ABOUT GINI

I’ve been where you are. Let’s build where you’re going.

Before I became a coach, I spent almost a decade in fraud investigations, compliance, and data privacy consulting. Now I coach ambitious women through their careers and the life happening around them, and help small businesses use AI and data with confidence.

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A photo of Gini Winkelmann

How I got here

  • A photo of Gini Winkelmann playing soccer for DePaul

    Division I soccer and a business degree

    2013–2017 · DePaul University

    I played soccer at DePaul while earning my degree in accounting and management. In 2014, our team won the Big East.

  • Chicago bean

    Started my career in forensic investigations

    2017–2020 · KPMG, Chicago

    I worked on fraud and misconduct investigations for audit committees and regulators, and built a rotation program that connected people across offices.

  • laptops next to an arm taking notes

    Compliance, data privacy, and AI

    2020–2024 · Exiger, Ankura, BDO

    I moved into financial crime compliance, data privacy, and AI implementation, and went on to manage more than 20 people across six teams.

  • Gini in front of a Northwestern Pritzker School of Law banner

    A master's in law, while working full time

    2021–2023 · Northwestern

    I earned a Master of Science in Law with honors, focused on where law, business, and technology meet. My capstone dug into synthetic identity fraud, at the crossroads of AI, finance, and privacy.

  • Three individuals sitting around a table on their laptops

    The people side of work

    All along

    My "free" time went to mentoring, training new managers, and setting performance and culture standards. Year after year, it was what got me out of bed with a sense of purpose.

  • Flowers in a meadow

    Then I burned out

    2024

    Type A, retired D1 athlete, recovering people pleaser. It caught up with me, and it showed me how many capable women run the same way.

  • A persons hands and coffee mug

    Certified High Performance Coach™

    2025

    Burnout was the push I needed. I trained with the High Performance Institute and started my own coaching business.

  • A headshot of Gini Winkelmann

    Coaching and business advisory

    Today

    I coach ambitious women through their careers and the life around them, and advise small business owners on AI, data privacy, and risk.

    See business advisory

WHAT INVESTIGATIONS TAUGHT ME

The first answer is rarely the whole story.

In an investigation, you learn to follow the details, ask the next question, and look for the pattern underneath. I bring that same curiosity to coaching.

You might come in wanting a promotion, a new role, or clarity on a decision you keep putting off. We'll work on that goal. We'll also get honest about what's making it harder than it should be, because it usually shows up in more than one part of your life.

HOW I WORK

What you can expect from me

  • I'll name what's hard, and I'll help you see what's possible from there.

  • You know your life better than anyone. My job is to ask the questions that help you see it clearly.

  • Work, family, health, and energy affect each other, so we work on them together.

  • I won't promise you a promotion, a raise, or a timeline. I will show up prepared and tell you the truth.

  • I'm a coach, not a therapist. If something calls for a different kind of support, I'll tell you.

Experience and credentials

  • Certified High Performance Coach™

    High Performance Institute, 2025

  • M.S. in Law, Regulatory and Compliance

    Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, with honors

  • Women's Leadership Certification

    Harvard Law School Executive Education

  • B.S. in Accountancy and Management

    DePaul University, cum laude · Division I women's soccer

  • 8+ years in corporate consulting

    Forensic investigations, compliance, data privacy, and AI governance at KPMG, Exiger, Ankura, and BDO

  • Leading and developing people

    Managed teams of 20+, trained more than 100 professionals, and led new-manager training

OUTSIDE OF WORK

When I’m not coaching

You'll find me hiking, skiing, or walking my labradoodle Wally, usually with a book club pick waiting at home.

Gini Winkelmann and her dog Wally

LET’S TALK

Tell me what you want next.

In a free 20-minute chat, we’ll talk about where you are and whether working together makes sense right now. If it doesn’t, I’ll tell you.

Book a free 20-minute chat

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