A serial CEO, coach, board member, and strategic advisor, Carrie Freeman has built her career by seeing beyond “either/or” choices. Combining inner work, business strategy, and expansive thinking, she empowers audiences, companies, and coaching clients to do good while feeling good, in business and beyond.
Carrie believes in the power of whole-person leadership, where changemakers don’t choose between being successful or being themselves – they create opportunities that transcend expected outcomes.
Her track record includes scaling the leading innovation firm SecondMuse by 25x across 160 countries, as well as accelerating thousands of companies while raising $1.3B in capital. Previously, she spent 15 years at Intel in strategy and operations, pioneering the company’s sustainable business innovation initiatives.
Background
Carrie was raised on the power of holding multiple truths at once.
Growing up in rural Colorado, she saw contradictions and connections in everything, from ancient Pueblo settlements to modern environmental challenges. Her grandmother, a coal mine owner in the 1970s, once ran off OSHA inspectors with a gun, insisting her safety systems were superior to their cookie-cutter regulations. She was right — the mine never had an accident. This lesson in contextual leadership stayed with her throughout her 15 years at Intel, where she pioneered the company’s sustainable business innovation initiatives.
During a 30-day river trip through the Grand Canyon, Carrie realized that “either/or” thinking limits what’s possible — and that true leaders transcend these choices altogether. That revelation guided her work leading innovation firm SecondMuse, where she proved successful and scalable businesses could be profitable and purpose-driven. Under her leadership, the organization accelerated over 200 ventures annually while generating an estimated $10 billion in social and environmental impact.
Philosophy & Approach
Carrie combines systems thinking with human psychology, with the perspective that inner work and authenticity are the basis for business success. She works strategically to transmute problems into power, multiplying possibilities without having to choose between growth, impact, performance, or — crucially — joy.
Her approach is based on transformational leadership:
the ability to hold multiple truths and find solutions that turn competing priorities into competitive advantages.
Current Work
Today, Carrie works with executives and organizations to turn complex challenges into new opportunities. As a coach, she helps leaders dig into tension and navigate challenges by finding options beyond “either/or.”
The companies she supports as an advisor and board director consistently outperform peers on financial metrics and employee satisfaction so they can feel good while doing good and making an impact. In Carrie’s speaking work, she inspires audiences worldwide with practical advice to handle seemingly competing priorities for better outcomes.
With her unique method, actionable frameworks, and more, she empowers clients to reject false choices and make a true impact.
Ready to explore what’s possible when you stop choosing and start multiplying?
Speaking Engagements – Bring Carrie’s “Everything that Matters, Multiplied” framework to your next event
Board Director – Strategic guidance for finding new opportunities for innovation process design
Executive Coaching – Leadership development that drives results without sacrificing joy
Let's Talk