clarity, and growth.
Certified in True Colors Personal Success, True Colors Communication, Appreciative Inquiry Facilitation, and the MSCEIT emotional intelligence assessment, Valeria also brings expertise in systems thinking, design thinking, and anti-oppression facilitation to her coaching and consulting work.
“Before I started working with Val, I was feeling very lost and confused. I felt a very strong sense of grief for wanting to leave a career I worked so hard to be successful in but because I had dedicated so much of my time to this career.
Valeria took the time to invest in helping me identify my strengths and interests. In many cases, it’s easy to recognize where you may fall short, but it’s hard to push yourself to acknowledge what you’re good at. Valeria really helped me believe in myself and acknowledge the fact that I have soft skills that many people lack that can take me a long way and allow me to stand out in a way I never would have imagined.
I would absolutely recommend Valeria to anyone who is looking for some clarity when it comes to taking a next step in their career. She is kind, informative and, most importantly, a great listener with practical advice.
These coaching sessions allowed me to acknowledge the fact that I am not alone and provided me a level of mentorship that I have often lacked in my career and is something I will need moving forward. After coaching, the concept of a career change or a starting a side hustle does not seem as daunting to me as it did in the past. I have a better grasp on how I can use my current job as a tool to give me the capital to start a side hustle that eventually could turn into something more substantial.”
–Paige Walwyn
“I would absolutely recommend Val as a coach to others. She was thoughtful, asked questions that required different levels of self reflection. Once I was able truly name what was annoying me and therefore keeping me stuck, I felt lighter and clearer on those triggers. I was then able to identify steps to help move me through those moments and more importantly, what I can do to prevent myself from engaging in those moments. I was then able to set a new goal and she encouraged celebrating myself for coming to the conclusion I had and creating my action plan.
After coaching with Val, I feel ‘untangled.’ Before, I was in knots and the process, style, and sensitivity my coach provided allowed me to release some things and I feel great.”
–Anissa R.
“Val helped me uncover a lot of anxiety I have been feeling around the job search process that I didn’t realize I was carrying. In just two sessions, she helped me get to the root of why I haven’t made a lot of effort to search for the job I want. Now I have identified clear, actionable steps to help me move forward, which has helped reduce said anxiety.
In addition to coaching, being part of the Embrace Change community has been so valuable to me. Having a place where WOC can support each other and strategize how to find success within and outside institutions built on the foundations of systemic racism has been a blessing.”
–O.J.