I Help Leaders Lead Authentically, Inspire Teams, and Drive Real Results

Hi, I’m Heidi!

I’ve always been driven and achievement-oriented. The early part of my career was spent earning sales accolades at Fortune 500 companies like Xerox, Boston Scientific Corporation (BSC), and EMC. But my real legacy was developing others into superstars. Coaching and leadership development were my side passions long before I turned them into my full-time work.

In 2005, I founded UPwords Inc., a leadership development company built to help leaders step into their full potential. Through motivational talks, executive coaching, and team workshops, I’ve helped thousands of professionals grow their influence, elevate their leadership, and create meaningful impact in their organizations.

My clients see real results. Just like when my trainees in corporate won President’s Club, the leaders I work with today are getting promotions, career breakthroughs, and solving leadership challenges that once held them back.

In time, they become better professionals AND stronger, more fulfilled leaders, in every aspect of their lives.

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

  • “Heidi is on the short list of most influential people I've worked. The respect she received from peers and management and customers could easily be overshadowed by her down-to-earth interactive style. People are always comfortable working with Heidi, and they respect her.

    Steve Okland - Chief Commercial Officer, Caldera Medical

  • If I had to name her greatest strengths, they would be her bias for action and her desire for results. If you want to move forward, get things done, and are not afraid to take on the work involved in professional development, then Heidi Frye is the coach or consultant for you.”

    Therese Marie Smith - Director of Education & Programs

  • “I started working with Heidi about 18 months into my tenure as CEO. In the early days, she put a variety of concepts and tools in my path and they are things I go back to again and again. Now I use the time to problem solve, “unpack” my current challenges, and find a way to move forward on complex situations.”  

    Julie L. Novak - Chief Executive Officer - Michigan State Medical Society

  • Heidi is one of the most respectful and professional people I've had the pleasure work with in my career. Heidi has been very helpful in providing advice and recommendations to me on industry change and career planning.”

    George Ward - Director IT Business Relationship Management - Adient

  • “Heidi brings passion, knowledge, sincerity and integrity to everything in which she is involved. She incorporates her understanding of and experience in business relationships to deliver best-in-class coaching, training and mentoring to those in need of a leadership tune up.

    Steve Jesnek - Small Business Advocate | Key Acct. Management | Executive Coaching and Mentoring

  • “Working with Heidi has been transformational for me. She challenges me to think about situations from multiple vantage points and figures out how to get the best out of my team. She is a highly effective executive coach who walks the line perfectly between pushing you and your potential, and celebrating your progress. I love her!”

    Summer Minnick - Deputy Executive Director & CMO - MML

  • “In just two sessions, Heidi changed my mindset. She figured out in no time that I had trust issues. I am more emotionally strong in both my workplace and my love life. Today, I am happily married and am successful in my career.”

    Neha Hackman - CFO

  • “What a great asset Heidi has been to our team. We found her creative and insightful approach invaluable to the team.  Heidi in essence became part of our team and was able to assist key leaders in advancing their leadership approach and in turn – able to produce better results for the corporation.  I would recommend Heidi without reservation!”  

    Suzette Jaskie - CEO of West Michigan Heart and MedAxiom Consulting

  • “I had the opportunity to be a part of Heidi's ‘Emerging Leaders’ program Through various tools and exercises, Heidi dug deep into what made each of us ‘tick,’ teaching us how to communicate more effectively with each other now that we had that shared knowledge. One year later, my colleagues and I still use the tools Heidi gave us!

    Amber Ginop - Director of Marketing, Hexarmor

  • “Working with Heidi was one of the most rewarding experiences in my career.  I am a better leader, co-worker and person utilizing the skills I have learned with the short time we spent together.   She has been one of the most influential people in my life.  I would recommend her expertise to anyone inspired to invest in advancing their career and organization.”

    Juli B - CFO  

  • “Heidi Frye’s executive coaching helped me understand where I was, where I wanted to go, and challenged me to make it happen.  Along the way she provided insight and education, while making sure that I continued to hold myself accountable.  I would not be where I am today without Heidi and highly recommend her leadership coaching to anyone focused on their own development and their team’s success.”  

    Melvin Gottschalk, Jr. - MBA

  • “For the past two years Nucraft has worked with Heidi to create internal peer groups to improve our internal communications and teamwork skills. Heidi facilitates these groups and the feedback has been uniformly positive from the participants. Over time, Heidi has become a trusted Nucraft advisor.”

    Matt Schad, CEO - Nucraft Furniture

  • “Heidi's team dynamic workshops helped our team identify key causes of communication and work-style issues that were plaguing our group's efficiency and morale. Once we identified the root of our problem, Heidi showed us how to bridge gaps in communication, personality, and other differences. I strongly recommend Heidi for team dynamic training because she makes it fun and it actually works!

    LBC - ARM Account Specialist

  • “Heidi made me a better leader, employee, spouse and friend. She proved to me that having a deep understanding of who you are comes before you can understand others. Life is about choices and when you know what you want, it’s easy come decision time.  Heidi is an outstanding coach that helped me achieve more than I thought I could, in a short period of time.”  

    J.C., Director of Marketing - Meijer

  • “I have reached out to Heidi during the many phases of my management career for leadership coaching.  Her advice and wisdom has helped me identify ways to grow professionally as a individual and leader.  She is  honest, professional, and highly insightful.  I am extremely thankful for her straight-forward approach and feel blessed to have received her guidance.”  

    Lori Stokes - Materials Manager

  • “I have worked with many executive search firms across the USA and Canada. Heidi has proven to be among the best, coming through where others have failed to meet our needs. Heidi Frye has demonstrated her ability to go out and find unique individuals with a strong technical background and the ability to effectively sell our services to a very discriminating customer base. Heidi is a delight to work with and a true professional.”

    Larry Gibbons - VP, Kinectrics Inc.

  • “Heidi's contributions as a consultant have been immeasurable. My staff and I have all benefitted significantly from her energy and professionalism. Personally, I feel privileged to have had access to your advice and counsel. We look forward to many more years of partnership.”

    Stephan W. Waltman - Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Stiles Machinery, Inc.

  • “The Department of Human Genetics would like to thank you for presenting the 'Dealing with Conflicts' workshop at our annual retreat. The interactions with faculty, students, postdocs and staff created a good dynamic and also gave everyone an opportunity to get to know each other outside of the laboratory."

    Linda M. Peasley Ph.D. & Sally A. Camper - Department Administrator Prof. and Chair, The University of Michigan
Medical School Department of Human Genetics

Practical, Personal, and Deeply Strategic.

Whether it’s coaching one-on-one, leading team workshops, or delivering keynotes, everything I do is designed to help leaders lead more intentionally.

For over 20 years, I’ve worked with professionals across industries, from corporate executives to municipal leaders, guiding them to step into more influential, decisive, and high-impact leadership.

  • Clients stepping into C-suite roles and executive leadership

  • Teams working with each other instead of against each other

  • High-achievers who stop second-guessing themselves and start leading decisively

There really is no such thing as “being done” as a leader. Leadership is constantly evolving. The challenge is being open to the growth, nuance, and presence it requires to create lasting change.

When I’m Not Developing Leaders, You’ll Find Me…

Taking on new challenges (including jumping from a perfectly good aircraft!)

Lake Michigan is my Happy Place!

I love activity and adventure, especially when combined with the beautiful great outdoors!

I started my career at Xerox in Metro Detroit. It was fast-paced, competitive, and foundational. I didn’t just learn how to sell. I learned how to lead conversations, earn trust, and stay accountable. That’s where I found my footing. And where I began to appreciate how performance and people go hand in hand.

  • Earned two President’s Club awards at Xerox Corporation

  • Promoted quickly and recognized for top-tier sales leadership

  • Trainer and Mentor to newly hired sales reps

  • Built early credibility in high-performance, metrics-driven environments

From there, I was recruited by Boston Scientific, a much smaller company at the time. I joined their less-invasive endoscopic devices division (G.I. & Urology) and later helped launch their national startup division, Insurg. In addition to Top 10% Sales achievement, I taught sales training programs, worked alongside top surgeons, and led physician board relations initiatives. I didn’t just represent a brand—I helped shape how our teams showed up in the field. We were “the originals”— responsible for double digit growth year after year.

  • Won President’s Club

  • Earned the Two-Year Achievement Award, and Ring Club at BSC

  • Designed and delivered “Train the Trainer” programs for new hires

  • Selected as a start-up team member for building Insurg, a new venture at BSC

I eventually moved into executive recruiting, where, in addition to selecting top candidates for placement, I advised leaders on hiring strategy, incentive structures, and negotiation. I managed my business unit while consulting with client executives on team structure and performance alignment. My largest client, EMC, hired me after I’d filled their openings, and within six months, I closed $3 million in new business.

  • National Rookie of the Year at Sales Sales Consultants

  • Five-time Pacesetter (President’s) Club/Award Trip wins at Sales Consultants

  • Recruited by EMC, a Fortune 100 company, where I quickly exceeded targets

  • Provided senior-level recruiting guidance and expertise across industries, including energy, information technology, and manufacturing

In 2005, I founded UPwords Inc. to bring everything I’d learned across industries, teams, and leadership levels into one focused mission: help people lead better. I built programs that emphasized accountability, communication, and culture. From facilitation to executive coaching, every engagement is tailored. No one-size-fits-all templates. Just real, grounded work.

  • Delivered national training contracts for Fortune 100 clients

  • Created The Open 360 Feedback Process™, now used across hundreds of leadership teams

  • Designed and led 6–12 month experiential programs with measurable impact on team dynamics

I’ve coached hundreds of leaders, run team retreats, and facilitated sessions on conflict resolution, communication, leadership, and building teams and organizational trust. My goal is always the same: to build stronger leaders from the inside out. That belief led me to write The Light Switch and launch my podcast, Charging Up Leadership, as companion resources for clients who want to go deeper.

  • Author of The Light Switch: Plugging Into Your Core Power to Transform How You Lead

  • Host and producer of Charging Up Leadership, a podcast for leaders at every level

  • Certified in Integrative Enneagram, B.A.N.K. Communication System, and a member of ICF

I hold a B.A. in Marketing with a minor in German from Wayne State University. I completed advanced training through Leadership University—Coach2 and Master Level CS. But more than credentials, what grounds my work is lived experience. I’ve had a seat at the table. I’ve performed. I’ve made the hard calls. I’ve done, and continue to do, the work. I know what it takes to stand in your power, and I’m here to help others do the same.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS