Heather Johnson, NBC-HWC

Photo by David Stern

Conspiring with life...

Through twenty-five years of founding, growing, and leading organizations dedicated to human, environmental, and societal well-being, I have come to understand this deeply:

  • We live transformative change in the world from the inside out—it is a journey of embodied healing and growth.

  • Coaching—as a dedicated space to hear and connect with ourselves—is vital for such a journey.

Most coaches have lived the journeys they now help others navigate. That’s true for me as well.

My path as a transformative leader has been marked by inspiring outcomes, profound challenges, and deep learning.

I’ve loved collaborating with remarkable people, growing purpose-driven organizations in both non-profit and for-profit spaces, building from the ground up and stepping in during times of deep challenge, tumult, and growth.

Inspired by and proud of the many outcomes, I too often drove myself relentlessly—sacrificing my health, family, friendships, and other aspects of life in the name of serving environmental, societal, and human futures. Driven by the urgency and importance of the challenges of our world, I struggled to find my way beyond the contradiction of grinding myself into the ground on behalf of life and regenerative futures. 

Over time, this contradiction guided me to grow deep capacities in human development, systems change, culture change, organizational development and leadership, transformative learning, coaching, and practices for physical, mental, and emotional well-being—making it possible to walk my own long path of growth and healing towards greater integrity.

Today, as a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach trained in Generative Coaching and informed by the principles of Functional Medicine, I have developed the Fractally Whole Approach, dedicated to supporting those who are committed to what-is-yet-possible in our world—growing their deep resilience and ongoing regeneration to live this transformative journey from the inside out.

–Heather

Photo by Michael B. Maine

What does “Fractally Whole” mean?

When we live through a lens of separation, we tend to feel restless and isolated, endlessly striving to ‘complete’ ourselves—always feeling inadequate, always hungry.

When we live through a lens of interconnection, we realize that we are already whole, immersed in life patterns that lift and guide us. Wholeness exists both within and all around us.

Rooting ourselves in this sense of wholeness offers a very different experience. Instead of feeling driven to chase and fix problems, we are called forward, called toward greater aliveness

Interconnected at every level, our personal growth and healing contribute to the integrity of everything we are a part of. In this way, caring for our own well-being matters profoundly.

This is how we ‘conspire with life’—breathing in and out with in, partnering with it—living Fractally Whole.

Professional experiences:

  • 2022-present: Founder and Coach, Fractally Whole

  • 2010-2022: Whidbey Institute: Executive Director, Program Director, Co-Director

    • The Whidbey Institute is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit organization located on 106 acres of conservation forest on Whidbey Island, north of Seattle. Its mission is to provide a home for transformational learning for those inspired by the responsibility and transformative potential of our times.

    • Roles: Joined as Program and Associate Director in 2010, became Executive Director in 2015 leading significant organizational change and infrastructure development, transitioned to Co-Executive Director (2020-2022) during the successful implementation of a distributed leadership organizational model.

    • Key accomplishments:

  • Over 200 events and conferences supporting leadership development, community connection, and human, environmental, and societal well-being curated, convened, co-designed, and implemented, while hosting upwards of 600 more related events.

  • Made a new future possible for the organization amidst post-recession crisis, challenge, and transition.

  • Created and led an annual $1M operating budget and a four-year $4M capital campaign.

  • Mentored and coached staff team, program leaders, board members, and participants.

  • Developed a network of mission-aligned partnerships.

  • Launched, championed, and implemented a distributed leadership organizational model.

  • Doubled campus hosting capacity through the design and construction of new lodging and convening spaces.

  • Completed the purchase of 30 acres and supported a comprehensive conservation easement consolidation.

  • Engaged in equity and anti-racism awareness and skills development, personally and throughout the organization.

  • Successfully navigated the profound organizational challenges through the global pandemic.

2005-2010, Projects Completed:

  • Blue Marble Energy: Finance and Accounting Director. Eight month project building cash flow projections and models for new venture capital support, while maintaining all daily finance and accounting operations, contributing to the company scaling and transitioning to Blue Marble Biomaterials.

  • Sustainable Seattle: Interim Director. Four month project completing an integrative organizational assessment, proposal of organizational transition into next purpose and structure, recruiting new board members, managing current staff, while maintaining all standard operations.

  • Babylegs, LLC: Finance and Accounting Director. One year project developing financial models, completing accounting system conversion from Quickbooks to NetSuite, hiring and training staff, while managing all department functions during year of exponential growth from <$1M to >$3M in annual sales.

  • Excellence NW: Interim Director. Six month project with personal and professional development organization to complete rebranding, develop new operational infrastructure, and complete an office move, while maintaining all daily operations and events.

  • Integrity Financial Systems: Independent Practice. Supporting forty small for-purpose businesses and non-profits with financial modeling and accounting systems clean-ups supporting their growth and discernment for their paths going forward.

2002-2005, Sustainable Connections, Founding staff: Program, Operations, Finance, Event, & Member Manager

  • Developed and managed internal structure, systems, and member support of new organization.

  • Developed a membership of 350 businesses and organizations, designed membership services, delivered events, created outreach materials, and networked members.

  • Contributed to gaining national recognition and employing five full-time employees with six core programs within three years, creating the ground for over two decades of organizational success.

2001-2002, Environmetrics, Business Development Analyst

  • Researched and developed new business opportunities for environmental firm focused on greenhouse gas mitigation and sustainability in the Puget Sound Region.

Key Educational Experiences:

  • Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Certified Professional Health Coach

  • InviteCHANGE, Pathways for Generative Coaching

  • Generating Transformative Change in Human Systems, 18-month leadership program, mentor for a subsequent cohort

  • WWU—BA in Business Administration, concentration in Finance. Magna Cum Laude, Outstanding Graduate

What is "NBC-HWC"?

National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches “display an unconditional positive regard for their clients and have trained to the highest standards in the profession which means that they have the skills and knowledge to walk alongside you on your path to your healthiest self.”

– National Board for Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC)