Her Story
About Carol
Carol E. Anderson is a writer, organizational development consultant, leadership and life coach, educator, and mentor whose career has spanned mental health, social work, psychology, organizational development, spirituality, education, coaching, and creative nonfiction. Her professional journey began in education and psychology after studying sociology and business, leading her to teach high school and later work as a school psychologist. Her growing interest in understanding people, organizations, and the ways individuals and communities make decisions eventually led her into organizational development, where she spent approximately four decades consulting with businesses, large systems, and nonprofit organizations. Her work emphasized organizational culture, leadership development, change, and creating environments in which people could do their best work.
Carol's professional interests have also included mental health and substance abuse treatment, co-occurring disorders, grief and trauma, women's and LGBTQ+ issues, chronic pain, and integral and transpersonal spirituality. She has worked extensively as a consultant and leadership coach and has a particular appreciation for servant-oriented leadership grounded in genuine care, respect, and humane principles. Her consulting career included nonprofit work, where she sought opportunities to make her expertise accessible to organizations and individuals who might otherwise have had limited access to such services. She has also taught as an adjunct professor at Ferris State University and Grand Valley State University. Her academic journey includes a Master of Science in Organizational Development, a Doctor of Ministry focused on spirituality from the University of Creation Spirituality in Oakland, California, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction from Goucher College, reflecting her lifelong commitment to learning and reinvention.
Writing now represents a significant chapter of Carol's professional and personal life. Her published work includes Where All Our Journeys End: Searching for the Beloved in Everyday Life, published by Dog Ear Publishing in 2008, and she is developing The Soul of Social Work Practice: Embracing Spirituality, a textbook exploring religion and spirituality within social work practice. She has also written memoir and essays, with her writing informed by her longstanding interest in authenticity, emotional truth, spirituality, and the human experience. Carol's work is supported by a community that includes her spouse, Archer Christian, her longtime circle of women known as her Who Bodies, and teachers and fellow writers who have encouraged and challenged her craft. Inspired by writers such as Anne Lamott, she values honesty, vulnerability, humanity, and speaking from the heart. At the center of her life and work are love, integrity, beauty, non-judgment, kindness, and tenderness, along with a continuing commitment to curiosity, creativity, service, connection, and helping others find greater meaning in their lives.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Carol
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my growth and success to the people who have believed in me, challenged me, taught me, and encouraged me to become more fully myself. Throughout my career, I have benefited from a community of supportive people, including my spouse, Archer Christian, my longtime circle of women whom I call my Who Bodies, teachers, professors, colleagues, and fellow writers.
Their encouragement has given me the confidence to continue learning, reinventing myself, and pursuing new directions throughout my life. I have continued to follow my curiosity, whether that meant moving from education and psychology into organizational development and coaching, returning to school later in life to earn an MFA in creative nonfiction, or continuing to explore writing, teaching, spirituality, and service.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The most meaningful guidance I have received has come through the people who encouraged me to become more fully myself and supported me in pursuing work that was meaningful to me. My experiences with teachers, mentors, colleagues, and fellow writers have reinforced the importance of remaining curious, continuing to learn, and being willing to reinvent myself when a new direction feels meaningful.
I have also learned the value of surrounding myself with people who will both support and challenge me. Having people in my life who can offer honest feedback, believe in my abilities, and encourage me to continue growing has been an important part of my professional journey.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to remain curious about themselves, other people, and the world around them. Find work that allows you to explore what matters to you and do not be afraid to change directions as you learn more about who you are and what you want to contribute. My own career has moved across education, psychology, social work, organizational development, coaching, spirituality, and writing, and each chapter has informed the next.
In writing, find something you are genuinely passionate about and surround yourself with people who believe in you while also being willing to provide thoughtful, constructive criticism. Do not be afraid of rejection or comparison. Tell the truth of your experience with depth and honesty, continue developing your craft, and give yourself permission to take breaks and care for yourself along the way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges in writing, particularly memoir and creative nonfiction, is learning to get out of my own head and resist comparing myself to other writers. It is important to tell the emotional truth with depth and honesty while remaining grounded in my own voice and experience. Rejection is also an inevitable part of the writing process, so persistence and discipline are essential.
I also see significant opportunity in writing that helps people better understand themselves and one another. I am particularly interested in work that connects personal experience with deeper questions of meaning, spirituality, humanity, compassion, and service. Through writing, teaching, and coaching, I hope to help people recognize their own humanity, develop greater compassion for themselves and others, and discover greater depth and meaning in their lives.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Love is the number one thing in life. I value integrity and being true to my word, as well as recognizing the beauty that exists all around us. I believe in approaching people without judgment and treating others with kindness and tenderness.
These values also shape how I approach my professional work. I believe in humane principles, genuine care, respect for people, and creating environments where individuals can do their best work. Whether I am coaching, teaching, consulting, mentoring, or writing, I want my work to contribute to greater understanding, compassion, connection, and meaning.
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