Erin Van de Voorde is the CEO of West of Perfection and a highly sought-after Executive and Leadership Coach with over two decades of experience catalyzing growth for leaders, founders, and mission-driven organizations. Her strategic yet deeply human approach is grounded in a multidisciplinary career spanning public policy, project management, and organizational development across sectors including law, education, politics, and nonprofit organizations.
Erin began her career in Washington, D.C., advising on complex policy initiatives before pivoting to leadership development, where she now partners with executives and start-up teams to scale impact, navigate transitions, and lead with clarity. A trusted voice in the entrepreneurial space, she thrives in early-stage environments and brings a builder’s mindset to every engagement. She serves on the Board of Advisors for the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at The Catholic University of America and holds a B.A. in Political Science, along with advanced certifications from top coaching programs including The Life Coach School.
Erin resides in Nashville, Tennessee, is an avid traveler, and enjoys exploring new places with her husband and four adventurous sons.
ERIN
Mary Katherine Wathen is a nationally recognized business consultant, speaker, and coach with 20+ years of experience helping leaders and teams scale with purpose and performance. A former Fortune 50 professional turned entrepreneur, she’s known for her no-excuses, high-impact approach to business and leadership. She holds certifications in The Working Genius, and various coaching certifications.
She is the author of Made For More (2025), a bold and practical guide for working moms who want to lead with clarity at work and at home— without burning out or playing small.
A proud graduate of the University of Kentucky, she earned her degree summa cum laude in Corporate Communications and Political Science, served as Student Body President, and was named UK Homecoming Queen. She also ran Division I cross country for the Wildcats, and finished multiple marathons—a testament to the drive and discipline that still fuels her today.
Today, she lives in Kentucky with her husband Will and their seven children—where she still finds time to run and build businesses.
MARY KATHERINE
Erin Van de Voorde is the CEO of West of Perfection and a highly sought-after Executive and Leadership Coach with over two decades of experience catalyzing growth for leaders, founders, and mission-driven organizations. Her strategic yet deeply human approach is grounded in a multidisciplinary career spanning public policy, project management, and organizational development across sectors including law, education, politics, and nonprofit organizations.
Erin began her career in Washington, D.C., advising on complex policy initiatives before pivoting to leadership development, where she now partners with executives and start-up teams to scale impact, navigate transitions, and lead with clarity. A trusted voice in the entrepreneurial space, she thrives in early-stage environments and brings a builder’s mindset to every engagement. She serves on the Board of Advisors for the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at The Catholic University of America and holds a B.A. in Political Science, along with advanced certifications from top coaching programs including The Life Coach School.
Erin resides in Nashville, Tennessee, is an avid traveler, and enjoys exploring new places with her husband and four adventurous sons.
ERIN
ABOUT
Tess Christensen is a trusted Executive Coach and Leadership Consultant with over 30 years of experience transforming leaders, teams, and organizations. A former Senior Executive at Pfizer, and a founding partner and COO of West of Perfection, Tess brings C-suite credibility and real-world business expertise to help today’s leaders navigate complexity and lead with clarity, purpose, and impact.
Over her three-decade career at Pfizer, Tess held broad leadership roles spanning Contracting, Key Account Management, Global Commercial Operations, Marketing, and Sales. She built and led high-performing commercial organizations across Primary Care and Rare Disease, culminating in her role as Vice President of the Rare Disease Strategic Customer Group, where she drove national access strategy and cross-functional collaboration across payers, health systems, and specialty providers.
Tess is widely recognized for cultivating dynamic, values-driven cultures and building resilient teams that consistently delivered exceptional results. Known for her blend of strategic insight and emotional intelligence, Tess helps executives unlock their full potential and build lasting leadership influence. She holds a BS in Chemistry from Gannon University, an MBA in Healthcare Management from Indiana Wesleyan University, and certifications in leadership development and Lean Six Sigma. Tess is also a graduate of the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) and holds accreditations as a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP).
Based in Southlake, Texas, Tess is a passionate mentor, an advocate for meaningful, joyful work, and a dedicated partner for leaders seeking to grow beyond their titles and drive transformational change.
TESS
Tess Christensen is a trusted Executive Coach and Leadership Consultant with more than 30 years of experience transforming leaders, teams, and organizations. As a former senior executive at Pfizer and the founding partner and COO of West of Perfection, Tess brings C-suite credibility and real-world business expertise to help leaders navigate complexity and lead with clarity, purpose, and impact.
During her distinguished career at Pfizer, Tess held a wide range of leadership roles across Contracting, Key Account Management, Global Commercial Operations, Marketing, and Sales. She built and led high-performing commercial organizations in both Primary Care and Rare Disease, ultimately serving as Vice President of the Rare Disease Strategic Customer Group. In that role, she led national access strategy and cross-functional collaboration across payers, health systems, and specialty providers.
Tess is widely recognized for cultivating values-driven cultures and resilient teams that consistently deliver exceptional results. Known for her unique blend of strategic insight and emotional intelligence, she helps executives unlock their full potential and expand their leadership influence in sustainable, meaningful ways.
She holds a BS in Chemistry from Gannon University, an MBA in Healthcare Management from Indiana Wesleyan University, and certifications in leadership development and Lean Six Sigma. Tess is also a graduate of the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), and holds credentials as a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP).
Tess lives in Southlake, Texas, with her husband Scott and their two daughters. She is a passionate mentor, an advocate for meaningful, joyful work, and a dedicated partner for leaders seeking to grow beyond their titles and create transformational change.
