Leadership coach, storyteller, teacher.
Anne Spoldi has spent a lifetime navigating the winding road of leadership, reinvention, and human connection. A chemist-turned-executive-turned-leadership coach, Anne brings decades of experience in science, technology, pharmaceuticals, and Fortune 500 firms—but it’s her gift for seeing the person behind the title that sets her apart.
Biography
After beginning her career in a lab coat at GE, Anne followed a trail of curiosity and courage that led her from product management to Six Sigma mastery to executive coaching—with stops along the way at PerkinElmer, Sun Microsystems, and Merck. It was at Sun Microsystems, in the Executive Development Group where she reported to the Chief Learning Officer, that her passion for leadership coaching took root. She’s led global teams, managed multimillion-dollar change efforts, and worked closely with C-suite leaders to shape strategy and culture. Through it all, one thing has remained constant: her belief that leadership is deeply human work.
Anne is the founder of Prossimo LLC, a coaching and leadership development practice grounded in empathy, candor, and real-world experience. Prossimo is the Italian word for next—and that’s exactly what Anne helps her clients discover: what’s next for them as leaders and human beings. A graduate of Georgetown’s Executive Leadership Coaching Certificate program and a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation, she helps leaders find their voice, trust their instincts, and grow into the people they were meant to be.
She wrote this book to share the stories behind the stories—the moments of loss, love, doubt, clarity, and quiet courage that shaped her. She hopes you’ll find a piece of yourself in these pages.
Anne lives in New Jersey and chases sunshine during the winters in warmer places. Her greatest accomplishment—and deepest joy—is being a mom to her daughter, Emma. She also loves cooking for friends, walking in nature, and starting her mornings with gratitude and strong coffee
Let Your Next Chapter Begin
A new year often brings quiet questions. Where have I been? What has shaped me? What might be next?
The Long Way Here is written for readers navigating transitions—personally or professionally.
Rather than offering formulas or quick answers, The Long Way Here meets you where you are—whether you’re stepping into a new role, closing a chapter, reimagining your path, or simply seeking clarity and meaning in a full life.
If you’re looking for a thoughtful way to begin the year—or a companion for your next season—this book is an invitation to reflect, grow, and move forward with intention.
What I Mean by Leadership
When I talk about leadership, I’m not referring to a title, a role, or a position in an organization.
I’m talking about leading your life.
As humans, we are all leaders. The first person each of us is called to lead is ourselves—through the choices we make, the values we honor, the boundaries we set, and the courage we summon when life asks us to grow.
Leadership begins long before it shows up in our work. It shows up in how we listen to our inner voice, how we navigate change and uncertainty, how we respond to loss and opportunity, and how we choose to move forward—even when the path isn’t clear.
This belief is at the heart of my writing in The Long Way Here and my coaching. Whether I’m working with emerging leaders, seasoned executives, or readers quietly reflecting on their next chapter, my intention is the same: to support people in leading with greater self-awareness, intention, and trust in themselves.
Because when we learn to lead ourselves well, everything else follows.