Today’s social impact leaders need more than new strategy.
They need new skills to sustain for the long haul.

At Both/And Leadership, we help social impact leaders develop the clarity, resilience, and staying power needed to thrive over time, not just survive in the moment.

Both/And Leadership exists to sustain the people who sustain our democracy.

Leading in today’s political and advocacy landscape is more complex–and more exhausting–than ever. The stakes are high, the pace is relentless, and the urgency of this moment can feel overwhelming.

This pressure often forces leaders to choose between short-term needs or long-term goals. Do we maximize impact or build for the future? Act urgently or act compassionately? Work hard or build resilience?

At Both/And Leadership, I help social impact leaders reject these false choices. I believe you can–and must–lead with both short-term focus and long-term sustainability. Both impact and balance. Both urgency and compassion.

Through personalized coaching, leadership trainings, and practical mindfulness techniques, I support leaders who are ready to both achieve impact now and sustain into the future.

A “both/and” approach means having the ability to hold competing truths simultaneously, a critical skill for leaders in today’s complex world.

A Both/And Leader can:

Both… Work hard|Take action|Celebrate our differences|Fight hard for social change|Have empathy and compassion|Be direct

And... Experience joy|Stay centered|Embrace our commonalities|Take care of our minds and bodies|Enforce boundaries|Be kind

Services:

1-on-1 Coaching for Social Impact Leaders

Level up your leadership with an executive coach who understands your field.

As a certified leadership coach with more than 20 years of experience in politics and advocacy, I know the struggles today’s social impact leaders face. I design customized coaching engagements tailored to your goals–whether you’re stepping into a bigger role, navigating burnout, seeking a more sustainable way to lead, or simply looking to develop new leadership skills needed in this moment. I will work with you to level up your leadership so you can achieve the clarity, confidence, and resilience necessary to thrive in this field.

Group Trainings for Executive Teams and Staff

Support your team to thrive in high-pressure environments.

I believe the people who work in politics and advocacy are the beating heart of our democracy, and I am passionate about helping you build capacity to both make a difference and sustain in the work. I provide custom trainings for staff retreats, leadership cohorts, executive teams, and others to learn practical resilience techniques that will effectively sustain them through the difficult work ahead. For an example of a post-election online workshop we hosted, please visit AfterAction2024.com.

Mindfulness for Executive Leaders

Integrate practical mindfulness into daily leadership.

I work with executive leaders and teams to cultivate practical mindfulness techniques, which helps decrease stress, stave off burnout, and effectively navigate high-stress experiences. These techniques draw on the proven practices of mindfulness and mindful leadership but are customized specifically for leaders and teams in politics advocacy.

I’m here to help you both achieve impact and sustain in the work.

I founded Both/And Leadership to support the people doing the critical work of protecting our democracy. My work is grounded in a simple but powerful truth: we don’t have to choose between taking care of democracy and taking care of ourselves. Especially in these challenging times, sustainable leadership isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. I am here to help you build the skills necessary to both achieve impact and sustain in your work for the long haul.

About Me

Hi, I’m Kelly Burton. I am a certified leadership coach with deep roots in political and advocacy work. Before founding Both/And Leadership, I spent more than 20 years working on the frontlines of our democracy, running campaigns, managing coalitions, and leading organizations such as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC). I have seen first-hand how important our work is and how difficult it can be, and I am passionate about helping those on the frontlines of our democracy sustain through the many challenges we face. I work with executive directors, senior staff, campaign officials, political consultants, and others across the social impact sector to access the skills and mindsets they need to thrive in the critical work of protecting our democracy and making a difference in this world.

Testimonials

Eric H. Holder, Jr.

82nd Attorney General of the United States, National Democratic Redistricting Committee Chairman

“Kelly comes to this work with a deep passion for fairness, equality and the promise of democracy, and that passion gets matched with a relentless positivity about what is possible. The next generation of leaders working hard to enact change will benefit greatly from working with her and learning from her immense skills and experience.”

Steve Israel

Former U.S. Representative (D-NY) and Chairman of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee; Director, Cornell Brooks School Institute of Politics and Global Affairs

“With so many challenges facing our world today, I believe there is nothing more important than helping leaders develop their minds as well as their skills. I am thrilled to partner with Kelly in this work and help the political leaders of today and tomorrow build their capacity to train their minds and sustain their impact.”

Anna

Corporate manager, coaching client

“Kelly was the perfect coach and fit for me, as her personality, enthusiasm, empathy, and genuine kindness coupled perfectly with her coaching skills.”

Lindsey

Executive director of a social impact organization, coaching client

“Kelly’s kind presence and consistent enthusiasm helped me feel permission to say what was true and work through the leadership challenges I faced. Our sessions helped me inquire more deeply into what was really needed for me to achieve my leadership goals.”

Michael Whitehorn

Campaign professional, coaching client

“Kelly was fantastic at asking great questions that forced me to think beyond the superficial. I’m truly amazed at the impact she had on me and my career goals using so few words, just prompts and questions. I so appreciated her thoughtfulness and approach.”

Lili

Community engagement leader, coaching client

“While I was initially hesitant to join a coaching program, I left with clarity and understanding of my purpose, which are two things I didn’t even know I needed. Kelly did an incredible job creating an environment to get me to this place, and I now feel so much more confident in my leadership abilities overall.”

Catherine

Senior leader, global development organization, coaching client

“I would highly recommend Kelly to anyone, especially those who are seeking greater clarity in aligning their personal values with professional goals and could benefit from support in approaching their work with a renewed sense of purpose.”

Get In Touch

Ready to invest in your leadership for the long term? Let’s connect!