It’s time to have the influence you’ve earned
You’re very good at what you do. So why can it be hard to get the recognition you deserve? To get the promotion and raise you’ve earned? To be included in important meetings and decisions? To advocate for yourself and your team?
Simply put, why doesn’t your influence match your competence?
- Jane Boutelle
CERTIFIED COACH
What moves your career forward is conversation
Closing the gap relies on skills you may never have been taught. Skills you can develop and refine. The career moves you want don’t happen with hard work alone. They hinge on conversations— from interviews to team meetings to one-on-ones with senior leaders and colleagues.
Conversation is a complicated dance, and even the best communicators can stumble. Fortunately, you can improve your conversation skills so you feel more seen and heard.
That's the work I can help with. Together, we can take the specific scenarios in front of you and prepare and practice so that you can meet each moment with confidence and success.
Hi, I'm Jane
I’m Jane Boutelle. Over the past 30 years I’ve been a product manager for a billion-dollar brand, a corporate consultant, a co-founder of a software startup, and a leadership coach—and conversation skills have been the throughline.
I started Conversation Lab to share my expertise and lessons learned. I've sat where you're sitting — making the case for myself, managing the hard team moment, trying to be heard. I've learned that the people who get ahead aren't necessarily the most talented in the room. They're the ones who got deliberate about those conversations. That's exactly what I'll help you do.
“The quality of our lives depends on the quality of our conversations.” — Esther Perel
What can Conversation Lab do for me?
If you’re ready to approach your career with more confidence and clarity, you’re in the right place. I bring together the tools, frameworks, and coaching methodologies to help you navigate conversations (big and small) and make the impact you’ve been looking for.
Conversation Lab offers:
1:1 Coaching ongoing, private support to grow influence and confidence over time — and to have a steady partner for whatever the next challenge is
Conversation Lab Session a single focused session to get ready for a high-stakes moment: a promotion ask, a tough talk, a negotiation. You leave with a plan and the courage to use it
Circles (new) a group of about 6 women scaling the same types of challenges— getting ahead, getting seen, getting comfortable advocating. It’s a supportive, supported place, with people from different organizations, meeting over the course of weeks to get ideas, practice, and feel ready to shine
One goal, three ways to get there.
Start with a single session to prep for an important conversation, ongoing coaching to build capability over time, or a Circle to do it alongside a supportive group. They work best together. And they all move you toward the same result – influence that finally matches how good you are.
Jane's Approach
My RICH framework is your guide
I’ll help you apply the RICH framework to your conversations. It will also be the foundation of how we work together. Here are the four elements:
Risk say the thing that's hard to say, so a real conversation can start.
Intention get clear on your goals (and prepare) before you start talking.
Curiosity listen openly to others' thoughts and ideas (and what lies underneath the words).
Heart bring warmth, humor, and humanity that help people trust you.
With Individuals
I work with individuals in two primary ways:
Addressing immediate situations
Have a high-stakes conversation coming up? At an impasse with your team? It can be challenging to navigate those situations on your own. In a Conversation Lab session, I work with you to assess the situation, come up with a strategy and approach, and experiment and practice. You come out feeling equipped and ready to engage.
Building capabilities and confidence through coaching
I can work with you to develop stronger communication skills, strengthen listening and empathy, and collaborate effectively. Each session focuses on building those capabilities. And through 1:1 coaching, you can also better understand your passions and motivation, get insight on thoughts that block you, and develop a plan to design the career and life that best suits you.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Jane helped me strategize how to address communication challenges with confidence
"Working with Jane has truly been transformative for my professional and personal communication. She’s helped me navigate tough conversations at work, comfortably advocate for myself, and understand how to bring my ideas forward in ways that align with everyone’s goals. Jane helped me strategize how to address communication challenges with difficult coworkers, present ideas effectively, and approach important conversations (like interviews and promotion discussions) with confidence. Her own warmth, inclusivity, and thoughtfulness as a communicator shine through in her coaching."
Ally B. - Attorney
Los Angeles, CA
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Jane helped me get out of the box I had put myself in and see new and different opportunities
"I met with Jane during a period of transition. I was looking to change my job and hoped that would help me find fulfillment in other areas of life. Jane asked thoughtful questions and created time and space for reflection so that I could get to the heart of my interest in new job. From there, she helped me explore the facets of a job and a life that were truly meaningful to me. By gently questioning my assumptions, Jane helped me get out of the box I had put myself in and see new and different opportunities that were previously obscured."
India S. - Foreign Affairs Professional
Washington, D.C.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Jane helped me overcome my fear of reaching out and guided me in finding ways to participate without anxiety
"Without Jane, I would not have the friendships that are now among the greatest sources of joy in my life. She helped me overcome my fear of reaching out and guided me in finding ways to participate in group conversations without anxiety and inhibition."
Thor B. - Writer
Madison, WI
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Her gentle guidance and wisdom were truly helpful for me in figuring out how to move forward
"I cannot speak highly enough of Jane as a coach - her warm, easy demeanor put me at ease immediately and created a safe space within which I could explore emotionally difficult issues, and her gentle guidance and wisdom were truly helpful for me in figuring out how to move forward with a very sticky problem (with several tentacles to get under control!). I look forward to continuing my work with her, as I feel I learn and grow during each session we share. "
Heidi W. - Life Coach
San Francisco, CA
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Working with Jane has been one of the best decisions I have made for my business
"When I first started my social media marketing business, I was weighed down by imposter syndrome, constantly second guessing myself, struggling to articulate my message, and doubting ig I really had what it took. Working with Jane completely shifted that. She broke everything down step-by-step, asked the right questions that flipped my perspective, and helped me rebuild confidence piece by piece. Because of her guidance, I started signing clients and found my voice. Jane is not just a coach, she is a true thought partner who helps you see both the details and the bigger picture with clarity, and working with her has been one of the best decisions I have made for my business and my mindset."
Aseeyah S. - Personal Branding Strategist
Atlanta, GA
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
I shifted from feeling stuck to seeing possibilities
"I began working with Jane during a major transition in my life when I felt lost, overwhelmed by possibilities, and held back by imposter syndrome. Through her guidance, I shifted from feeling stuck to seeing exciting possibilities, and I'm deeply grateful for the confidence and direction she helped me uncover. "
Katie W. - Creative Project Manager
Los Angeles, CA
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Through working with Jane, I felt empowered to invest in myself and make the right decision for my family and my career
"Jane helped me unscramble the internal dialogue I had ongoing in my head about my career, my family and other choices I was making in my life. Throughout our working sessions she created a space for me to understand the barriers I was creating for myself and how I might overcome them. She also helped me navigate having successful conversations with those closest to me as I worked to redirect my career. I am truly a better communicator now because of my time working with Jane."