Sterling’s coaching and consulting practice draw from more than 30 years of experience as a grantmaker, nonprofit executive, university professor, and entrepreneur. The focus of their career has been innovating to advance social change, with an emphasis on the elevation of marginalized communities, most especially youth and elders of color as well as LGBTQIA+ people. They founded TransClue, a coaching and consulting company to advance the full inclusion of trans and nonbinary people where they work and live.

Prior to founding TransClue, Sterling served as chief engagement officer of SAGE, a national nonprofit advocating for LGBTQ+ elders. In that role, they oversaw diversity and inclusion, communications, large-scale intergenerational engagement initiatives, and a national network of 30 affiliates. As a grantmaker at the Chicago Community Trust, Sterling oversaw a 10-year, $30 million initiative aimed at strengthening services for families in seven Chicago communities. Sterling also founded a social media company that served nonprofits and foundations for more than a decade as well as dapperQ, a website that uses fashion to build solidarity across trans, nonbinary and queer communities.

Sterling has worked with a variety of organizations including Change.org, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ford Foundation, Community Foundations of America, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, eOne, the Communications Network, Barrier-Free Living, Springpoint Schools, the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of Texas, and HR&A Advisors.

Sterling holds a B.A. from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an M.A. from DePaul University where they also taught. They completed their leadership coach training at Teleos Institute.