About Upward & Inward

 

Our Approach

We believe true leadership is not defined solely by position or authority but by the ability to inspire, influence, and drive transformative impact. The mission of Upward & Inward is to empower Impact Leaders to unlock their full potential and create meaningful, positive change in the world.

We empower Impact Leaders from the inside out to achieve growth, radical collaboration, and purposeful productivity through introspection and aligned action.

We leverage the best of:

  1. Cutting-edge leadership approaches

  2. Behavior and organizational change

  3. Human-centered systems thinking

  4. Flow science principles

  5. Psychology of human flourishing

  6. Wellness as a foundation, with optimized whole health as an edge

About Upward & Inward

 

Our Approach

The mission of Upward & Inward is to empower impact leaders to unlock their full potential and create meaningful, positive change in the world. We believe that true leadership is not defined solely by position or authority but by the ability to inspire, influence, and drive transformative impact.

We help you achieve growth through introspection and aligned action.

Leverage the best of:

  1. Foundational and cutting-edge leadership principles

  2. Behavior change and positive psychology

  3. Whole human coaching

  4. Wellness as a foundation with biohacking and longevity influences

  5. Flow Science

Being a leader for yourself, your family, or your team requires more than learning a few new skills. Upward & Inward leverages a deep multi-modality approach to generate breakthrough results in how you lead. This entails directing your actions and aspirations following your particular definition of success, anchoring to your values, and uncovering your special genius.

By prioritizing your inner journey and staying true to yourself, you can create a life that is truly meaningful and aligned with your deepest aspirations, all while meeting and exceeding external success measures.

Our Founder

About Ari DeGrote

✔ ICF Certified Coach (ACC)
✔ Foundations Certified Team Coach
✔ Self-Actualization Mentor
✔ 2x Certified Coach: Peak-Performance Flow & Human Potential
✔ Certified facilitator of Everything DiSC and Workplace Big 5

✔ 8 years of organizational leadership & change management
✔ 12+ years supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem, innovation & founders

Ari DeGrote is a curious human exploring the interconnections of individual & collective optimization. This is all anchored deeply to values, meaning, & mattering—resulting in IMPACT. Her career spans from leading change initiatives in Fortune 500 manufacturing to championing entrepreneurs & innovators in the startup world.

Healthily addicted to behavior change, Ari finds great joy in her purpose to help humans relish the process of growth. She aims to go beyond creating safe spaces to creating brave spaces where transformation can truly occur.

Ari began her career with eight years in organizational leadership across three manufacturing plants of USG, a Fortune 500 company. Drawn to the future-focused world of innovation, she pivoted to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, overseeing 21 states for UP Global (now part of Techstars) before spending 9 years with the renowned Sprint/T-Mobile Accelerator. There, she developed the multi-faceted Leadership Growth Program for startup founders, addressing the whole leader.

In 2018, Ari founded Upward & Inward, initially coaching peak performers & entrepreneurs during her evenings & weekends. Craving greater impact, she expanded her vision & transitioned to full-time in June 2024. The innovative Layers of Connection framework forms the cornerstone of U&I's approach, addressing four key dimensions: Individual, Interpersonal, Collective, & Legacy.

Ari thrives as an influential catalyst, moving anxious teams from complacency to connected impact. Through the Impact Empowerment Program, she transforms high-potential employees & next-level leaders into collaborative teams of true Impact Leaders.

At this pivotal moment in history, Ari is on a mission to activate Impact Leaders within individuals & cohesive teams. She understands that companies are made of humans who want to do amazing work & add value. Her work reconnects purpose, fuels innovation, & skyrockets purposeful productivity, transforming leaders into catalysts for change.

Through these Impact Leaders, Ari cultivates a ripple effect of positive transformation that extends beyond individual organizations, influencing industries, communities, and societal systems. By empowering leaders to create meaningful change from the inside out, she contributes to shaping a more purposeful, connected, & impactful world—one leader, one team, one organization at a time.

Ari has always found it helpful to ask:

  • If not now, when?

  • If not me, who?

  • If not this, what?

Learn more at Ari’s LinkedIn.

 Testimonials

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • • Higher levels of performance

    • Positive behavior changes actually take place and last longer

    • Enhanced flexibility and creativity

    • Overall feeling of wellness with whole-life integration

    • To serve as a source of motivation that may be missing or dormant within.

    • To provide accountability to yourself and a higher purpose.

  • • You are personally going through a transition and crave transformation.

    • You sense there is more, yet you can’t quite articulate or come into contact with that.

    • You find yourself at your next growth edge and are possibly overwhelmed or confused.

    • You are facing new business and organizational challenges.

    • You are looking to take performance to the next level.

    • You have mastered a role and are preparing for your next challenge.

    • As most cannot see ourselves objectively, we need a mirror. The supportive neutrality of a coach can help you identify ways to overcome challenges, mitigate weaknesses, and identify strengths you may not have identified.

  • Yes! Coaching is primarily virtual through Zoom for your ultimate convenience and efficiency. Several other programs offer many virtual components and full-service options.

  • The following tips will help you make the most of your Coaching session:

    • Set clear goals

    • Be ready and avoid interruptions and distractions

    • Bring questions

    • Be open to feedback

    • Show courage and be vulnerable

  • Often, companies will support employees in finding a leadership coach. If you are interested in any of the following (individual impact coaching, CORE, impact empowerment training, etc.), you should certainly explore asking your employer to sponsor your involvement, as it’s likely to affect your leadership and overall performance positively.

  • YES! If you have a company or individual in mind who could benefit from working with Upward & Inward, please email ari@upwardandinward.com and I will share the simple process.

  • While any individual within an organization may take advantage of the many benefits of Impact Coaching or participating as an individual in a group offering, such as CORE Leadership Circle or Impact Empowerment Program, there are several options crafted specifically for teams and companies. Some of these impactful services are speaking engagements, customizable workshops, group facilitation, and ongoing consulting. Have something else in mind? I would love to have a conversation to better understand your needs!