PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSULTING

Training Made Simple | Leaders Made Strong

Developing leaders and building stronger teams through training, coaching, and strategic support. Whether you’re helping new managers step up, aligning cross-functional teams, or solving complex business challenges, iNStep Consulting provides the clarity and guidance to drive real results.

Explore Our Work
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Our Approach

Leadership-Driven Training for Real-World Impact

When managers step into leadership roles without the right support, the ripple effects can be felt across the entire organization. Communication breaks down, teams lose focus, and projects stall. Without a clear vision, even the most talented leaders can struggle to inspire their teams, navigate change, and drive performance.

That’s why we focus on building strong support systems for leaders at every stage, from first-time managers to seasoned executives. Through targeted training, personalized coaching, and ongoing mentorship, we help leaders gain the skills, confidence, and clarity they need to excel.

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Our Services

Strategic Leadership
and Training Solutions

Effective leadership requires confidence, clarity, and the right support. That starts with proper training, but real growth happens over time, as leaders and their teams apply their skills in real-world situations. Our programs are designed to address both sides of this equation, providing leaders with the guidance they need to make high-stakes decisions, align teams around shared goals, and inspire action.

We also recognize that a leader’s success depends on the capabilities of their team. That’s why our approach includes not just leadership development, but also skill-building for the people they lead—creating a stronger, more capable workforce.

Our programs equip leaders and their teams to make better decisions, drive meaningful change, and thrive in complex business environments.

Our Service Programs

iNStep Collaboration System™

Strategic and facilitation for high-performing teams
Our collaboration programs are designed to strengthen alignment, improve communication, and streamline decision-making for cross-functional teams. Whether you’re bringing together product teams, or aligning departments on a critical project, we provide the structure and guidance needed to break down silos, improve collaboration, and drive meaningful results.

Leadership Growth Pathway™

Coaching and development for professionals on the rise
Leadership is more than a title – it’s a journey of growth, influence, and impact. The Leadership Growth Pathway™ helps leaders build confidence and capability at every stage, from self-leadership to broader societal impact. Grounded in the Quadratic Leadership Framework, it supports growth across four key dimensions: Self-Leadership, Relational Leadership, Organizational Leadership, and Societal Leadership.

Training Development Advantage™

Custom training and onboarding programs built for impact
Our custom programs are designed to build the skills your teams need to excel in their roles. From onboarding and technical training to advanced skills development, we focus on practical, real-world learning that drives performance and aligns with your organization’s goals.

JOIN FORCES FOR INNOVATION

Let’s Work Together

Learning Services

iNStep’s Learning Services are designed to empower your workforce with the knowledge and skills to stay sharp in the midst of change and emerging tech. We simplify complex information and present it in ways that maximize retention, leveraging our deep understanding of adult learning principles to ensure effective and lasting skill development.

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Leadership Coaching

iNStep’s leadership coaching programs are designed to elevate technical managers, equipping them with
the skills and strategies essential for leading high-performing teams.

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CLIENT Reflections

Leadership
in
Action

At iNStep Consulting, we believe that developing strong leaders is the foundation of every high-performing team. But our work doesn’t stop there. We help businesses solve complex challenges, improve collaboration, and drive meaningful change.

Hear from our clients about the impact of our leadership-focused approach.

"I worked directly with Nicole for many years providing multimedia and educational services for corporate and government customers, including NASA, SAIC, and Adtran. I am always impressed with Nicole's professionalism and ability to conceive an idea and carry it through to the finish line. Nicole is the complete package -- project manager, communication strategist, graphic designer, programmer, and problem solver."

Darlene Smith

Communications Strategist/Multimedia Creator
|
PCI Productions

"Nicole played such an integral role in the growth of our business. From laying out foundational processes to providing a clear vision for our organizational structure, her ability to plan, manage, and implement highly-complex projects, curriculum, and courses was both impressive and impactful. She brings such a high degree of professionalism to every task she's involved in, big or small."

Nathan Wolfe

Community Manager
|
Devlin Peck

"Nicole is result-oriented while staying empathetic to the needs of her audience. She leads projects to ensure that all needs are met by her learners and users. Nicole influences those around her to keep growing in their practice."

Aleksandra Drobik

Learning Experience Designer
|

"I’ve had the opportunity to see who Nicole is daily and how she works. When it comes to her approach to crafting projects, she draws on knowledge and experience and applies the most applicable theory and style for the right reasons. When asked, she is gifted in explaining why she makes the decisions she does, down to each detail. She strives for absolute excellence, but I have never seen that desire for quality hinder her progress."

Robbie Christian

Freelance Instructional Designer
|

"Nicole can absolutely join a team in a consulting role and offer leadership, mentorship, strategic planning, and project management. But I also believe she is an effective teacher of her ways so that she can coach others to be more effective leaders for the people that they lead on their teams. I really cannot stress how wonderful and how beneficial it is to work with Nicole and how much success she can bring to whatever team she is working with."

Scott Schmidt

Instructional Designer
|
Minneapolis Public Schools

"Anyone working with Nicole should know that she is professional, highly skilled, and able to adapt to different team and project environments. She provides an excellent balance of expertise and leadership alongside her capability to work as a member of a broader team."

Bennett Winga

Relationship Manager
|
Dashe

MEET INSTEP

Stepping Forward Together

At the heart of iNStep is a commitment to developing strong, confident leaders.

I’m Nicole Stephens, founder of iNStep, with over 20 years of experience in leadership development, training design, and strategic support.

I believe that real growth happens when leaders have the right mindset, the right skills, and the right support. That’s why I work closely with my clients to develop practical, results-oriented solutions that address their real-world challenges, from building stronger teams to navigating complex business environments.

When you partner with iNStep, you’re not just gaining a service provider—you’re gaining a strategic ally. Let’s work together to build the leadership, collaboration, and skills your team needs to thrive.

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