When I first started working with Shannon at Whole U, I was coming off a decade-long career in tech that I never found fulfilling, despite how successful it may have looked on paper. It felt deeply disconnected from the kind of life I wanted to build, yet everyone advised me to stay because of the money, benefits, and so-called stability. Then I was laid off. At first I was ecstatic, but reality quickly set in. It was finally time to figure out what I actually wanted to do with my life, and while that was exciting, it also sent me into an existential crisis. The biggest benefit of working with Shannon is that, even though there is structure to her coaching, she's completely comfortable getting lost with you for a while. Instead of rushing toward an answer, she helps you uncover what you genuinely value and then build a life around those values. She listens deeply and asks the questions that are difficult to answer but ultimately simplify everything. For me, it became clear that I wanted to become an entrepreneur. Even saying the word felt intimidating, let alone building something from scratch that might fail. As an entrepreneur herself, Shannon continually helped me simplify the process, focus on the next right step, and avoid becoming overwhelmed by every possible decision. She pulled me out of paralysis and into action. After each session, I left feeling calmer and more focused, as though I had been handed a roadmap. The constant decision fatigue I'd been living with gradually disappeared, and I found myself staying on task, finding clients, and, for the first time in a long time, feeling genuinely satisfied with the direction of my career. What makes Shannon exceptional, though, is that she understands your career is only one part of your life. She has an incredible ability to connect, listen, and truly understand who you are. You're not just designing a career with her—you're designing a more meaningful and satisfying life.

Within a month of meeting Shannon, I was able to transform both my life and business significantly. It's very hard for me to put down in words. My life is magical because she keeps me on track, and staying true to myself. She's one of my best kept secrets. She is an excellent listener, and finds out who you are inside, and helps you stay on track to achieve unbelievable monumental tasks. I would highly recommend Whole U to my close friends or respected colleagues who are spiritually open to transformation. She helps one align one's overall purpose in life and helps you set up your environment so you do what your heart truly desires. I honestly feel that Shannon was the one key element I was missing in my life. She helps me heal, and that's where the magic is.

A vision of light in the darkness of the employment search process, Shannon is a beacon of career coaching excellence. Shannon is dedicated to helping people through challenging work/life transitions and generously shares her confidence and exceptional competence. Whole U’s evidence-based program is incredibly thoughtful and intentionally assembled. Shannon is the expert career coach you want in your corner to help bring out your best.

People talk to their therapists or see their personal trainers every week but why don't they see their career coach more often? I was ready to take a leap forwards in search of the career growth that I was missing and reached out to the phenomenal Shannon O’Brien and Whole U. I gained a lot from the Whole U. Process – clarity on what I wanted to do, refreshed resume and cover letter materials, interview prep, and most importantly, confidence in my ability to achieve my goals!!

In my view, Shannon's greatest strength is her powerful ability to recognize potential, make connections, and find opportunities that lead to actual growth and development in the people she works with. This was evident in her planning and program coordination activities, as well as her speaker introductions. Shannon is encouraging and thorough, and her work displays her passion for engaging people and helping them realize their goals. My interaction with Shannon has led to research partnerships, introduced me to mentors, and even resulted in an invitation to speak at a TEDx event this year. There are people in your network who you can point to as a "hub", someone who connects the dots and has made a profound impact on your professional and/or personal development. Shannon is one of those people.

I enthusiastically recommend Whole U. and Shannon's career coaching services. My daughter, in her early 20’s, wanted to relocate from LA to Boston, feeling uncertain after realizing that her first job in Cinema and Television (her college degree) wasn’t as fulfilling as she had hoped. We supported her decision to pursue a new career in a new city, however, I suggested working with a career coach to clarify her goals in order to zero in on what she wanted to pursue. I searched “career counselors in Boston” and found Shannon. After further searching, I discovered an MIT Seminar video where Shannon was a presenter and another of Shannon interviewing a book author. Her exceptional public speaking skills, genuine curiosity, and insightful communication style were compelling and professional. Next, I researched the Whole U. website and was impressed with the methodical and personalized approach Shannon offered. I reached out to Shannon, and she promptly returned my call, showing her professionalism and dedication. After a consultation call, I introduced my daughter to the idea. Although she was initially hesitant, she enrolled in Shannon’s customized career program. The results were transformative. Shannon's focused and engaged mentoring style allowed my daughter to see her strengths and define her aspirations, providing the structure and motivation she needed to rediscover her passions. This guided approach helped her update her resume to accurately represent her education and experiences, improve her interviewing skills, and gain the confidence to present her qualifications clearly and definitively. Whole U.’s additional emphasis on holistic health as a vital component of career success truly set it apart, highlighting that happiness and fulfillment are equally essential parts of the professional journey. My daughter has since earned her master’s degree in psychology from Harvard University which has opened doors to further certifications, and has led her to an exciting career at Harvard Medical School’s Office of External Education. I am immensely grateful for Shannon's guidance. She empowered my daughter to trust her instincts, showcase her talents with confidence and enjoy the process of finding her ideal career path. If you’re seeking a career coach who can genuinely make a difference, I highly recommend Whole U. and Shannon O’Brien. The program and Shannon are genuinely exceptional!

Shannon is truly incredible. In these uncertain times, I needed to feel like I was making progress in my career and not just waiting around. Working with Whole U. helped me feel productive. Shannon was a breath of fresh air, and one of the best listeners I've come across. Her program was customized to my current career needs, and not just an "out of the box" solution. After only 5 weeks, I really felt like Shannon genuinely cared about me, and my journey. I appreciate her responsiveness and creative approach. I think many people long for validation in their thoughts and career direction, but maybe don't know how to articulate what they’re looking for… That's really what Shannon provided for me in these sessions: a feeling of validation and confidence. This experience definitely exceeded my expectations, and I will miss our weekly calls!

"The Whole U. Career Development Mastermind was exactly what I needed when it came time for me to “re-enter” the job market. Overwhelmed by trying to organize and express my varied skill set, Shannon masterfully addressed my limiting beliefs, and championed a way forward. Weekly assignments comprise a clear and concise method to do research and prep work vital to moving forward. Additionally, Whole U. is tapped into a vast network of professionals and Shannon is generous with opening her rolodex."

I first contacted Shannon because I was no longer enjoying the career I had chosen and, consequently, I felt trapped and unhappy in my job. Before Whole U came into my life, I spent over four years on a seemingly endless journey looking for answers to what I was truly passionate about. Even during our preliminary phone conversation, it was clear that Shannon has a different approach than any other career counselor or advising agency I'd been to. For the first time, I felt that someone actually understood what I was going through. After our initial session together, I realized that she not only has the skills and connections to facilitate a successful career transition but she's dedicated to helping you look inside yourself and discover what your true passions are. I immediately noticed a transformation in the way I perceive life, and the way I think of myself. I began seeing possibilities where I never imagined there would be. Over the course of our five sessions together, we worked on visualizing my ideal job, narrowing down my personal and professional interests, developing a method for writing compelling cover letters and took a professional looking photo for LinkedIn. I am now confident that I have a positive and meaningful direction to go in and concrete steps to take in getting there. Whole U gave me the creative skills, personal connections and, most importantly, the confidence to believe that I can turn the life I envision into reality.

Whole U. is great for those feeling stuck or lost after graduating! So many people my age are in my position – feeling they’re not competent to work, or don’t know which direction to go in for their careers. Shannon is a fantastic mentor for all of that. She is wonderful at helping you determine your strengths, and making you feel good. I left with a better idea of my career path, and feel more confident with my resume, Linkedin, cover letter, and interviewing. I learned how to feel more confident about the skills I have to offer, and have a much better idea of what employers are looking for. Shannon really helped me get going, and I think she would definitely do the same for others.

Shannon O'Brien is a leader in building community, and making solid connections. She makes other people's success her business, and helps to guide her clients towards careers that are not only true north, but also serve the world at large. I am honored to know her, and look forward to watching this trailblazer carve out a beautiful future, for herself, and others.

Many people I know are in the same strange life transition… and gaining clarity is something that Whole U. 100% provides. Originally, I was nervous for what was to come - but after the first session, all of my nerves went away and were replaced by feelings of peace. Never did I expect to become so comfortable with not only Shannon - but also with myself. I learned a lot about myself; I realized that I am not as much of a puzzle as I thought I was. The program does a great job of being personalized to the client and that was very helpful for me since I am not that typical when it comes to career/lifestyle. The process of the program can be applied to any job that I could want in the future, extremely valuable information. I love that I now have access to something that I know will always work for me and my style of learning. I was so excited to come in each week and it felt like a wonderful journey rather than just another task to accomplish. I would absolutely recommend Whole U. to anyone who needs some guidance on not only career, but life in general.

My initial goal working with Whole U. was to find clarity to confidently make a career change. My Whole U. advising session was an integral part of making the BEST career move I've ever made. Shannon’s advice was very professional, and she provided many relevant resources and data points for me to consider. She helped me find confidence in my decision making process. Taking that risk has truly paid off. I had an extremely positive experience, and I appreciate that Whole U. embodies and shares the same values of my current company - including: empathy, professionalism, and prioritizing learning.

I cannot recommend this program strongly enough! Shannon helps you be what you want to be. I am the same person I was before her program - yet simultaneously completely different. I had been on an exhaustive 10-year career search, looking for a position that fit others' expectations of where I should be next . . . Not realizing that the career I was already making for myself, was most closely aligned with my values, beliefs, and desire to live a balanced, yet well-paid life that puts my happiness, and presence for my children first. (As Shannon put it, I am like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz - in that I didn't need to "look any further than my own back yard.") I wanted clarity over the future direction of my career, and to get to where I want to be. This goal was met due to the expert advice of Shannon. My product and brand has been strengthened, and I am much more mindful and intentional about the career decisions I make. Shannon listens, then reminds you what you said is important to YOU, rather than fit you into a cookie-cutter program. I wholeheartedly recommend the Whole U. process.

Those of us who don't work in career advising don't really know what we're doing when it comes to changing a career. I'd hire a professional to fix my car, or operate on my heart... so I'd certainly hire a pro to guide my way to my new career. Working with Shannon helped me set up a road map to reach my goal. I learned how to: write a 21st-century resume, re-do my LinkedIn page, and I learned (again) that there's no time like the present to start the first step toward my goal. I learned that my goal isn't ridiculous and could actually provide a huge benefit to people. I really appreciate the holistic approach to Whole U. advising services. Everything in this world is interconnected, whether one believes that in a spiritual or scientific way, and one's career is not excluded from that.

I was originally looking for resume writing services, and what I found in Whole U. was a full service career coach. My one-on-one time with Shannon was extremely useful. Whole U. was just what I needed at the right time to get me back on track in both life and my career. Shannon was able to get me focused on what I wanted in my career and life goals, and improve the way I market myself. It was a very positive experience.

Shannon and the Whole U. team provided warm, insightful, and constructive communication in my (now successful!) search for a career in a new field. In our first session, Shannon listened intently about my job history, and pinpointed translatable skills within my job functions. She also provided LinkedIn feedback, and resume building strategies. In our second session, Shannon covered interview prep and fundamentals, making an often stressful process feel natural. I highly recommend Shannon to anyone looking for a new career, unbiased professional feedback, resume work-shopping, and more.

I participated in a few events that Whole U. offered to the community both as a presenter and as an attendee--and they were very valuable. Shannon is really committed to helping people become more empowered Holistically and her practitioners and team are stellar. Please check her out!

My expectations were both quite high due to the great reviews - AND quite low… because I was hesitant. But I had a great experience, and learned more useful information than I’m able list here. I’m particularly grateful for the wide range of external resources suggested. Whole U. helped me examine my strengths and my goals in a systematic way, and helped me develop the courage to pursue a path that may let me make the kind of impact that I always hoped I could have -- on behalf of the people and principles that I care about. Whole U. managed to exceed my expectations and provide me with support and confidence to successfully make a career change and pursue a new position.

Shannon is great! We met the other day and her light and hard working ethos were on display. She is fully present and you are innately encouraged to be so as well. She is brilliant and her work is a real service to the community.

Shannon is great! She was extremely helpful in getting my resume and cover letter to where I wanted it to be. Overall she is a fantastic listener and genuinely wants me to succeed in my job search. Would recommend to anyone who needs a nudge in the right direction career-wise!

I worked with Whole U to revamp my resume. I found the counselor I worked with, Shannon to be professional and thoughtful. When we worked on my resume, she listened to my concerns and together we came up with a solid resume and game plan. I highly recommend Whole U's services to any job seeker who needs a shiny new resume and to come up with a career plan.

When I first started working with Shannon at Whole U, I was coming off a decade-long career in tech that I never found fulfilling, despite how successful it may have looked on paper. It felt deeply disconnected from the kind of life I wanted to build, yet everyone advised me to stay because of the money, benefits, and so-called stability. Then I was laid off. At first I was ecstatic, but reality quickly set in. It was finally time to figure out what I actually wanted to do with my life, and while that was exciting, it also sent me into an existential crisis. The biggest benefit of working with Shannon is that, even though there is structure to her coaching, she's completely comfortable getting lost with you for a while. Instead of rushing toward an answer, she helps you uncover what you genuinely value and then build a life around those values. She listens deeply and asks the questions that are difficult to answer but ultimately simplify everything. For me, it became clear that I wanted to become an entrepreneur. Even saying the word felt intimidating, let alone building something from scratch that might fail. As an entrepreneur herself, Shannon continually helped me simplify the process, focus on the next right step, and avoid becoming overwhelmed by every possible decision. She pulled me out of paralysis and into action. After each session, I left feeling calmer and more focused, as though I had been handed a roadmap. The constant decision fatigue I'd been living with gradually disappeared, and I found myself staying on task, finding clients, and, for the first time in a long time, feeling genuinely satisfied with the direction of my career. What makes Shannon exceptional, though, is that she understands your career is only one part of your life. She has an incredible ability to connect, listen, and truly understand who you are. You're not just designing a career with her—you're designing a more meaningful and satisfying life.