Meet Sam
I’m Samantha Barnes — an iPEC™ Certified Coach with a background in thoughtful listening, pattern recognition, and guiding conversations that help people find clarity without pressure.
I’m also a mom of two teenagers, a sunset chaser, and a connector of people… especially around the dinner table.
Who I Work With
I work with anyone navigating change with curiosity and a desire to move forward in a way that feels true. They’re capable, thoughtful, and self-aware. Often, they’ve built lives that look good from the outside — and really good on paper. They’ve done “all the things.” Or maybe they keep waiting to start - but don’t know where.
Either way, something has shifted internally — not as a crisis, but as a quiet sense that the old ways of moving through life no longer fit.
My coaching space is intentionally affirming and inclusive of all people, including LGBTQ+ individuals, and grounded in respect, curiosity, and care for every person’s unique journey.
How I Came to This Work
Before becoming a Coach, I spent two decades as an entrepreneur, pioneering kids’ culinary ventures at the intersection of food, education, and community. As the founder of Raddish Kids, I built a nationally recognized brand that shaped childhood experiences for a generation of kids.
Publicly, I was known for turning ideas into movements, leading a values-driven company, and nurturing a team culture that fostered work/life integration. Privately, I was learning — through my own midlife transition — how to listen when life asked for something different. That personal recalibration reshaped how I understand growth, identity, and forward movement. It’s what ultimately drew me to Coaching.
Ways to Work Together
Connection has always been central to my work. I believe meaningful conversation often happens outside formal settings — over coffee or around a table — where people soften and conversations unfold naturally.
I offer 1:1 coaching packages, held virtually or in person (casually at a coffee shop), designed to help you move forward with clarity, steadiness, and authenticity in any area of your life.
I also facilitate intimate dinners, happy hours, and small gatherings where women come together to reflect, connect, and explore what is quietly emerging. These conversations aren’t about fixing or performing — they’re about presence, discovery, and opening toward more.
In these gatherings, I gently guide the conversation — offering thoughtful prompts and holding space for honest reflection and connection. There’s no pressure to share more than you want; the intention is simply to create room for clarity and insight to unfold. These gatherings may be ones I host, or ones I’m invited into — always with the intention of facilitating meaningful conversation, reflection, and inspired community.
My Approach
My work is grounded in presence, listening, and discernment. I’m particularly attuned to what shows up beneath the words — the body signals, the hesitation, the patterns, the energy behind what’s being said.
Rather than pushing toward answers, I listen to help create the conditions where clarity can emerge — through reflection, noticing, and choice. If you’re curious about what support could look like, I’d love to connect.
What Coaching Is (and Isn’t)
I came into this work skeptical about what coaches do. I was raised to believe asking for any kind of help, or questioning the status quo, showed weakness or failure. Spoiler alert - it shows growth, vulnerability, and a commitment to Self. So if you’re’ like me, you probably don’t know what to expect in this partnership.
Coaching is:
A space to hear yourself think, identify, and achieve your goals - you are the expert on your life
An alliance focused on clarity, choice, and forward movement
Non-judgmental support and empowerment
Coaching is not:
Therapy or clinical treatment
Advice-giving or directives fueled by the coach
A push to “fix” your life
Contact me
Curious about working together? Let’s chat!