Gretchen Heaton ’98
Career Coach
Gretchen Heaton ’98, M.A., GCDF, is assistant vice president of career development at Emerson College and founder of Curious Magpie Coaching, providing executive coaching, leadership development, and organizational consulting for individuals, teams, and institutions.
Drawing on more than a decade of leadership in higher education, Gretchen partners with professionals and organizations navigating periods of growth and change—from individuals recovering from burnout or stepping into leadership for the first time, to teams realigning around new goals and organizational structures, to colleges and nonprofits redesigning systems to foster belonging, engagement, and long-term success.
Gretchen specializes in helping clients reconnect with their values and sense of possibility through strengths-based, evidence-informed practices. A skilled salary negotiation coach, she empowers clients to advocate confidently for fair and equitable compensation, viewing negotiation not simply as a financial conversation but as an act of professional self-advocacy and systemic equity.
In prior leadership roles at the University of New Hampshire and Bay Path University, she led nationally recognized initiatives integrating career education, experiential learning, and leadership development throughout the student experience. Her work has been featured by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, Inside Higher Ed, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Past Workshops
Coming soon! Check out our upcoming events for more info.