Founder & CEO
Kristi Atwater
Founder & CEO
Kristi Atwater
I’m the Founder and CEO of Boards Whisperers. I’ve spent my career navigating complex environments, breaking glass ceilings, and earning a seat at tables where consequential decisions are made. I work with leaders across industries and levels, and I bring particular perspective to supporting women in leadership led by my own experience and leading women’s leadership initiatives. My focus has always been on development, mentorship, creativity, joy and visibility.
That commitment to leadership development extended beyond my corporate roles. Prior to founding Boards Whisperers, I hosted the Hey Boss Lady podcast, where I explored leadership, career transitions, entrepreneurship, small business, decision-making, and the human side of success. I’ve also been a guest on other podcasts, sharing real-world insight drawn from executive leadership, board-facing roles, and building and running businesses. These conversations helped shape the perspectives that would later become the foundation of Boards Whisperers. Read More…
I’m the Founder and CEO of Boards Whisperers. I’ve spent my career navigating complex environments, breaking glass ceilings, and earning a seat at tables where consequential decisions are made. I work with leaders across industries and levels, and I bring particular perspective to supporting women in leadership led by my own experience and leading women’s leadership initiatives. My focus has always been on development, mentorship, creativity, joy and visibility.
That commitment to leadership development extended beyond my corporate roles. Prior to founding Boards Whisperers, I hosted the Hey Boss Lady podcast, where I explored leadership, career transitions, entrepreneurship, small business, decision-making, and the human side of success. I’ve also been a guest on other podcasts, sharing real-world insight drawn from executive leadership, board-facing roles, and building and running businesses. These conversations helped shape the perspectives that would later become the foundation of Boards Whisperers. Read More…
Like many high-achieving professionals, I’ve operated in demanding roles with high expectations and constant pressure, including moments when the path forward was not obvious. Coaching fundamentally changed how I approached both my career and my life—not as theory, but as a practical framework for decision-making, alignment, and sustainable success.
Through coaching, I clarified my values and the kind of life I wanted to build. That clarity helped me recognize and choose the right partnership in my personal life, become debt free, and navigate complex career decisions with confidence and intention. Coaching also supported one of the most meaningful chapters of my life: becoming a mother at 43.
I’ve always believed in setting ambitious goals and following through. That mindset led me to run six marathons—an experience that reinforced principles I now bring into my work: resilience, discipline, preparation, and the power of consistent progress over time.
Today, I live and lead by design. I live on the beach, create art, build and operate small businesses, and intentionally integrate philanthropy into how I lead and serve. My leadership philosophy blends executive experience, coaching frameworks, and lived insight to support leaders navigating growth, transition, reinvention, entrepreneurship, and purposeful impact.
As part of that creative expression, I illustrated the children’s coloring book You Can Eat a Rainbow, written by my sister, a physician, to help children learn about healthy choices in a fun and engaging way.
Through Boards Whisperers, I work with leaders, entrepreneurs, and small business owners who want to navigate complexity with clarity, confidence, and trusted support—both professionally and personally. I bring executive judgment, structured coaching tools, and real-world experience to help you build a life and career that feel aligned, intentional, and sustainable.
If you’re ready to move forward with clarity and confidence, I invite you to start with a discovery conversation.
Professional Credentials & Certifications
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
- Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Associate Certified Coach (ACC), International Coaching Federation
- Licensed Real Estate Professional
- Martha Beck Wayfinder Life Coach Training
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
- Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Associate Certified Coach (ACC), International Coaching Federation
- Licensed Real Estate Professional
- Martha Beck Wayfinder Life Coach Training