On One Year in Business: Reflections + Celebrations
It’s been a whole year since I launched this coaching + consulting practice of mine, embarking on a learning journey that has brought so much growth, personally and professionally. At the same time as I was building a business, I was also working on building my family – we’ll be welcoming our newest family member in February. So, it feels appropriate to pause and celebrate Year One’s accomplishments as I prepare to step back and spend the next few months focused on my family.
Over the past year, I’ve had the immense privilege of walking (virtually) beside many incredible leaders doing beautiful and deeply courageous healing work out in the world - and for many, more importantly, within themselves. By being brave enough to align more authentically with themselves and their values, they are increasing their ability to show up for others vulnerably, with an open-heart. Truthfully, a revolution.
More specifically, I had the honor of coaching 14 clients who inspired me, some for the better part of the whole year. I worked with white-identifying leaders looking to learn new ways of being that would inflict less harm in the world, and repair harm they’d caused; leaders of color bravely unlearning that which had previously caused them harm; and courageous leaders in boldly taking leaps to leave roles that had once fed them when they realized that, as heartbreaking as it felt, their time was up. I coached leaders looking to explore challenging relationship dynamics - and to fully own their part in them. I worked with more than one leader brave enough to witness how imposter syndrome was keeping her small, and how oppression was influencing her approach to a new leadership opportunity. All of my clients pushed through barriers and worked hard to accomplish incredible growth, and I was honored to play a small part.
I worked with leaders starting up organizations, setting strong foundations by codifying bold and authentic core values; and other orgs, decades old, courageously taking on systemic change. I worked with leadership teams looking to lead their teams in a bold new direction; and teams looking to heal after collective trauma. I facilitated multi-day retreats and countless workshops, meetings, and alignment exercises.
While my business and areas of focus are still evolving, I can point to several reflections from the past year that are sticking with me:
I am most energized by supporting leaders and organizations at inflection points. Most of the leaders and organizations I worked with came to me because they are/were at a crossroads, and they wanted support in courageously charting a path forward. Together, we diagnosed the current state, set a bold new vision, and took steps to actualize it.
Inflection points offer the opportunity for (re)alignment: Thoughtful, whole-hearted leaders all have moments where they are seeking realignment - whether for themselves, their teams, or their organizations as whole. This might look like realigning personal and professional values. Redefining authentic leadership. Balancing strategic goals and organizational or team culture. Building (or rebuilding) authentic, human-centered and fulfilling relationships with self and others.
The human side of strategic work is hard but necessary. The most transformational leaders know that the work they do is deeply interconnected with the people who do it - including themselves. As we tackle big strategic challenges related to the impact they want to have in the world, I love helping folx tap into the softer, more vulnerable sides of themselves - and experience massive growth - in the process.
Facilitation > “Consulting”: Instead of coming up with recommendations in a vacuum, I facilitate spaces and experiences that elevate and codify the answers that are already there - and deepen relationships and community in the process. I work best with clients who want a full service thought-partner with whom they can experience change.
Collaboration rules. Coaching always feels like a collaboration, of course; and when it comes to facilitation or consulting projects, my favorite experiences from this past year involved a co-conspirator, thought-partner, and friend leading the work alongside me.
I feel so much gratitude that I get to do meaningful work with people I care about and contribute to the healing of this place we all call home. In 2023, I’ll continue to do my own personal work - living in ease, developing deeper self-trust, cultivating presence - at home, through my practice, and alongside my amazing clients and collaborators. While I don’t know exactly where my business is headed, I can be certain more learning, reflecting, love, courage, and community will be at the center, somehow.
Thank you for following along - there’s so much more to come!
