Caroline Lee, CLC faculty
Dan Guerra, CLC faculty
Marietta Bolster, CLC faculty

Compassionate Leaders Circle

Crafting Loveable Work

We help individuals find and do remarkable work, and help organizations build the cultures that make it possible.

Sarah Feely, President and program lead
Laurel Donnellan and Sarah Feely, founder and president of Compassionate Leaders Circle
Meryl Eriksen, CLC faculty
The two CLC founders standing together against a plain wall

Find purpose. Create it for others.

For individuals

Starting out, mid-career pivot, or stepping into retirement: a plan for the work and life you actually want.

Programs for individuals

For organizations

Custom, evidence-based leadership development, designed around your culture, your challenges, and your goals.

Programs for organizations

Our programs

Everything you need to lead a purposeful career.

  • Starts October 14

    Plan for Purpose, 2026 Fall Cohort

    Design the life you actually want. Live sessions with a small group and two coaches, Wednesdays from October 14, and a concrete plan to follow.

    Explore the cohort
  • Certification, 2027

    CLC Purpose Coach Certification

    Six sessions to equip leaders, coaches, and educators to facilitate Purpose Labs and guide others in designing the lives they actually want.

    Explore the certification
  • For organizations

    Perform with Purpose

    Access self-knowledge that translates into purposeful, high performance.

    Learn more
  • For organizations

    Lead with Love

    Unleash excellence through compassionate leadership for teams and organizations.

    Learn more
  • For organizations

    Coach with Courage

    Cultivate evidence-based coaching skills that accelerate change and performance.

    Learn more
  • Start anytime

    Plan for Purpose 1:1

    Fourteen hours of live coaching with one of our senior faculty, built entirely around you.

    Explore 1:1 coaching

Trusted by leaders at

Client Testimonials

  • "We just completed our eighth year working with Compassionate Leaders Circle. It's a partnership that has helped our graduating seniors develop deeper connections with one another, identify what is important to them, and articulate a clear career vision for their futures. It has become essential to our culture."

    Dr. David CorsunDirector & Associate Professor, College of Business, University of Denver
  • "We have been working closely with Compassionate Leaders Circle for three years and have seen a dramatic improvement in how our leaders engage with their people to build trust and enrich their lives. This improvement culminated with Mohawk Global being voted one of the top 100 best medium-sized places to work in the U.S. in 2023, according to Great Places to Work and Fortune Magazine."

    Gar GrannellFounder and CEO, Mohawk Global
  • "CLC encourages leaders at every level to recognize their influence, make more intentional decisions, and contribute to a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to do their best work."

    Lilika StratigosCEO, Hinds Hospice
  • "I was busy but I lacked purpose and a clear path for where I wanted to go. The way the program is designed – looking at your past, your present, your future – is so beautiful. This... program got me focused on my dreams."

    Alastair OnglingswanCo-Founder of GreenSoul Shoes
  • “Higher education plays a vital role in preparing individuals for both personal fulfillment and professional success. Our partnership with CLC allows us to intentionally integrate compassionate leadership principles into students’ learning, equipping them with the tools to foster humane and inclusive workplaces.”

    Stephanie Van CleveAssociate Director, College of Business, University of Denver
  • “The interactive virtual workshop helped Wharton Women’s Circles alumnae leaders facilitate remarkable conversations about purpose. Grounded in research, the approach provides practical tools for groundbreaking results.”

    Cara CostelloDirector, MBA Alumni Career Management, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
  • "In a higher education system that can often reward recognizable performance over helping students discover what they genuinely care about, the Compassionate Leaders Circle Purpose Lab gives students space to identify their purpose and passions, and connect them to concrete, actionable steps."

    Christopher RobbinsFounding Director, School of the Arts, Harpur College of Arts & Sciences
  • "Working with Laurel was genuinely transformational. When I started her 12-week programme, I was at a crossroads, years into investment banking, wanting to build something of my own, but held back by fear. Laurel gave me the clarity, conviction, and courage to finally take that leap of faith toward stepping into the next chapter of my life."

    Fatima Tariq PabaniFounder & CEO of SIPS
  • "Compassionate Leaders Circle brought together the most incredible group of human beings and professionals. I left with greater confidence in my skills and grew in ways I hadn’t before. It was life-changing. What I learned in Train Lab made me a better coach and person."

    Mykala SteadmanFreelance Writer and Career Consultant

Why CLC

Strategic. Soulful. Scientific.

Every engagement is designed around your culture, your challenges, and your goals.

  • 01

    Strategic

    We start by understanding your culture, then co-design a sustainable solution with clear KPIs.

  • 02

    Soulful

    We deliberately harness the power of compassion, love, and purpose in everything we do, aiming to be evergreen.

  • 03

    Scientific

    Our learning models draw from current research. We establish KPIs and deliver data analysis for every engagement.

Laurel Donnellan, Founder and CEO of Compassionate Leaders Circle

Founder

Laurel Donnellan, Founder and CEO

"I was raised to believe that everyone deserves work that feels like it fits: loveable work, found through life's pauses and pivots. And that companies can be places where people thrive and reach their full potential. That belief still drives me and my team at Compassionate Leaders Circle."

Nearly three decades developing leadership programs, after an earlier career in hospitality. Cornell University College of Business; Columbia University, MA in Organizational Psychology. She co-hosts the Compassionate Leaders Circle Podcast, writes for Forbes.com, and founded the annual CLC Awards.

Free guide

Designing a Meaningful Career in the Age of AI, delivered to your inbox.

No spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Ready to begin?

Book a free, no-pressure conversation with our team.

Request a call

Free 20-minute virtual call. Tell us where you are and what you're reaching toward. We'll tell you honestly how CLC can help.