The work that Ilona brings to LifeHikes® is underlined by her passion to help people transform into skilled communicators and more engaging and effective leaders. As a certified life coach, she believes that creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment is critical for unlocking people’s highest potential.

Before immersing herself in the world of coaching, Ilona was a digital marketer in New York City. Heading up a team and working with brands such as Kayak, Casper, and Squarespace, it was here that she honed her leadership skills and gained self-awareness of the role self-leadership plays in impacting others.

A life-changing experience for Ilona came when she volunteered at a suicide prevention hotline. Out of 300 applicants, she was one of only ten who made it through the 7-week crisis counselor training, and over the next year-and-a-half, she helped hundreds of people through some of the toughest moments in their lives. This uniquely challenging, but tremendously rewarding, experience gave Ilona first-hand insight into the transformative power of empathetic, active listening—key ingredients in the way she works with people today as a coach.

Once an avid runner who completed three World Marathon Majors, Ilona now prefers the more relaxed pace of hiking… though on occasion, she will still challenge herself with a “14er” (a mountain over 14,000 feet).