Sometimes, what comes next isn't obvious, not because you’ve never found yourself here before, but because this time asks of you something different.

When you’re in the in-between (the space between what was and what’s next), you can feel caught at a crossroad.
Sometimes you’re there for longer than you expect, by surprise, or simply yet again.
When this happens, you can feel like you’re paralyzed, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward.

Perhaps you’re facing a totally new situation.
Or perhaps you find yourself asking better questions. Not just ‘what should I do?’ but ‘what’s worth it?’

When you’re there, it can feel like you’re both right for standing still and wrong for not moving faster.
Like you know too much to take a leap and you know yourself too much not to.
Like you have too much to risk and like it’s worth the risk to move in the direction of what really matters.

It’s these tensions that can lead to paralysis and overwhelm.

I know—because I’ve been there. More than once.

Whether you're overwhelmed by options, faced with a blank slate, or simply not sure what the next step is, I’m here to help you move forward with clarity.

Hi, I’m Amy Bonsall.

As a former design executive at IDEO, I’ve helped Fortune 100s like Google, John Deere, and YouTube reimagine what’s next. I was an executive at an $8B company (Old Navy). I’ve spoken at SXSW, written for *Harvard Business Review*, and earned degrees from Carnegie Mellon and IMD. My work has impacted high-achieving leaders across industries and continents. And through it all, I’ve had the opportunity to live in six countries across four continents.
**But here’s what you *don’t* see:**
**Every one of those transitions came with a knot in my stomach, a jolt of uncertainty, and a very real sense of being unmoored.**
More than once, I looked wildly successful on paper *while quietly wondering what the hell is next.*
Over and over, I found myself thinking: I need a new playbook.
That’s what led me to this work—not because the changes were easy, but because they *weren’t*. They exposed the limits of my old playbook, encouraging me to build a new one.
So I got curious. And I started learning.
To complement my design thinking expertise, I explored both sciences (neuroscience, behavior change, biology) and embodied practices (somatic experiencing, parts work, mindfulness).
True to my design background, I experimented with different combinations of them, both personally and in partnership with clients.
As a result, I’ve developed a unique approach to navigating the in-between, or what I like to call the liminal (the reason is really cool).
Between my own in-betweens and the expertise I’ve built helping others, by now I have a PhD in liminality. Let me help you embrace it without the grueling years of study!
If you or your organization are in a liminal moment—I’d love to share what I’ve learned with you, to save you—and your organization—the time. And to help you move through the in-between with more steadiness, clarity, and momentum.

Curious? Let’s talk

What is the liminal space?

Simply put, the liminal space is the in-between—
The space between what was and what’s next.

You might land there after a personal event: a move, a divorce, a graduation, a new stage of life.
Or after a professional shift: a reorganization, a promotion, a layoff, a leadership transition—or simply the growing sense that what once worked… doesn’t anymore.
Maybe you’re leading others through it: your company is evolving its strategy, and your team is stuck between the old model and the new one. And you’re navigating your own uncertainty while supporting everyone else through theirs.

These moments can feel unsteady. But they’re also rich with possibility.

I love the word liminal because of its origins. In architecture, it refers to spaces between functional spaces: hallways, courtyards, arcades (the European kind, not the 12-year-old birthday party kind).

These aren't filler spaces. They're where things happen—encounters, choices, clarity.
Because they’re unstructured, they allow a kind of movement and creativity that rigid rooms can’t.

But if you look more closely, these spaces aren’t devoid of function, but the exact opposite.
They’re where so many things can happen.
Because they’re unstructured, they provide a freedom of movement that buildings and rooms can’t.

Life’s liminal spaces work the same way—professionally and personally.
They might feel foggy or uncomfortable, but they hold a wild kind of freedom—
If you know how to navigate them.

Liminal spaces show up everywhere—across roles, industries, and life stages.

I support both individuals and organizations in learning how to navigate the in-between—

Not just get through it, but to grow from it.

For individuals

Whether you’re shifting careers, cities, identities, or priorities, I help you move through ambiguity with more clarity, more steadiness, and more of yourself intact.

I offer:

Short, high-impact courses to shift how you approach change and uncertainty
Deep-dive programs for designing what’s next with intention
Private coaching for personalized support in transitional moments
Community-based experiences to make the in-between feel connected and purposeful

Explore individual offers

For corporate leaders & organizations

Whether your organization is navigating a reorg, a culture shift, a leadership transition, or the kind of change that doesn’t come with a playbook, I help you equip your people to navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.

I offer:

Team- and organizational-level experiences to build a shared language and toolkit for navigating ambiguity
Coaching & peer groups for leaders to navigate change personally while guiding others through it
Open-enrollment leadership programs to build capacity alongside peers from other organizations

Explore organizational offers

Not sure where to begin?

Book a call to learn more

In the words of a client:

We loved our day and I would say it changed all of our lives. THANK YOU. It wasn’t the easiest crowd. You had 7 busy and exacting CEOs and everyone was like best day ever.

Founder and CEO, Hipcamp (YPO experience)

More testimonials here.