About CaretoLead
Coaching rooted in genuine care
I'm Llynne Plante — iPEC Certified Professional Leadership Coach, ELI Master Practitioner, and HBDI® Certified Practitioner — I am passionate about supporting people in reaching new heights as caring, effective and high performing leaders.
From Senior Executive to Leadership Coach
My career spans more than 40 years in science, technology, international business development, and senior executive leadership. Across the federal government and private sector, my work has consistently bridged innovation, strategic leadership, and organizational effectiveness.
In 2024, I founded The Care to Lead Inc. to bring this experience—and my deeply held leadership philosophy—to others in a new way. I believe that care is not a trade-off for performance; it is the foundation of sustainable success. The strongest leaders balance courage, compassion, and empathy with clarity, accountability, and purpose.
Drawing on decades of real-world leadership experience and proven psychometric assessment tools and frameworks, including COR.E Leadership Dynamics™ and Whole Brain® Thinking, I guide leaders and teams to deepen their understanding of how they think, communicate, collaborate, and lead. These insights equip them to think with their whole brain, lead with presence and heart, and build resilient, high-performing teams grounded in trust and shared purpose.
Every engagement begins with a thoughtful conversation about your goals, challenges, and organizational culture. From there, the approach is tailored to you—never scripted or one-size-fits-all.
Based in Ottawa, I work with individuals, teams, and organizations in both English and French.
The credentials behind the coaching
Licenses & certifications
iPEC Certified Professional Leadership Coach & ELI Master Practitioner
Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Certified Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI) Practitioner
Herrmann International Inc. · 2011
Executive Certificate in Conflict Management
University of Windsor Law School · 2018
Executive Certificate in Coaching for a Better Workplace
University of Windsor Law School
Sprott PhD Teaching Certificate
Carleton University · 2013
Academic background
PhD (ABD), Organizational Behaviour
Carleton University · 2012–2024
Executive MBA
Queen's University · 2001
Diploma, International Trade
Forum for International Trade Training · 2002
Diploma, Chemical Engineering & Environmental Biology
Cambrian College of Applied Technology · 1984
What clients say
Real results from real leaders
“Llynne's expertise in facilitating a strategy retreat for my leadership team was invaluable. Her multi-faceted executive experience, thorough preparation, and professional guidance made our time together as a team not only efficient, but interesting and impactful as well. Having people in three different provinces come together for this 2-day event required substantial resources and time, but thanks to Llynne, it delivered value beyond my expectations and budget!”
Guillermo Ordorica-Garcia, PhD
Director General (former), Emerging Technologies
National Research Council Canada
“Llynne's zone of genius is to understand the differences between thinking, attitudes, behaviours and actions and to use this genius to explain how human thinking can affect the makeup of a working team. She has an aptitude to understand the power of individuals and how each person's natural brain power can be used to make a team better.”
Jeff Patten
Manager, Systems and Engineering Sciences
Transportation Safety Board of Canada
“Over at least a 10 year period I experienced the benefits of Llynne's training and facilitation skills both 1:1 and with groups I was responsible for. In all cases, participants not only enjoyed the sessions but, most importantly, gained valuable new insights and frameworks that led to tangible benefits.”
Michael Halasz
Director Special Initiatives
National Research Council Canada
What I believe
The values that guide every conversation
Genuine care
Every individual and team I work with deserves my full attention and honest investment in their success — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Honest guidance
I'll celebrate your wins and gently challenge your blind spots. Growth requires truth, delivered with kindness.
Your pace, your path
There's no single right way to build a career, hone leadership skills, or enhance team effectiveness. I meet you where you are and help you define what success looks like for you.
Ready to start your journey?
Let's have a conversation about where you are and where you want to go.