Laila Plamondon ’08 is the founder of Rare Bird Coach and a management trainer with 15 years of experience turning capable individuals into confident, effective managers. As a senior director of IT at Uncommon Schools, she leads a team of 20 and has coached managers across HR, finance, and marketing—giving her a cross-functional perspective.
Laila’s work centers on a simple belief: Good management isn’t inspirational, it’s systematic. Her training programs give middle managers the practical tools they need to delegate clearly, give feedback that lands, and build teams that don’t need constant hand-holding. Her sessions are designed for emerging and mid-career professionals who are already good at their jobs and ready to become exceptional at leading others.
Laila’s passion for people management blossomed from her degree in psychology from Smith (summa cum laude) and Fulbright Scholarship focused on identity development. She brings both academic rigor and hard-won field experience to her work.
