
For over 25 years, I have helped attorneys and other high-level professionals within the legal field, as well as from a variety of industries, progress in work. I founded Progress in Work (a career management firm) in 2001 and am a multi-award-winning, well-published, lecturer and career management professional who has helped thousands of attorneys and other professionals at Am Law 100 and Am Law 200 law firms, as well as mid-sized law firms, top-tier boutiques and major corporations thrive. Many law firms and corporations, as well as individuals, have become long-standing clients and continue to seek out my services year after year.
Progress in Work is the result of my DNA, work experience, and academic training. My specialized training in work/career psychology and experience in sales/marketing makes me highly qualified to assist my clients in a wide range of career/work related issues from (I) Outplacement | Career Transition Counseling & Coaching (II) Career Counseling & Coaching (III) Business Development Training & Coaching and (IV) Executive & Leadership Coaching. My highly effective approach is to coach my clients one-on-one to address their unique circumstances. My education and work experiences have made me aware of the need to truly go deep and immerse myself in a partnership with each of my clients in order to achieve results.
Prior to founding Progress in Work, I worked in both outplacement/career transition services and sales/marketing for major corporations, including Fortune 500 companies, at which I excelled at developing new business and enhancing revenue. I held leadership roles at several companies, including the HR management consulting firm, The Empower Group (a subsidiary of Manpower). I was a pioneer in the legal outplacement field and co-created the legal outplacement division of King, Chapman, Broussard & Gallagher, which is a re-engineering, executive coaching, and outplacement firm. I worked in the legal recruiting field for Elaine P. Dine, where I learned about the resources available to lawyers seeking employment. I began my career in account management for SSC&B Lintas Worldwide (one of the advertising agencies of the Interpublic Group, one of the world’s largest advertising conglomerates) and Group W Satellite communications.
I received my M.A. and Ed.M. degrees, with honors, from Columbia University, where I studied Psychological Counseling with a specialization in Business and Industry. I also have an undergraduate degree in Music (B.Mus.) concentrating in Vocal Performance and Opera from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts.
I hold the credential of certified career counselor (CCC), designated by the National Career Development Association (NCDA). The certified career counselor credential is a recognition of two important factors in training and experience including both counseling and a specialization in career development theory and practice.
I received executive coaching training from iCoachNewYork, which is approved by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
I am certified in many career assessments including the following instruments: EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Strong Interest Inventory, Personality Research Form (PRF), The Birkman Method, Highlands Ability Battery and Selling Skills Assessment Tool.
I frequently lecture and write about business development, leadership, and career management topics. My articles have appeared in the New York Law Journal, Law Journal Newsletters, Law Practice Today, NALP Bulletin, and The Lawyers Connect E-Newsletters. I served on the Board of Editors of the Law Firm Partnership & Benefits Report, which is a publication of ALM (the publisher of The American Lawyer ). Click here to read the full articles.
I am an endorsed career management coach by Women In Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF), a respected organization that educates and provides networking opportunities to women in law firms. For many years, I participated as a career management consultant in the Career Counselor Referral Program at the New York City Bar Association.

Sheryl Odentz
Founder & President
Columbia University, M.A., Ed.M.
Psychological Counseling Specializing in Business and Industry

