About Becoming Bolder
Our mission is to help highly capable individuals navigate change, transform their lives, and become bolder versions of themselves.
Who We Are
We’re Rachel Merrill and Christa Sutton, co-founders of Becoming Bolder, and two people who don’t believe anyone needs another expert standing at the front of the room pretending to have life completely figured out.
Our work began with Bolder Business Solutions, where we focused on leadership, systems, and building businesses that didn’t consume the people running them. But the more we worked with leaders, the clearer something became: the business was rarely the only thing changing. People were questioning what success meant to them, reconsidering the lives they had built, and trying to figure out who they were becoming outside of their job titles and responsibilities.
Becoming Bolder grew from those conversations.
Rachel brings clarity to the big, messy questions, helping people find a next step that actually feels possible. Christa brings warmth, intuition, and a deep understanding of the patterns and mental exhaustion that keep us stuck. Together, we create a space where you can be honest about where you are, supported as you figure out where you’re going, and gently challenged when it’s time to close the journal and live what you’ve learned.
We aren’t here to tell you who to become. We’re here to give you the space, tools, and support to figure that out for yourself—and the courage to take the next step once you do.
Meet Your Coaches
Rachel Merrill
Co-Founder
Rachel is a strategist, facilitator, and someone who genuinely enjoys taking big, messy problems and figuring out what to do with them. Her background spans psychology, health sciences, healthcare, government, and organizational leadership - which is a somewhat unusual combination, but it turns out to be pretty useful when you’re trying to understand both people and the systems shaping their lives.
She has led workshops, trainings, and strategic planning sessions across industries, including statewide training and support for more than 1,300 local government entities. At Becoming Bolder, Rachel brings structure and humor to the deeply personal - and often wildly unclear - process of figuring out how to navigate change. Her approach looks at the whole person, including their goals, relationships, physical well-being, emotional health, and the everyday habits that shape how life actually feels. She believes transformation requires more than a powerful realization and an inspirational sign hanging on the wall. Eventually, you have to take what you’ve learned about yourself and do something with it.
Rachel holds a degree in Psychology and Health Sciences from The College of Idaho.
Christa Sutton
Co-Founder
Christa is a coach, facilitator, and wholehearted believer that people can create lives that feel as good on the inside as they look from the outside. Since 2010, she has worked with high achievers navigating growth, change, and the uncomfortable space between who they have been and who they are becoming.
Her work centers on mental energy management - understanding what drains us, what restores us, and how our thoughts, habits, relationships, and everyday choices affect our ability to move forward. She has a knack for noticing the patterns keeping people stuck and asking the honest questions they may be trying to avoid.
At Becoming Bolder, Christa brings warmth, intuition, and equal parts encouragement and accountability. She describes her approach as “hold your heart and kick your ass,” because meaningful transformation requires both self-compassion and the courage to do something differently.
Christa is also the co-founder of Ideal Personality, LLC, and incorporates its principles into coaching frameworks that help people better understand themselves and one another.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Becoming Bolder?
Becoming Bolder is a personal development coaching and community experience for people navigating change, questioning what they want from life, or working toward a more intentional way of living. We combine real conversations, practical tools, and meaningful support so personal growth doesn't remain something you only read or think about.
Who is personal development coaching for?
Personal development coaching is for anyone who wants greater clarity, confidence, meaning, or direction in their life. You might be facing a major transition, feeling stuck, or quietly realizing that a life that looks perfectly good no longer feels like yours.
How can coaching help during a major life transition?
Life transition coaching gives you space to step back, understand what is changing, and decide what you want to carry into your next chapter. A coach won't make the decision for you, but they can help you sort through the fear, expectations, and uncertainty that accompanies these decisions.
What if my life is good, but I still want something more?
Wanting more doesn't make you ungrateful, selfish, or incapable of appreciating what you already have. Sometimes it means that you have outgrown an old definition of success and are ready to explore what meaning, fulfillment, and well-being look like now.
Are these sessions in person or virtual?
All sessions of Becoming Bolder are held virtually.
Is coaching the same as therapy?
No. Therapy can diagnose and treat mental health conditions, while coaching focuses on your present circumstances, future goals, personal growth, and the actions required to move forward. Becoming Bolder provides coaching, education, tools, and community - not mental health treatment - and some people choose to participate in coaching and therapy at the same time.
Is coaching covered by insurance? Do you offer payment plans?
No, coaching is not covered by insurance. We do, however, offer flexible payment options for coaching packages to make support accessible and stress-free.
What’s your cancellation policy?
We ask for 24-hour notice for any rescheduling. Missed or late-cancelled sessions may be charged depending on your plan.
