For over three decades, Aileen M. Edwards operated at the highest levels of corporate power, eventually overseeing a workforce of more than 10,000 employees as a Chief Human Resources Officer in one of Canada’s largest healthcare networks. Yet, despite the compensation and the prestige, there was a quiet, unmistakable realization: the work that once energized her no longer fit the woman she had become. She had spent years navigating rooms that were never designed for her, often calculating how to stay safe in spaces where she was the “only one” at the table.
The turning point came when she recognized that executive leadership, which she envisioned as a space for collaboration and genuine influence, often demanded a “shrinking” of self to endure mistreatment disguised as professionalism. Choosing to walk away from the C-suite was not a retreat; it was an act of self-preservation and self-definition. Today, as the Founder and CEO of AME Consulting & Leadership Coaching, Aileen has dedicated her life’s work to being the coach she never had, helping women of color stop auditioning for belonging and start standing in their own legitimacy.
A Legacy of Resilience and Expertise
Aileen’s journey is anchored in a rigorous academic and professional foundation that spans thirty years. She earned a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University, focusing on the complex dynamics of emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and organizational change. This academic depth was bolstered by specialized training as a Business Coaching Advantage Practitioner™ and her certification as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC).
Her early influences were shaped by the grit required to climb the corporate ladder in Human Resources, moving from Director-level roles to the executive suite within complex healthcare environments. These formative years taught her that leadership is never theoretical, decisions land on real people, and under pressure, there is no room for posturing. As she reflects in her memoir, Black Skin, Bold Heart, these early chapters were about more than just career progression; they were about learning to lead in spaces not built for her.
Leading Through the “Messy Middle”
Aileen’s professional ascent is defined by her ability to steady large organizations during periods of significant transformation. At Markham Stouffville Hospital, she was a trusted partner to Boards and executives, aligning people strategies with organizational priorities while navigating the high-stakes world of labor relations and workforce planning.
However, her true ascent occurred when she began to master the “Messy Middle” of leadership, that precarious stretch where a leader’s responsibility grows faster than their internal sense of permission. She learned that executive presence is not about volume or polish, but about “coherence”, knowing exactly who you are and regulating your nervous system to be the calm in a combustible room.
“Aileen is a remarkable force, bold, strong, and unshakably driven, yet also one of the kindest, most compassionate people you’ll ever meet,” notes Linda Raynier, author and leadership coach.
“She has this rare ability to see your potential even when you can’t see it yourself, and she will lift you higher than you imagined possible because she’s walked the path herself.”
Disrupting the Status Quo
Today, Aileen’s impact is felt through the BOLD™ Method, a framework she created to empower women to command presence, influence, and power without losing their authentic identity. The method—Becoming, Owning, Leading, and Disrupting, reflects the journey she lived.
- Becoming: Shedding the stories that teach women to stay small.
- Owning: Claiming authority and worth without apology.
- Leading: Influencing under pressure and building cultures of trust.
- Disrupting: Redesigning what leadership looks like rather than accepting a reward for sameness.
Clients, such as enterprise HR executive Joan Taylor, describe working with Aileen as a turning point.
“She didn’t just offer advice; she helped me see myself and my path with fresh clarity. Her ability to distill complex emotions and professional dilemmas into actionable insights was both affirming and energizing,” Taylor shares.
By reframing challenges as opportunities for alignment, Aileen helps leaders move from seeking permission to claiming authority.
Defining a New Legacy
Aileen M. Edwards is no longer interested in helping women “survive” corporate structures; she is focused on helping them reshape those structures. Her current work through AME Consulting and as a Partner with Black Leaders Worldwide™ is focused on building inclusive leadership pipelines that do not depend on luck or quiet endurance.
Her philosophy is grounded in the belief that when the pressure hits, you do not rise to the moment—you fall back on who you have already practiced being. Aileen’s legacy is the creation of a generation of leaders who are visible, unshakeable, and actively shaping the future.
“The moment I stopped auditioning for belonging and started standing in my own legitimacy, everything changed,” Aileen asserts. “I want women to walk into rooms already knowing they belong there, not because they were invited, but because they have done the internal work to claim their space.”
Editorial Note
Aileen M. Edwards’ journey from the C-suite to the forefront of leadership coaching serves as a powerful blueprint for any leader navigating the “Messy Middle.” Her story reminds us that true authority is not granted by a title, but claimed through the courage to show up fully.
