My philosophy: If life doesn’t hand you opportunities, create them!

Empowering leaders and teams to build resilience, deliver results, and create meaningful impact in a changing world.

Growing up in communist Bulgaria, I faced a pivotal choice: be defined by the constraints of the system or step into the unknown and create my own path. I chose the latter.

Today, I am a two-time Olympian, philanthropist, executive coach, mentor to corporate leaders and elite athletes, founder of a nonprofit, and a wife and mother of three. My journey has been defined by bold transformations—and none of them happened by accident.

At 17, I left Bulgaria determined to earn an education in the United States. Graduating with a degree in biology, I began a promising career in the pharmaceutical industry. But my drive and ambitions were stifled by a “clocking out” culture. Once again, I stepped into the unknown.

Watching the Olympics one evening, I became captivated by beach volleyball. Despite not having played, I committed to mastering the sport. Just four years later, I competed in the Olympic Games alongside my younger sister.

That journey taught me many lessons—especially the importance of overcoming blind spots. Whether in sports, business, or life, we all need trusted advisors to push past unseen limitations and realize our full potential.

Now, I channel that understanding into coaching, helping leaders and teams make their next big leap forward, building resilience, achieving clarity, and unlocking the impact they’re truly capable of.

About Lina

To achieve meaningful results and design a life filled with purpose, five essential elements are at the core of my leadership training and executive coaching:

  • Clarity: Knowing what you want to create and why it matters to you.

  • Laser-Sharp Focus: Eliminating distractions and channeling energy toward what’s within your control.

  • Resilience: Turning obstacles into opportunities while building the capacity to thrive under pressure.

  • Growth Mindset: Extracting lessons and shifting for growth from every experience.

  • Transformative Action: Encoding these principles into every aspect of your work and life.

These critical steps form the foundation of "The CLOSE Method," a practical framework for building resilience and succeeding against the odds.

While this framework guides my work, I customize my approach to meet your unique needs, drawing from tools in neuroscience, high-performance training, emotional intelligence, goal-setting, and leadership development. This tailored approach accelerates your growth, achievements, and impact.

For purpose-driven professionals, I invite you to explore HeartQuarters.org, the nonprofit I founded to empower leaders and teams through science-based training and solution-focused coaching, driving meaningful change for a sustainable future.

My approach

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A little more about me

Parenting has been the most challenging and rewarding adventure of my life. Our three kids constantly teach us the value of being present and remind us to trust that there’s always enough time to achieve what truly matters.

My husband, Aaron, is a college football analyst and former Super Bowl Champion with the Green Bay Packers. Together, we love cheering on our two sons at water polo matches and marveling at the endless stream of curious, thought-provoking questions from our spirited little girl.

Beyond family, my passion lies in empowering others. Through HeartQuarters.org, the nonprofit I founded, I’m dedicated to accelerating results for purpose-driven leaders, helping them drive transformative change for our planet.