Courtney's User Guide
Welcome
Hi, I'm Courtney!
I'm the co-founder, CEO, and de facto head of creative for EverMore. It's the most ambitious stake I've planted in my mission to bring soul into the workplace.
I spent nearly two decades in tech companies and startups crafting award-winning people + culture programs. I've always approached my work with the premise that I can nurture the best future for a company by investing in its people.
Now, I want to take everything I learned behind the scenes about hiring, performance, and leadership and put it into EverMore, so that our users have the tools I wish I had. I hope to shift the paradigm of what a career can actually be, so people can give their talents + energy most authentically.
This user guide is a cheat code for the EverMore team to understand how I work and think. If you have one, I'd love to read it, and if you don't, you can make one here.
About Me
I'm a native Texan who doesn’t like the sun or heat—give me a chilly, rainy day ☔
I studied english, philosophy, history, art, and dance in college @ Texas A&M, which is a fairly good peek into my brain.
I'm always and forever writing, mostly on Medium, and to really dive into the lore of Courtney, read my career story here.
I’m into sustainable fashion, hula-hooping, being vegan, ‘90s music, and the magic of nature and octopuses.
I like dark comedies and satire—think Heathers & Drop Dead Gorgeous, Succession, and Vonnegut novels.
I talk about my family a lot. I've been married to Quinn for 13-ish years, and our daughter, Henley, is 10. We always have a full house of rescue animals. The current line-up is—Scout (yorkie mix), Willa (heeler mix), Gemma (calico cat), and Tortellini (baby cat)
What I Value
What I value in myself
Intentionality & Sincerity: I try to put a lot of care and joy into everything I do in work, relationships, and the way I move through the world.
Self-expression & Authenticity: Whether it's through words, fashion, or the things I make, being able to express myself fully is core for me. Otherwise, I feel stifled and like a shell of myself.
Creativity & Originality: I'm obsessed with the art of craft, and the magic that happens when I invest myself fully in creating something new and weird.
Compassion & Openness. My whole life contains a thread of marrying empathy, sympathy, and action together to understand and alleviate others' problems.
What I value in others
Brainstorming is my love language. I like hearing and riffing on new ideas. Ideating on something that's an amalgam of everyone's perspectives and unique lenses is the best feeling.
Closing the loop is the best. I'm a Gemini, so I crave decisive and solution-oriented people in my life. Someone clear on what "done" looks like is a needed complement to my dreamy and idealistic nature.
Weirdos welcome here. I appreciate people who are odd and interesting, who ask questions, challenge assumptions, and lean into the future rather than clinging to the past.
What I don't value
I struggle when others show cynicism, negativity, and a lack of ownership. When someone commits to something and then doesn't take it seriously or tears it down, that's hard for me.
What success means to me
I want to leave people, places, and the planet better than I found them. Along the way, I hope to romanticize my life, contribute my talents where they're appreciated, and hula hoop every day.
How I Can Help
Personality & Vibes
Astrology: Gemini ☀️ | Leo 🌙 | Virgo 🔼
Human Design: Manifesting Generator
Clifton: Strategic, Learner, Ideation, Intellection, Empathy
My Superpowers 🔮
Translating complexity into clarity. I think in systems. Whether I'm writing, designing culture strategy, or coaching leaders, I take tangled, complicated things and make them make sense.
Being an endless well of ideas. Given any problem, I can generate dozens of solutions. I often spot patterns quickly, which makes me feel a bit psychic. I'm also an optimist and "how can we" person that folks seek out as a sounding board.
Having a library in my head. I'm a dilettante, always reading and learning, so I tend to function like a living Rolodex. Say something, and I'll likely connect it to an article, a book, or an idea I filed away.
At the heart of everything is a nurturing instinct. It shows up in how I parent, how I garden, how I care for animals, and how I solve business problems with empathy. I genuinely care about how others will receive and experience something.
How I Communicate
My communication style is a blend of warmth, approachability, and polish.
I tend to be an open book, and I naturally mirror the people I'm talking with to help them feel comfortable and at ease in conversation. Oh, and I'm reading Foyle's Philavery: A Treasury of Unusual Words, so expect some artful word choices.
I'm kind of bad at...
Being prescriptive. I naturally default to giving autonomy over the "how," because that's what I like. So if I give you a task or a request and it feels light on detail, that's intentional — I trust you to own it. That said, I'm genuinely happy to go deeper if you need more context, more direction, or just want to think something through together. I'd rather you interrupt me and ask than spin your wheels.
Reaching out to me...
When it comes to reaching out, I work best when meetings are scheduled between 10 am and 3 pm. My mornings are when I'm most creative, and I keep my late afternoons free to pick up Henley.
For communication channels, I use the medium as a signal for urgency — if something is time-sensitive, call or text me. Slack and email, I'll get to them when I can. The one thing I feel strongly about: please don't schedule last-minute meetings. If you do, an agenda goes a long way.
How I Handle Feedback
Giving Feedback
I tend to ask questions or share the story I’m telling myself instead of making assumptions.
I will almost always share my opinion when asked; however, I don’t expect all my feedback to be accepted. In the rare chance that I’m giving instruction, not information, I’ll make it clear.
Receiving Feedback
I’d rather get the feedback than wonder or not know. So, just share whatever is on your mind, even if it’s raw or developing thoughts.
When I share things for feedback, I’ll take any and every thought. I’m comfortable sifting through everyone’s opinion to find a path forward.
My Big Ick with Feedback
When someone holds on to feedback, criticizes my work or others' behind their backs, or goes rogue, I find that both hurtful and unhelpful. Just tell me how you really feel.
Where I'm Growing
I'm highly intuitive, and that instinct has served me well. But when I'm not intuitively connected to a decision, idea, or direction, I can struggle to commit to it or follow through consistently. As a first-time founder navigating a constant stream of decisions, I'm learning to distinguish when to trust my gut and when to slow down, consult someone with more expertise, or build that expertise myself.
You'll know that I'm not connected to my intuition if I say, "I need to mull."
Keep In Touch
I'd love to connect. Find me on...
Thanks for visiting my user guide!
xoxo,
Courtney