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ABOUT

Pamela
Schoessling

M.A. Education. · Career Coach and College Consultant

LightVision Coaching founded with the vision that person-centered care and coaching practices enhances how people can move from being stuck, unmotivated, or experiencing stressful challenges to a place where they can envision a brighter future with a plan to get there!

For more than two decades, Pamela has helped students-regardless of age, career seekers, and life changers — helping them move from uncertainty to clarity — with warmth, practical wisdom, and a deep belief in every person’s capacity to thrive.

MY PHILOSOPHY

Resilience with Purpose and the Courage to move forward

I founded LightVision Coaching in 2014 out of a simple belief: that every person carries untapped potential — they just need the right tools, a listening ear, and someone who genuinely believes in them to help them unlock it.

“My work isn’t about telling people what to do.

It’s about helping them discover who they already are — and building the confidence to act on it.”

Whether navigating a college decision, rethinking a career, or simply trying to figure out what comes next in life, my approach blends wisdom gleaned from a range of theories and diverse experiences with practical strategies for the deeper work of self-discovery and building confidence.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

A foundation built on decades of learning

  • Master of Arts — Education: Focus on experiential learning, community building, student development, and dimensions of well-being.
  • Bachelor of Arts – Education: Grades 6-12, plus leadership and volunteering
  • Leadership Academy – 10 month program for college leaders with elements including culture, change, values, and communication
  • Academic Life Coach – Level 2 for Professional Certification: ICF-aligned training with demonstrated competencies in active listening, powerful questions, and facilitating growth.
  • Life Design Catalyst – Ongoing CEU Professional Development with Certification as Coach and Facilitator : Purpose and meaning for navigating life, career, and college.
  • Anti-Boring Learning Coach Training – Research-based study skills and executive function strategies for high school and college students, especially those experiencing ADHD.
  • Coaching for Leaders program – Graduate level coaching skills training for educational administrators and business leaders
  • EAB Navigate360 – student success software program training and experience that resulted in being named to the core leadership team and program owner for coordinating implementation

20+ YEARS EMPOWERING STUDENTS & PROFESSIONALS

Every role led here

Pamela’s path is anything but accidental. Each chapter — parent, student, teacher, advisor, coach, director, manager — has deepened her understanding of what helps people grow and find their way.

PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY

  • 2018 – 2025 Manager, Retention & Coaching at a comprehensive technical college in Wisconsin: Trained and led a team of academic life coaches serving all students, regardless of academic program. Strong collaborator and active with executive leadership teams for retention and strategic plan implementation. Grant reporting with key metrics.
  • 2012 – 2016 Academic Advisor, Special Populations at a public research university in Wisconsin: Proactive advisor and success coach for underprepared and under-resourced new and continuing college students. Designed First Year student success courses and programs. Elected co-president for the campus-wide Advising & Counseling Network.
  • 2016–2017 Success Coaching Consultant for a large public research university in Arizona with independent online learning department. Helped launch a new coaching center by helping develop training content for three cohorts
  • 2005 – 2011 Director of Campus Ministry & Student Affairs Generalist at a small private college: Provided spiritual direction, service-learning coordination, interim career counseling, and student affairs support including orientation and international student programming.
  • 2000-2003 High School and Middle School teacher at two Catholic schools in Wisconsin. Subjects included History, math, and religion plus organized a student cooperative learning program in the community for the high school.
  • 1999-2009 Youth and Young Adult Minister for various Catholic Churches – paid and volunteer positions, facilitated retreats and service trips or mission trips.

MEMBERSHIPS

  • Coaching in Higher Education Consortium (CHEC): Member 2019–present. Co-presenter at 2020 and 2024 annual conferences. Active on Training & Professional Development committee.
  • National Academic Advising Association (NACADA): 1o years ending 2022, National conference presenter with focus on coaching, retention, and students on academic probation.
  • UWM Student Affairs Star Award recipient: Awarded four years in a row for exceptional support of student success and positive student feedback
  • National Association for Developmental Education (NADE): Member 2012–2015. National conference presenter in 2014 on equity-centered student success approaches.

Integrated Coaching: Frameworks for Life and Career Design

Together, these frameworks mean that coaching conversations go beyond goal-setting checklists. They become an exploration of what truly energizes the client/partner, where their strengths come alive, and what kind of work and life feels genuinely worth pursuing — from the inside out.

  • Positive Psychology Frameworks – At the heart of LightVision Coaching is a commitment to approaches that are not just intuitive — but evidence-based as well. Two additional frameworks inform my work: Martin Seligman’s PERMA model and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), developed by Deci and Ryan.
    • PERMA — which stands for Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment — offers a research-backed map for what genuine flourishing looks like, and serves as a lens for helping clients design a life and career that feeds their whole self, not just their resume.
    • Self-Determination Theory adds the “why” behind motivation: when people feel autonomous in their choices, competent in their abilities, and connected to others, intrinsic motivation follows naturally — and that’s the kind of motivation that actually sustains career and life change.
  • SPARcK and The Catalyst Way 3 Pillars from William H Johnson, Jr.
    • Know Yourself: What is a person’s Story? What are their Perspectives, Attributes and Aspirations?
    • Serve Profoundly: Meaningful and purposeful careers connect the authentic person with their life priorities, what the world needs, and what they are ready to contribute for positive impact as core components of direction.
    • Find the Right Pond: Not every environment is the right fit. Together we explore the contexts and goals for where the person is most likely to grow and succeed.
    • Build Real Momentum: Relationships and community can make the difference between staying stuck and real growth for life’s possibilities. Vision without action stays a dream. Every session ends with clear, concrete and personalized next steps
  • Design Thinking Mindset – The transition from product design to life and career design relies on five distinct stages:
    • Radical Empathy (The Self-Audit): You treat yourself as the “user.” This means observing daily life without judgment to see positive and active engagement
    • Reframing the Problem: Most people get stuck because they are trying to solve the wrong problem (e.g., “I hate my job” vs. “I lack autonomy in my current role”). Design thinking forces you to narrow the focus to what is actually solvable.
    • Divergent Thinking: Most career advice is convergent (picking one path). Design thinking is divergent—it requires generating a wide variety of “alternate realities” to ensure you aren’t settling for the first idea that comes to mind.
    • Prototyping (Low-Stakes Testing): You wouldn’t launch a car without a prototype; you shouldn’t launch a career change without one either. This involves “small-scale” versions of a new life—conversations, a weekend project, or a short course— any effort gathers data before making a leap.
    • Iterative Evolution: In design, a “failed” prototype is just data. This mindset removes the ego from life and career changes. If a trial run doesn’t work, refine the design/plan for the next version.