Christel at the beach for sunset, smiling in a floral outfit. Background is cloudy sky, palm trees, plants, and the ocean.

Hi, I’m Christel Ridao

I help people live with purpose, thrive with ease, and make socially conscious choices through the guidance of one-on-one coaching.

I’m a certified professional coach supporting grassroots activity and collective care. My approach is simple—we meet you where you are, whether you're just starting out or already making a difference in your community.

You can think of our work together as a partnership to create, sustain, or evolve your ways of being authentic, building community, and celebrating what you love.

View My Credentials

Click on the credential image for details. You can also view my professional experience and education on LinkedIn.

  • Earners of the Certified Professional Coach (CPC) certification have completed the iPEC Coach Training Program consisting of 160 instruction and practice hours and passed the final exam per approved International Coaching Federation (ICF) requirements. Earner demonstrates knowledge and proficiency using iPEC proprietary Core Energy Coaching™ method and in core competencies outlined by the ICF (the leading global organization for certified coaches).

  • Earners of the Energy Leadership™ Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) certification have completed the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) training necessary to coach and debrief clients utilizing this researched, proprietary tool. Earners are proficient in the training, experience, and skills to analyze and interpret the data from the ELI Assessment results and partner with clients to uncover opportunities for deeper awareness, optimal performance, and growth.

 
 

 Our beliefs inform our values. Our values influence how we show up. How we show up matters.

 
 

Some beliefs I hold

  • The power of curiosity, awareness, and intentional choice

  • Approaching the world with a “Yes, and” mindset rather than an “Either, or” way of thinking

  • Appreciating art in its many forms

  • Keeping company with kind and inspiring people (including myself in moments of solitude)

  • The simple joy of everyday celebrations

  • The human experience is more expansive than the labels we were assigned at birth

  • Radical self-love is essential to our collective care, well-being, and liberation

Values my work aligns with

  • Authenticity

  • Compassion

  • Learning

  • Joy

  • Connection

  • Solidarity

  • Radical Self-Love

What I can do for you

  • Be with you as you explore an inner world that is rich with nuance, depth, and intuition

  • Connect you to the interesting, insightful, and empowering answers that you have within you

  • Share my impressions, encouragement, and presence with you

  • Create a warm, safe, and supportive space for your growth

What I’m Like

I'm grateful for the work I get to do—having spent 14 years in global people, consulting, and leadership coaching. I lean into my values and skills when working together on projects, change initiatives, and social movement. I care about creating a better world for all of us.

I approach my work with curiosity, empathy, and playfulness because I believe meaningful change happens when we connect as humans. In my experience, the best projects come from really listening and collaborating, not just following a formula.

Based in Chicago, I’ve also lived in Manila, Bangkok, Singapore, and New York. Living at the intersection of diverse identities shapes how I practice solidarity. I'm learning and unlearning all of the time. I'm committed to action and investment that supports social, economic, and environmental justice.

*Chicago stands on the unceded ancestral lands of the Council of Three Fires: Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi, as well as many tribes that have called this land home.
New York stands on the unceded homeland of the Lenape people, who are the original inhabitants and stewards of this land.