Frequently Asked Questions

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General

Who do you work with?

I work with professionals, leaders, and individuals who are ambitious, growth-oriented, and ready to take intentional action. Most clients are stepping into bigger roles, navigating a career transition, or looking to lead with more clarity and confidence.

Coaching clients typically include:

• First-time and evolving people leaders

• Mid-career professionals seeking clarity or a new direction

• Technical experts transitioning into leadership

• Professionals preparing for a promotion

• Individuals navigating a personal or professional transition

On the organizational side, I work with growing businesses that need strategic HR leadership at the executive level, without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.

How do I get started?

The best first step is a complimentary Exploratory Call. It's a relaxed, no-pressure conversation to understand what you're looking for, see if we're a good fit, and figure out together what kind of support makes the most sense.

No preparation needed. Just bring where you are and where you'd like to go.

You can book directly at heidiklotz.com/contact.

Do you work with individuals, organizations, or both?

Both. Coaching is 1:1 and built around your personal or professional goals. Fractional CHRO services support executive teams and growing organizations at a strategic level.

Do you work in French?

Yes. I offer both coaching and Fractional CHRO services in English and French. I'm fully bilingual and work with clients locally in Montreal and internationally.

Where are you based, and how do sessions work?

I'm based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. All coaching sessions are held online, which means we can work together regardless of where you are. I serve clients across Canada, the USA, and internationally.

About Heidi Klotz

Who is Heidi Klotz?

Heidi Klotz is a Goal-Centric Coach and Fractional CHRO based in Montreal, Canada. She brings over 20 years of senior HR leadership experience, including serving as Vice President, Total Rewards at AtkinsRéalis, and senior leadership roles at Ardene, Mattel, Kruger, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Merck.

She is completing her Professional Goal-Centric Certified Coach (PGCC) designation through Concordia University's John Molson Executive Centre, an ICF-accredited program. She is also working toward her Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential with the International Coaching Federation.

She is fully bilingual and works with clients in English and French.

What credentials does Heidi hold?

• CHRP / CRHA (Certified Human Resources Professional)

• SHRM-SCP (SHRM Senior Certified Professional)

• CCP (Certified Compensation Professional)

• GRP (Global Remuneration Professional)

• SuccessFinder Certified Practitioner

• Professional Goal-Centric Certified Coach, PGCC (in progress, Concordia University JMEC)

• ICF Associate Certified Coach, ACC (in progress)

She also completed the Leadership Programme at Smith School of Business, Queen's University.

What makes Heidi's coaching approach different?

Heidi's approach is goal-centric and action-oriented. Every session starts with what you actually want to achieve, and ends with a clear plan and concrete next steps. There's no vague exploration for its own sake.

What makes it distinctive is the combination: formal ICF-accredited coaching training layered on top of 20+ years of senior HR and leadership experience. That means sessions are both reflective and practical. You'll gain real insight and real momentum.

What topics does Heidi coach on?

• Leadership transitions and first-time management

• Career clarity, pivots, and promotion strategy

• Executive presence and communication impact

• Navigating feedback and working through blind spots

• Confidence-building and values-based leadership

• Stress, burnout, and building sustainable resilience

• Personal development, habits, and self-awareness

• Life transitions and major decisions

Coaching

What is goal-centric coaching?

Goal-centric coaching is a structured, action-oriented approach to helping you define and achieve specific personal or professional goals. Rather than dwelling on problems, it focuses on where you want to go, what's in the way, and how to move forward with intention.

Every session ends with a clear action plan. The approach builds on your existing strengths, aligns your goals with your values, and keeps momentum going between sessions.

What kinds of topics do people bring to coaching?

Coaching covers a wide range of professional and personal areas. Common topics include:

Leadership Coaching: Building leadership presence, navigating team dynamics, strengthening influence, and leading with confidence at every level.

Career Coaching: Gaining clarity on your direction, positioning yourself for a promotion, or navigating a career transition with a realistic, actionable plan.

Executive Coaching: Raising your impact as a senior leader through sharper decision-making, stronger communication, and greater strategic influence.

Life Coaching: Creating structure and momentum around personal goals, habits, and direction, especially during times of change or uncertainty.

Stress, Burnout and Resilience Coaching: Building sustainable coping strategies, improving balance, and developing the resilience to perform well without burning out.

Personal Development Coaching: Strengthening self-awareness, clarifying your values, building better habits, and becoming a more intentional version of yourself.

What is the difference between coaching and mentoring?

Coaching is a structured, client-centred partnership designed to help you generate your own clarity, insights, and decisions. The coach asks the right questions rather than offering advice or direction.

Mentoring typically involves guidance drawn from the mentor's personal experience. While Heidi brings her HR and leadership background into conversations when it's useful, her coaching approach is grounded in ICF-aligned competencies. The focus stays on your growth and your goals, not her opinions.

What is the difference between coaching and therapy?

Coaching is forward-looking and goal-oriented. It's designed for people who are functioning well and want to grow, gain clarity, or navigate a transition with more intention and support.

Therapy typically focuses on healing, processing past experiences, and addressing psychological or mental health concerns. If you feel you need that kind of support, Heidi would encourage you to seek out a qualified therapist. The two can also work well in parallel.

Is coaching confidential?

Yes, completely. Everything shared in coaching sessions stays between you and your coach. Psychological safety and trust are the foundation of meaningful coaching work.

All coaching engagements are governed by a signed Coaching Agreement and the ICF Code of Ethics.

How long do coaching engagements typically last?

It depends on your goals and the level of support you're looking for. Some clients want a focused short-term experience (a few weeks), while others prefer more depth over a longer stretch.

The right structure is something you and Heidi figure out together during the Exploratory Call. See the Coaching Packages section below for details on each option.

Coaching Packages

What coaching packages are available?

There are three coaching packages, each designed for a different level of commitment and depth. All sessions are 60 minutes and held online.

Starter Package: 3 sessions at $750 ($250/session). A great starting point if you're new to coaching, working through a specific goal, or want to experience the process before committing to something longer.

Growth Package: 5 sessions at $1,125 ($225/session). The most popular option. Long enough to create meaningful progress, structured enough to keep you accountable, and flexible enough to follow where the work needs to go.

Signature Package: 8 sessions at $1,600 ($200/session). For professionals who are serious about meaningful change and want a true coaching partnership, with the space to go deep and the time to see real results.

Full details and booking are available at heidiklotz.com/coaching.

Not sure which package is right for you?

That's completely normal, and it's exactly what the Exploratory Call is for. You don't need to decide anything in advance. Heidi will help you figure out the right fit based on your goals, timeline, and what you're hoping to get out of the experience.

What is the SuccessFinder Assessment?

SuccessFinder is a behavioural assessment grounded in 40 years of research. It identifies your natural strengths, motivators, and preferred working style, giving you a data-informed foundation to build from.

The SuccessFinder add-on is available with any coaching package or as a standalone experience. It includes:

• Online behavioural assessment

• SuccessFinder Profile Insights (SFPI) detailed report

• 1-hour debrief session

Investment: $595

Can my employer cover the cost of coaching?

Quite possibly, yes. Many people don't realize coaching can be eligible for reimbursement through their employer's benefit plan.

In Canada, many employers offer a Personal Spending Account (PSA), Wellness Spending Account (WSA), or Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) through carriers like Sun Life, Manulife, or Canada Life. Eligible categories vary by plan but often include life coaching, leadership development, executive coaching, stress management support, and personal development coaching.

In the US, coaching may be reimbursable through an HSA, FSA, or employer wellness program. An HSA or FSA typically requires a Letter of Medical Necessity from a physician.

Coverage depends entirely on how your employer has designed their plan, not on the insurance carrier itself. The best way to confirm your eligibility is to log into your benefits portal or contact your plan administrator directly.

Clients are responsible for confirming their own coverage and eligibility. Reimbursement is not guaranteed.

How do I pay for coaching?

Canadian clients pay by Interac E-Transfer. International clients pay via Wise. Sessions are billed as they occur.

Fractional CHRO Services

What is a Fractional CHRO?

A Fractional CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer) provides senior-level HR strategy and leadership to organizations on a part-time or project basis. It's a way for growing businesses to access executive HR expertise without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.

Who is this for?

Fractional CHRO support is a strong fit when:

• Your business is growing fast and HR is struggling to keep up

• You need senior HR expertise but aren't ready for a full-time hire

• You want a strategic partner who understands your stage of growth and can hit the ground running

• You're preparing for growth, a merger, or a significant organizational change

• You need to redesign compensation, benefits, or your Total Rewards strategy

What are the ways to work together?

There are three engagement models:

Fractional Partnership: 1 to 2 days per week, ongoing for 3 to 12 months. An embedded strategic partner at the executive level.

Project-Based Mandates: Focused engagements for specific needs, such as an HR diagnostic, compensation redesign, or benefits implementation.

Interim Coverage: Coverage during sick leave, parental leave, or a gap between hires.

What services are included?

Services vary by engagement but typically span four areas:

HR Strategy and Org Design: HR strategic roadmap aligned with business goals, organizational design, workforce planning, and building or elevating your HR team.

Compensation and Benefits: Compensation strategy and market benchmarking, job architecture, pay equity analysis, benefits review and optimization, and incentive and recognition frameworks.

Talent and Leadership: Talent reviews and succession planning, leadership development, performance management frameworks, coaching and advisory support for leaders, and employee engagement and retention strategies.

HR Systems and Analytics: HR technology assessment, selection and optimization, HR data governance, workforce analytics, and insights to support retention and workforce planning.

How is Fractional CHRO different from HR consulting?

Traditional HR consulting typically focuses on a specific project or deliverable. Fractional CHRO services operate as an ongoing strategic partner at the executive level, someone who integrates into your leadership team, contributes to decision-making, and helps build long-term HR capability.

The focus isn't just implementation. It's strategic direction.

Giving Back

What is the giving back initiative?

For every eight paid coaching clients, Heidi offers one complimentary Starter Package to someone who could genuinely benefit from coaching but may not otherwise have access to it. Each coaching engagement creates a ripple effect, extending clarity, confidence, and support to people doing meaningful work or navigating important moments of change.

Who can apply or be nominated?

Priority is given to:

• Leaders and emerging leaders in non-profit organizations

• Individuals navigating a career or life transition

• Students or recent graduates seeking clarity and direction

• Professionals experiencing temporary financial constraints

How do I apply or nominate someone?

Send an email to heidiklotz.coach@gmail.com that includes:

• A short description of the current situation

• What you or the nominee are hoping to gain from coaching

• Why this support would be meaningful right now

• Confirmation of availability and commitment to the coaching process

If you're nominating someone, also include your relationship to them and confirmation that they are aware and open to being contacted.

Selected applicants will be invited to an Exploratory Call to confirm fit and readiness before coaching begins.