Why I've been so quiet lately

May 12, 2026

Hi there - I’ve been very quiet lately because my mother, who was very dear to me, passed away on March 27, just a few weeks after falling and breaking several bones. It was an intense, exhausting time for my mom and our family. Nearly every moment during her last days, Mom was surrounded by those of us who loved her fiercely.

I had been the primary person to share responsibility with my mom for her wellbeing and legal matters since my dad died in 2014, so March was a physically draining time for me as we navigated those days together. And of course, now I’m deeply into the experiences of fresh grief and wrapping up her affairs.

If you’ve ever wondered where I get my drive for human rights and accountability, I can say with confidence it came directly from my mom. You can read about her life here if you wish.

I’m not rushing myself to get “back” and I promise you I’m resting and being gentle with myself, but of course life and work does go on alongside of grief. So, a few days ago, I was able to complete and publish my first new article since Mom died. It’s called, “A hopeful text if you grind your teeth about marketing,” and in it, I began sharing my thoughts about a short textbook called Marketing in the Climate Crisis - Imagining Post-Growth Futures, by Carys Egan-Wyer and Jon Bertilsson (2026, Routledge, New York, New York). You can read the article here.

My specialty as a business coach is encouraging practices for human and planetary wellbeing. My mother was incredibly proud and supportive of my work. Please consider recommending me to friends and colleagues who might need a business or leadership coach or strategic planner (my particular joy as a planner is working with small shops). My equity pricing structure means I can help most folks. Some of my clients run high-revenue businesses, while others run non-profits or one-person businesses.

I try to be transparent about my identity as a white, cis-het, middle-class, non-disabled woman in the U.S., because I think it’s important for my potential clients to know. I often get to work with people who have identities that differ from mine, and together, we are building a more just and equitable world where our lives and work are much better because of it.

Here’s to living lives filled with purpose and love,

Kay Coughlin, CEO and Business Coach, Facilitator on Fire