My Journey With Coaching
One of my favorite parts of my work as an executive recruiter is holding space for brilliant leaders, entrepreneurs, and peers. Together, we co-create solutions and develop strategies, allowing people to realize their full potential and accomplish their goals.
It took many years of professional work experience to realize the power of deep empathy, active heartfelt listening, encouragement, and my nurturing (yet direct) manner. Acknowledging these as strengths inspired me to become a certified transformational coach. As a lifelong learner, my goal was to explore new frameworks and tools that would allow me to activate my superpowers in support of:
- Engineering and product leaders
- Founders and entrepreneurs growing their organizations or launching something new
- Mentees
- Diversity initiatives
- My two teenage daughters who are my most challenging and rewarding clients
Through this journey, I’ve learned to use my coaching skills to encourage and empower those around me. A few key takeaways that I’ve found particularly useful are:
- Listen more
- Lead with curiosity
- Ask short, empowering questions
- Acknowledge
- Champion
I’m excited to leverage coaching techniques to have a greater impact within Riviera Partners and my greater community of clients and candidates.
Choosing a School
I chose to become a Certified Transformational Coach with CFT Leadership that Works due to its heart-opening holistic coaching process that combines mind, body, soul, and spirit. It was important that the training I received aligned with my values and priorities.
During the 9-month program, we explored the impact of cultural identity, power, privilege, and institutionalized inequities to support profound, lasting transformation. The faculty had deep roots in multicultural competencies, representing different communities and backgrounds.
This extraordinary group of diverse peers and faculty moved me through laughter, tears, and one of the most radical self explorations of my life. During a time where things feel uncertain, working with this group made anything feel possible.
Many thanks to those who inspired, encouraged, guided, and coached me along the way. Annie Ly, Madhu Krishnappa Maron, Jen Cody, Steve Schlafman, Ann Mehl, Jonathan Basker, and Jamey Stout, to name a few.
Coaching Books I’m Reading
The Great CEO Within by Matt Mochary
15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer and Diana Chapman
Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg
High Output Management by Andy Grove
The Manager’s Path by Camille Fournier
The Making of a Manager by Julie Zhou
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Radical Candor by Kim Scott
Coaching for Transformation
Painting with Scissors by Ann Mehl
The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
Designing your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
The Prosperous Coach by Rich Litvin and Steve Chandler
Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers
I Will Not Die an Unlived Life by Dawna Markova
