Why I’m Starting InnerNorth - July 2026
Why I’m Starting InnerNorth
I’ve spent the last 25+ years building a career in technology services — leading teams, managing crises, and solving complex problems for global organizations. It’s been a good run. I’ve learned a lot, traveled the world, and worked with incredible people across cultures and time zones. But as I’ve grown in my career, I’ve realized I do my best work when it’s deeply personal — when I’m working directly with leaders and teams who are navigating real challenges.
I found myself asking what kind of impact I wanted to have long-term, and what it would look like to focus more of my energy on work that aligns with my values. I’m grateful for the career I’ve had. It’s paid the bills, supported my family, and taught me more than I could have imagined. But as I’ve gotten older and my kids have grown, I’ve started asking a different question: What if I could put that same commitment, that same effort, into work I truly believe in?
That’s why I started InnerNorth.
The Real Reason
Here’s the truth: I want to work with people who share my values. I want to support leaders who care about doing right by their teams, who believe that businesses can grow without compromising integrity, and who understand that the best outcomes come from putting people first.
I’ve spent 16 years balancing work and raising my kids — working hard to provide for them and give them opportunities I didn’t always have growing up. My dad worked long hours to take care of our family. He showed me what hard work looks like, what it means to earn what you get, and why taking care of your family matters more than almost anything else. Those lessons stuck with me.
Now my kids are older. They’re finding their own paths. And I’ve realized that if I’m going to keep pouring this much of myself into work, I want it to be my work. I want my blood, sweat, and tears to go into building something that’s fully mine — where I can serve the clients I choose and focus on the impact that matters most to me.
What I’ve Learned
Over two decades in global business, I’ve learned a few things:
• Good leadership is about service, not status. The best leaders I’ve worked with were the ones who showed up for their teams, listened more than they talked, and led by example — not by title.
• Clarity beats complexity every time. Organizations rarely fail because they lack strategy. They struggle when people don’t understand the strategy, don’t know what’s expected of them, or can’t see how their work connects to the bigger picture.
• People-centered leadership works. Not because it’s trendy, but because when you treat people like they matter — your employees, your customers, your partners — they show up differently. They care more. They do better work.
I’ve seen these principles play out across industries, cultures, and continents. I’ve spoken Spanish on calls with teams in Latin America, navigated projects in Europe and Asia, and learned to understand “Portunol” (that Portuguese–Spanish hybrid) while working in Brazil. I love experiencing different cultures, understanding how people think and work, and helping them solve real problems.
And I’ve realized: the work I find most fulfilling is helping people break through — the moments when I help someone see a path forward they couldn’t see before. When a leader finds their confidence. When a team finally clicks. When a person realizes they don’t have to carry everything alone.
What InnerNorth Is About
InnerNorth is my way of focusing more intentionally on that kind of work.
I’m building this practice to serve people‑centered professionals and leaders who want support as they navigate growth, change, global teams, difficult stakeholder situations, and important career decisions. Many of them sit inside larger organizations; others are founders or small business owners. What they have in common is that they care about how they lead, not just what they achieve.
The primary work I offer is leadership and professional coaching — practical, grounded support for people who want more clarity, confidence, and self‑trust in how they show up at work. From time to time, I also take on selective advisory engagements where the fit and scope are clear, especially around organizational clarity, project escalations, or global/cross‑cultural dynamics.
But more than any label, InnerNorth is about service. I’ve learned over time that the more I pour into others, the more it fills me up. The more it heals me, honestly. Helping people grow, solve problems, and move forward with confidence is what keeps me going.
Who This Is For
If you’re a leader or professional who cares about doing things the right way, who values integrity over shortcuts, and who believes that people matter — this is for you.
If you’re trying to lead a team, navigate global or cross‑cultural work, manage a difficult stakeholder, or make an important career decision and you don’t want generic advice from someone who’s never been in the trenches — this is for you.
If you want someone who is honest, dependable, hard‑working, and genuinely invested in your success — someone you’d actually want to grab a drink with after a long day — this is for you.
What’s Next
I’m not pretending to have all the answers, and I’m not selling a magic framework or promising overnight transformation. What I’m offering is real experience, honest guidance, and a commitment to showing up for the people I work with.
InnerNorth is still early. I’m building, refining, and continuing to learn what this practice will become. But I know this much: I want to work with people who share my values, and I want to spend my time helping them win — with more clarity, confidence, and purpose in how they lead.
If that sounds like something you need, I’d love to hear from you.
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Orskan Vargas
Founder & Principal, InnerNorth
orskanvargas@innernorthgroup.com
