Susan L. Westbrook, PhD, PCC
Helping mature professionals create the best work of their lives.
Coaching
Consulting
Hands-on Support
THE CROSSROADS MOMENT
There comes a time—often as the employment landscape starts to shift—when the familiar road behind us feels complete, yet the road ahead is still hopeful and inviting. You find yourself standing at a crossroads, not because you’re lost or done, but because something in you is ready for a new kind of creation.
Not reinvention.
Not repair.
Not a return to who you once were.
But the creation of a future that feels aligned, meaningful, and unmistakably your own.
That is a sacred and magical space where anything and everything is possible.
Hi, I'm Susan Westbrook. I love working with folks in that space...the crossroads. Where we feel we have the luxury of choice and options. Where the journey is exciting and a little scary, too.
I grew up in a blue‑collar family where hard work was a given and curiosity was my compass. Like you, I have been at that crossroads moment more than once in my life.
My work life has taken me through science, education, entrepreneurship, leadership, spirituality, rebuilding, and bold creation. I’ve stepped off the expected path more than once—not because I was uncertain, but because something truer was calling.
There have been moments in my own life when everything I thought I knew about myself came undone. It wasn’t fun, and it wasn’t pretty. But it taught me something essential:
Creation is not a luxury—it’s a birthright.
And the future is always more malleable than we think. In fact, I believe we create our futures. There are and will be lots of them to move toward.
Looking back, my professional journey has unfolded across three distinct landscapes: The Lab, The Studio, and The Stage. In the following paragraphs I would like to share some of that professional journey with you to give you a sense of who I am and where I have been.
(If you desire more in-depth information about my background, check my "details" page here Susan’s Background Details – Upper Third Productions.)
How I Got Here
THE LAB — Curiosity Unfolded
Before I was an educator or a coach, I was a scientist. My fascination with how things work—biologically, psychologically, spiritually—led me to earn a B.S. in Microbiology and a Ph.D. in Science Education. As a professor and researcher, I spent years exploring how people learn, make sense of the world, and transform their thinking.
In my 50's, I stepped into an entirely new lab...coaching and Reiki. Working with these clients over the past 20 years has given me another lense with which to view people, their dreams, and their processes.
Every part of our lives is a lab for some part of our future.
THE STUDIO — Work Was Done
Insight and ideas are powerful, but creation happens when you roll up your sleeves. My life has always been grounded in hands‑on building—whether I was constructing a shed, cooking for an international biking group, or co‑founding a charter high school from scratch.
Production is a natural part of a creation mindset. And yet, how many ideas ideas have flown away as we got lost in thought and details? I, for one, can say...many.
Not all productions originate in the best of times. When life feels smooth and we seem at our best. Some of my best "next" creations have occurred when I was suffering from a broken heart or a wounded ego, including becoming a Reiki Master and writing a book on yoga.
THE STAGE —Success Realized
Every creation eventually asks to be lived out loud. To be seen and applauded and acknowledged. While creation is a birthright, few people get to stand in triumph with the manifestation of their wildest dreams.
My “stage” has taken many forms: university classrooms, a ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new school, managing an international kitchen, and leadership roles across multiple industries. Each moment of celebration stood atop long hours of work, moments of disillusionment, and constant self-scrutiny. Leading me to believe, it actually takes courage to stand and be recognized for our accomplishments.
While I have had the good fortune of a few "spotlight" moments in my life, one of my most memorable stages was the day I opened the front door and found a box of my first published book stuck between the screen and the door. It was a triumphant moment. Just me. And my book come to life. A dream realized.
WHY WORK WITH ME?
By the time you reach this stage of life, you’ve already earned a kind of wisdom that can’t be taught. My role isn’t to replace that wisdom—it’s to help you harness it.
When you work with me, you’re not getting a single skillset—you’re getting the full arc of a life lived across science, creativity, leadership, entrepreneurship, spirituality, and deep personal transformation.
Whether we’re exploring your new ideas (Lab), engaging in the work (Studio), or launching your long-dreamt-of project (Stage), you get a partner who brings depth, honesty, and real‑world experience.
You have an extraordinary adventure ahead of you.
I would be honored to partner with you as you create the best work of your life.
Upper Third Productions has you and your project covered.
Masterminds are small online groups that are dedicated to supporting each other, receiving coaching, and learning together. The ultimate goal of a Mastermind process is for each person in the group to receive the support needed to engage in and complete the project they bring to the Mastermind conversation.
The Upper Third Productions Mastermind registrations open quarterly. Participants can register for as many quarters of the Mastermind process as they need to stay in and complete their projects.
Whether you are creating a business, designing a website, getting seen on social media, or in the process of writing a book, you are probably not an expert at all the parts of the processes needed to experience success.
We offer hands-on support so you can send your time doing what you are best at.
As a certified professional coach (PCC), Susan takes the standards and ethics of the coaching profession seriously. Coaching is not a place to get advice or mentoring. It is a space for your agenda and your thoughts, and draws on your resourcefulness.
The best way to experience coaching is to set up a 30-minute free coaching conversation with Susan.
Consulting is another type of one-on-one conversation. It is a place to brainstorm together, work on project management, and learn techniques and stategies that will help you save time and stay on your timelime.