My Story of Striving to Thriving

The idea of Salt and Light Coaching draws from Matthew 5:13-16 in the Bible. It describes how we can make the world a better place. Just like salt adds flavor, we have the option to positively influence others and our surroundings through who and how we are in the world. And like light, we can choose to bring hope and truth, spread joy and show kindness to people. Coaching can help you shape your work and life to make a positive difference in your life and others' lives. Being “salt and light” in the world means you are someone who “shines bright” in a world that can often feel dark.

Laura Silva

My Story

You might say my journey was a winding road, with twists, turns, sudden screeching halts, and moments of smooth sailing. For instance, my education came after I had already been navigating life's ups and downs as well as leading teams in organizations. By the time I earned my PhD, I had been flourishing in organizations where I worked throughout my career. No it wasn't easy. Family, friends, and faith in the gifts that God gave me proved to be most valued assets. And life lessons were the best form of education.

I also have a creative spirit. I’m a potter, meaning I throw clay around and fire it to make anything from bowls to sculptural pieces. I am a self-proclaimed hobby painter. I learn so much from the creative process and can draw parallels to being resourceful and resilient enough to let go of the outcome and simply thrive in the moment. For me, I am thriving in the moment when I'm out in nature soaking in the sun on my skin. I am thriving when I am taking in God’s creation as I paint plein air attempting to capture what I'm sensing not just seeing. Life-giving activities like these are an investment in my soul care. They breathe life into me. Staying connected to a creative practice is essential to my well-being and to my relationship with God who made me to thrive in life.

20 years of
leading teams

Growing individuals personally and professionally

Thousands of coaching moments

My Mission

To help you gain clarity and purpose in your personal or professional goals
To help new leaders get better at their jobs and move up in their careers
To help people who want to grow as individuals
To help you thrive well and move forward with a clear idea of what you want and why

My Method

I like to think that I put the clay in your hands and encourage you to take the wheel.

LAURA SILVA

Coaching is different from therapy. While therapy is mostly focused on looking at how your past affects your present, coaching is about what's happening now and what's ahead.

My role is to help you figure things out by using your own insights and experiences to make good choices about what you're doing now and what you want to do in the future. Believe me, they are in there and I can help you dig them out.

We will uncover what is most important to you and align that with goals I can help you set for yourself.

You will even get the chance to get to know yourself better, because sometimes we have lost track of what we want and who we are after years of living on autopilot. To do that, we might have you take a Clifton's StrengthsFinder® assessment or an Emotional Intelligence assessment if one or both could help you with your goals. And if you are allergic to goals, like I once was, don't worry. In time, you will find you are not only eager to set them, you will be excited to get after them and see results too!