Testimonials
In their words
Every person here arrived carrying something, and stayed long enough to find out what they could do with it. What follows is what they said afterwards, in their own words.
I came to this seeking a pathway to becoming better equipped for being a people-leader in my professional life, in a way that resonated with my style of learning and spiritual life experience. I ended up on a beautiful winding trail with flowing rivers, overgrown brush to clear, open meadows, pine cones falling from windblown trees, wildflower blooms, berries to pluck, clear skies, dark skies, long sits on the hillside. I’m still hiking.
What I needed and what I came seeking were different from one another, always crisscrossing, never too distant, never a direct path. Isn’t it though?
Dave Kiyak
I happened to find Lorca when overhearing a conversation with some of her former students. They spoke of Lorca with such respect and positive attributes that my curiosity took over. What I didn’t realize is that over the next three years in working with Lorca, she was preparing me for my perfect storm. Guiding with love and respect, Lorca graciously meets me where I am. Her capacity to create a safe space and explore what lies beyond my boundaries, by igniting and inviting my spirit to show up for me! Her compassion and coaching skills have allowed me to believe and know that I am enough and more is possible. I am a better daughter, sister, wife, parent and professional. I have secretly been referring to this time as “Life with Lorca” — and life certainly has been much sweeter.
Nicole Barlow
I came to Lorca when I had very little ground left to stand on. Over the years I’d built a lot of my own practices, and because no one around me did those things, I often took that as evidence I was deficient. … Lorca’s frameworks gave me something to lean on. Having someone say “I practice that too” is what let me stop backtracking on my own hard-earned wisdom, and gave me the footing to say: no, you’re mistaken. This is me. What’s truly unique is that her framework isn’t limited to your professional life or your personal one — it spans everything, and the changes echo through all the arenas of your life.
Anna A. · Frontend Architect
Every day I just try to approach it with curiosity and love — and that seems to be a great place to start from.
a fellow, Stu
Lorca traces the contours of our lives and helps us recognize the beauty of the deep canyons, the power of how to run fleet-footed with the fears for a moment, and then the way to take the strength from running and offer it to our communities as a gift. Our leadership is needed, now more than ever, and Lorca floats the tools we need to surface so that our work becomes effortless.
Kate Rutherford · Patagonia climbing ambassador · co-founder, president & director, Farm to Crag
Lorca is remarkable in her ability to work with educators to create a dynamic where they feel safe working with each other and within themselves. Because teachers can often give themselves to the point where they leave their profession, she trained our staffs in understanding how caring for themselves is caring for their careers.
Gennifre Hartman · Partnership Program Manager, Where There Be Dragons · Founder, The Traveling School
The University has brought Lorca in to train our leadership, within departments, our faculty and staff, and our students. Her course-enrolled students included 17-year-olds and graduate students, faculty, staff and community members of all ages. In building and training resilient leaders, Lorca is a thoughtful, insightful, and patient facilitator. She listens beautifully and brings us to stimulated thinking about our own stories, identity, and path forward.
Dr. Alison Harmon · Vice President for Research and Economic Development, Montana State University
Dare I say it, Lorca Smetana is one of the few women who I knew would be just fine during the pandemic. She’s built her career working with a variety of clients on resilience training — deep, hard work that touches all facets of everyday life. And she practices what she preaches, running a farm along the Gallatin with her family. The world would be in a better spot if there were more Lorcas in it!
Christina Calabrese · Founder, Sky Oro Women’s Community
