Susan Apollonio, Founder, Apollo Orion Coaching
Meet Susan
I founded Apollo Orion Coaching because I believe each one of us has a powerful inner voice that is our greatest resource, compass, and source of resilience.
Early in my career, I believed being professional meant you could not express any emotions and never reveal yourself at work. I often felt anxious and worried about my performance, lacked confidence, and didn’t trust my instincts. Then I entered an executive graduate program to study leadership for sustainability and everything changed.
By developing awareness about the importance of incorporating my values and self into my work, embracing my strengths, and consciously choosing to practice vulnerability I discovered new ways of connecting with people. I clarified my leadership vision and began to systematically put into practice the concepts and skills to develop my leadership presence. I want to be the coach that helps you do the same.
Before establishing my coaching practice, I led professional development and marketing programs for nonprofit organizations in the land and urban design and sustainability fields for more than 15 years. I derived tremendous personal fulfillment from supporting people to share their vision and advance their careers.
My business name is a nod to my sir name, Apollonio, and a tribute to my father, a book publisher who started a book imprint called Orion Books. He chose the name because ''Orion symbolized the hunter, in the best sense of the word”- the martial sense - rooted in compassion, wisdom, fearlessness, and a love for nature.
As an energy coach, my work is informed by my reverence for the natural world and practice of Qigong, Yoga, and Aikido to support mind-body connection for mental fitness. They are paths to connecting with inner self, the natural world, and finding calm, clarity, and equilibrium. I’ve done energy work in a variety of formats and lived and traveled all over the world. There are so many ways to live and be and I’m happy to share my experiences with my clients.
On the personal side, I am married with three stepchildren, enjoy hiking with my two rescue dogs, reading, learning and I’m passionate about all forms of art (music, painting, writing) and the creative process. I am fascinated by how the natural world provides inspiration, spurs innovation and sustains all aspects of life.
“Susan is masterful at holding space for you, listening to your concerns, and partnering with you to come up with a positive and impactful solution. Before I started working with Susan, I had some big blocks around starting a new business. Susan listened to my concerns, asked powerful and thought-provoking questions, and was extremely patient with me. Susan’s coaching allowed me to look at my fears from a different perspective and work toward a solution that was comfortable for me. The best thing about working with Susan is that she’s incredibly insightful and intuitive, she also cares deeply. She would check in with me between sessions to encourage me, as well as held me accountable to the task I wanted to complete. Whether you are laser-focused on what you want to accomplish or you’re completely lost, I’m confident that Susan can be a great coach for you like she was for me!”