My unmasking

After spending a decade kicking ass on the Fortune 500 career ladder to achieve the role, title, recognition and paycheck that I had always dreamed about, I still faced a very hard reality. I spent most days wearing a professional persona and acting like I was great, when in fact I was using all of my energy to manage chronic anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and to curb suicidal thoughts long enough to get out of bed in the morning.

Secretly I ducked out at lunch to see therapists and psychiatrists, or worked from home because my eyes were swollen from crying and no sleep. I didn't want anyone, including myself, to see my internal struggle, which I saw as a weakness (turns out its called "high functioning" anxiety and depression). I was "all business" and actively avoided bringing my full self to work or building deep relationships (bye sensitive goofball!), preferring a walled professional identity, casual dating and time alone on my couch.

I thought I just wasn't meant to be 'happy'. I was meant to lead change, and wasn't that more important?! Everything looked great on paper and people loved me, after all.

The year I turned 30, I lost two friends in untimely ways that mirrored too closely what I saw for myself. And in the moment of sorrow for my friends, I finally found sorrow for my own future on my current path. From that moment on, I took ownership of my inner health with a whole new perspective. My sensitivities could be my superpower, not something to hide away. It’s taken some (okay, a lot of) internal self work (and it’s never done!), but today, I’ve worked through my feelings of powerlessness and have never been happier (even with that pesky anxiety sneaking up time to time!).

18 months ago I left the corporate world to start my own consulting business, and found myself walking dogs as a side hustle. While my business was financially successful and exactly the type of work that I thought I wanted to be doing, I still found myself getting frustrated and was clearly procrastinating on bringing additional clients in. I took this past summer off to start raising a puppy with my boyfriend and walked a lot of dogs, and saw my mental and physical health improve even more. However, as fall approached I began to spiral about “what’s next” for me and my business--so many ideas, what might be right?!--so I called a career coach. And boy am I glad I did! Her methodology quickly uncovered some hidden truths, validating why my consulting business hadn’t been feeling right, and painting a picture of how my passions, talents, experiences and unique expertise could be better aligned and applied in a more fulfilling way - through coaching!

I’m ready to fully step into the shoes that go along with my well-worn coach hat. And not just for anyone, for professional women ready to drop the facade. Together, we’ll unpack and reimagine their present and future to discover a sparkling new perspective and path forward (my unique expertise!). 

I want to pair my intuition, personal growth experiences and deep desire to help others with my decade of strategic communications and business savvy. I now know I’m not the only high-functioning, "successful" career woman hiding her whole, true self or mental health issues, so my goal is to create a coaching program that helps participants not only find the light in their shadows to live authentically through one-on-one coaching, but also builds a community and awareness for the similar hearted through use of digital media, facilitation of team workshops and public speaking.

If you're ready to unpack and reimagine your present and future for a sparkling new perspective and path forward - I'm your woman!