EXELEON SPOTLIGHT
BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WITH THE TOOLS YOU ALREADY HAVE
COACHING WITH DR. COLLEEN GEORGES INFLUENTIAL
LISA ZAHIYA: DANCING TO SUCCESS IN COACHING IN – FOCUS
MEREDITH TURNEY: LEADING WITH CONSCIOUSNESS In
This March, we are proud to dedicate not just one, but multiple issues to the indomitable spirit, resilience, and achievements of women entrepreneurs and leaders across various industries.
Our decision to spotlight these incredible women stems from a deep-seated belief in the power of their stories to inspire, educate, and empower. Each narrative we've chosen to share reflects not only the personal triumphs of these leaders but also their significant contributions to reshaping their sectors and, by extension, our world.
Women have long been the backbone of innovation, creativity, and change, yet their stories have often remained in the shadows. It is our honor at Exeleon to bring these stories to light, celebrating the milestones achieved while acknowledging the hurdles that still exist. Our aim is not only to pay tribute to these trailblazers but also to foster a community that supports and uplifts women in their entrepreneurial and leadership journeys.
Through this series, we invite our readers to delve into the lives of women who have broken barriers, challenged the status quo, and set new precedents. From technology and science to arts and social enterprise, these women have carved paths of excellence, demonstrating what is possible when talent meets tenacity.
But let this not be merely a moment of reflection. Let it also serve as a clarion call for ongoing action and advocacy for gender equality and inclusivity in every sphere of life. The stories we share are beacons of hope and catalysts for change, reminding us all of the work that remains in ensuring that every woman has the opportunity to reach her full potential.
In closing, I extend my deepest gratitude to our readers, contributors, and the remarkable women whose stories we are privileged to share. Your support fuels our mission to not only highlight achievements but also to create a platform for dialogue, learning, and progress.
Da r y l Ye ung
DARYL YEUNG Editor-in-ChiefEmbracing Excellence
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12 DR. COLLEEN GEORGES
As we navigate the complexities of the modern world, the need for tailored guidance, support, and empowerment has never been more critical. Women in coaching, both as coaches and clients, are at the forefront of a transformative movement that is reshaping the face of leadership.
Dr. Colleen Georges is one such established coach who has dedicated her career to empowering individuals, especially women, to realize their full potential and achieve their aspirations.
Through her innovative RESCRIPT coaching process and framework, Dr. Georges has empowered countless individuals to rewrite their stories, fostering positive self-talk and actionable steps toward their goals. Her focus on incremental progress and emotional well-being as measures of success has proven to be a game-changer in the coaching industry.
Fittingly, in this issue featuring the Most In luential Women in Coaching to Watch in 2024, we have Dr. Colleen Georges on the Cover.
Dr. Colleen Georges' journey into coaching is deeply rooted in her educational background and early experiences in mentoring. "I have my bachelor's degree in psychology, master's and doctoral degrees in counseling psychology, and I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor," she points out, emphasizing the signi icance of her academic foundation in her coaching work.
Beyond her formal education, she has completed over 30 certi ications in life coaching, career coaching, psychology, and leadership. "I'm addicted to learning," she admits, showcasing her commitment to personal and professional growth.
Dr. Georges' interest in the helping professions was sparked at the age of 14 when she took on her irst job as a summer camp counselor. This early experience of mentoring ignited a lifelong passion for guiding others.
Her time in college further solidi ied this path when she worked as a Therapeutic Assistant, mentoring teens in foster care. "The teens I
worked with had been through many traumatic experiences in their young lives. I adored them and my time working with them further fueled my desire to do missiondriven work," she shares.
During her graduate years, Dr. Georges' focus became centered around counseling and advising
college students on personal, academic, social, and career issues. “I enjoyed working with college students so much that I decided to advise students full-time once I completed my doctorate,” she remembers.
In 2007, she enrolled her irst coaching certi ication program; and in 2008, she started a side hustle providing career and life coaching services. According to her, “Coaching seemed to take all my
education, experience, passions, and purpose and merged them into the perfect career for me.”
By the end of 2010, Dr. Georges' side hustle had turned into a full ledged business endeavor. She decided to leave her full-time job as a University Department Director and began running her business. Re lecting on this transition, she shares “It was one of the very best decisions I ever made, and I've never looked back ever since.
Asa career and life coach, Dr. Colleen Georges is blessed to be working in a ield wherein she can accomplish her biggest mission in life: to help others see the good within and around them and use this as fuel to pursue their life and career goals with con idence, while boosting their joy, gratitude, and optimism.
This passion is the cornerstone of her RESCRIPT coaching process and framework. "I built my RESCRIPT coaching process and framework around this mission," she explains.
The acronym RESCRIPT, which stands for Releasing Rumination, Engaging Growth Goals, Seeking Strengths, Challenging Catastrophizing, Restricting Regret, Inviting Imperfection, Pursuing Passion & Purpose, and Thinking Thankfully, is a comprehensive approach to transforming lives by rescripting self-talk and actions.
This framework was inspired by Dr. Georges' 2016 TEDx Talk and further developed in her book RESCRIPT the Story You're Telling Yourself , as well as in her workbooks, the RESCRIPT Daily Gratitude Journal and RESCRIPT Daily Goal Getting & Productivity Planner .
Georges begins her coaching process with an assessment of her clients' self-talk through the RESCRIPT Quiz, life and job satisfaction assessments, and a pre-coaching questionnaire to understand their coaching goals.
"We work on becoming aware of negative selftalk, its triggers, and how to respond back to it," she states. Clients also assess their schedules, responsibilities, and strategies for creating time blocks to dedicate to goalrelated actions.
Following each session, Dr. Georges provides clients with an action email outlining their focus areas and resources to get started and completed. Progress is reviewed weekly, with adjustments made for maximum achievability. Her coaching approach not only helps clients achieve tangible success but also fosters resilience and a positive outlook on life. Dr.
Dr. Georges evaluates the success of her coaching engagements by focusing on two key aspects: behavioral changes and emotional well-being. She asks, "Are they changing their behaviors in small increments towards their larger goals and are they feeling better than before coaching?" These questions help her assess whether her clients are making progress in a way that is meaningful and sustainable.
In addition to these broader measures, Dr. Georges also looks at
and tangible outcomes, she ensures that her coaching engagements are both effective and impactful for her clients.
Talking about the visible results of her coaching program, she shares “My clients accomplish some incredible things through coaching, including re-careering into ields that spark their passions, launching six- igure businesses, starting, and completing graduate degrees, leaving toxic relationships, running marathons, and one client even wrote, performed, and sold out a one-woman show off Broadway! I work with so many resilient and
With 16 years in the business, she has built a robust referral network and a loyal client base. "One of my greatest joys is how many entire families I've worked with," she shares, emphasizing the deep connections she forms with her clients.
However, coaching does come with its challenges, primarily related to clients' fear of the unknown. she explains, "Sometimes, a client can get so stuck in fear of what's on the other side of change that they freeze when it comes time for bigger actions towards their goals." She cites the example of clients
“Success lies in both the small ways we move towards our goals, as well as the moments we fully achieve them."
speci ic outcomes related to her clients' individual goals. For example, she considers whether her clients are getting job interviews, enrolling in training programs for a career change, dedicating time to important relationships, incorporating exercise into their daily routine, adhering to a work shutdown time, or launching a website for their new business.
"Success lies in both the small ways we move towards our goals, as well as the moments we fully achieve them," she beautifully explains. By focusing on incremental progress
remarkable people.”
Talking about the challenges one faces as a coach, she claims that the rewards of her coaching work far outweigh the challenges she has faced over the years.
From a business perspective, she attributes much of her success to her early adoption of search engine optimization, which has helped her website rank high in relevant searches, reducing the need for extensive social media marketing.
hesitating to submit job applications despite being wellprepared. In such cases, Dr. Georges focuses on helping her clients concentrate on the immediate step rather than worrying about the uncertain future. "We can't predict the future, but when it arrives, we can assess the situation to make informed decisions," she advises.
When a client is not making progress, Dr. Georges emphasizes the importance of breaking down the process into manageable steps and addressing any underlying fears. She reassures her clients that
they are more resilient than they often believe and that they are never truly stuck in any situation. By instilling con idence in their ability to adapt and make changes, she helps her clients overcome obstacles and move forward towards their goals.
A value that has guided Dr. Georges throughout her career is her deeprooted commitment to empowering women. She has served as a therapist at a women's counseling center, worked as an advisor at a women's college, taught a women's leadership course at Rutgers University for 14 years, and focused on women's empowerment coaching in her business.
As a coach, Dr. Georges empowers her female clients by guiding them to value their voice—their words, wants, wisdom, and will. She emphasizes the importance of selfcompassion, validation, hope, and encouragement in their self-talk, as "our words create our worlds." One of her favorite strategies is fostering a daily gratitude practice, which helps women focus on what they are thankful for, thereby cultivating joy, hope, and con idence.
Another key aspect of her coaching is challenging catastrophizing. She teaches her clients to focus on what they can control in a situation, take action, and then let go of intrusive thoughts. She also encourages them to craft phrases that shut down negative self-talk, reminding them of their resilience and achievements.
Empowerment, according to Dr.
Georges, also involves expressing one's thoughts, feelings, values, and beliefs, and making one's desires a priority. She advises against letting "shoulds" dictate actions and encourages women to create and claim the life they want. 'My motto is, 'Don't wait, initiate', urging her clients to take proactive steps toward their goals.
She also stresses the importance of acknowledging and honoring one's unique accomplishments, avoiding comparisons with others, which she sees as "a disempowering thief of joy."
Finally, she coaches her clients to assert their will—passions, intentions, and determination—with con idence. She encourages them to own their power in all areas of their lives, as allowing others to dictate their story can undermine their autonomy. "When we live with intention, we can create amazing things in our careers, relationships, health, inances, time management, self-care, and beyond," she concludes.
Moving ahead, Dr. Colleen Georges plans to expand her coaching practice by offering more group coaching experiences in the coming years. "Although individual sessions will always be at the core of my business, I'll be evolving my coaching practice by offering more group coaching experiences," she clari ies.
In January 2024, she launched a 12month goal-getting group with nine women, featuring monthly virtual
meetings, a WhatsApp group chat for ongoing support, and an online resource center with strategies and worksheets.
The group has already seen signi icant achievements, including creating morning routines, setting boundaries, starting certi ication courses, and launching small business plans. Encouraged by the success of this group, Dr. Georges is considering starting shorter-term groups later in the year.
In addition to group coaching, Dr. Georges plans to increase her speaking engagements. "I've been receiving more invites for keynote speeches, so I plan to do more speaking engagements," she shares. Her commitment to empowering individuals through coaching and speaking engagements re lects her passion for the work she does, whether in one-on-one, small group, or large group settings.
Building a business is not for the weak at heart. Overnight successes are rare. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Business Employment Dynamics, only 50% of businesses survive their ifth year of operation, and only 30% of businesses will make it past the ten-year mark. Being an entrepreneur is illed with challenges and setbacks, but it can provide you with opportunities that you can only imagine working as a W2 employee.
I never thought I would go from being a government and W2 employee to a successful entrepreneur. My mentors and people I worked with were the irst
ones who brought up the notion.
After I quit my long-term government career, I took a position as an EVP at a small company. Even though I held an executive position, I had no ownership of the company. For six years, I helped the owners grow their business, but I wasn't able to share in the pro it despite being responsible for developing the growth of a practice area which ultimately represented 80% of the company's revenue. I started to think twice about what my mentors and people I worked with said, “if I was successful in helping someone else build and grow their business, I can do the same for myself.”
When I irst began, I knew nothing about starting a business or running a business. What I did know was that I had ifteen years of experience working for the state and federal government, twelve of those years growing aggressively in my leadership execution, so I took what I knew and used them to build AvantGarde.
Here are three essential principles that I learned in my twelve years serving the former Texas Governor and President Bush that helped me build a successful business.
Before you put a business plan into action, think about (1) what you can offer that is worth something to someone else, (2) who might need it, and (3) who might acquire it.
I held leadership positions in the Texas State Government and at the White House, which taught me how to be a results-driven, outcome-based leader. Because of my background and upbringing, I had tremendous tenacity and resilience to work and deal with dif icult issues. I went from being a pregnant, teenage dropout living in poverty who survived all sorts of abuse to holding a senior executive position as a Commissioned Of icer at the White House when 9/11 happened. I knew there was little I could encounter that would stop me. I built a reputation for myself as the go-to person to get things done. I was the change agent who would take the initiative and orchestrate changes to solve problems.
During my tenure as the EVP, I contributed to the growth of the business through the experience, gifts, and talents cultivated during my 15 years in government service. I was con ident these same skills can help with the development of my own business.
No business can survive in a silo. Afterall, you're asking people to do business with you, but people tend to only do business with those they like and want to work with. Having a strong network can help make
your business, and the lack of one can break it.
During my time in my government career, I built a very strong network of people who trusted me, relied on me, and could count on me to deliver. When I started my business, they became my superpower and the key to my initial success. I had a rolodex with hundreds of people who I could call and connect with in person. Once it became clear that my consulting services would bene it any organization, including government agencies, I reached out to my network and began marketing. I didn't get my irst clients by cold calling people; instead, I tapped my warm leads.
I also devise a strategy and process to evolve my business from being merely a vendor to a "trusted advisor." It is much harder to replace a proven, trust advisor than just a vendor, who may be providing services others provide.
Nearly thirteen years later, more than 80% of AvantGarde's clients are the results of our current or former clients' networks. Never underestimate the power of your network when building your business.
In order to convince your potential customers to invest in you, you need to establish yourself as a thought leader and expert in the business. Once you're known in the marketplace as a thought leader or expert, bring people who can build on top of the values your business
has to offer onto your team.
When I started AvantGarde, more than 80% of our business was in HR even though it was a consulting irm for HR, Strategy and IT services. However, HR was the focus of my entire government career and the expertise I brought to the table. Once revenue began to low, I hired other people whose expertise complemented mine. For example, I wanted to scale up our service offerings to give our clients a holistic approach to their problems, so I hired people who were smarter than me—people who were experts in the areas I want to scale up in such as Organizational Development, Change Management, Strategy, and Business Process IT. I also teamed with a partner who had a robust IT background and expertise. This elevated our capabilities as a irm.
I believe that anyone can build a thriving business in America as long as they have (a) a vision, (b) a speci ic skill set, expertise, or talent, (c) a robust network, (d) and a well-thought-out plan of execution. Nothing is more satisfying than reaching your goals and seeing your vision come to fruition. If you think being an entrepreneur is your calling, here are 10 steps that you can begin taking now to achieve your entrepreneurial goal.
Ÿ Determine what you have to offer. Once you decide what that is, set yourself apart by identifying what makes your offering unique.
Ÿ Create a business plan or strategy. DO NOT jump out and start a business with no plan. Make a plan and stick to it. Incorporate phases of development and set realistic milestones.
Ÿ Learn 101 about starting a business. Learn all that there is to know about how to set up the right structure from the getgo. This includes learning the legal requirements and regulations, protecting intellectual property, obtaining the appropriate insurance, and even considering your longterm exit strategy.
Ÿ Pick the right partner. A business partnership is like a marriage. You have to stick together through thick and thin. Take inventory of your shared values and goals, and whether your skills complement one another, etc.
Ÿ Map out your inancial plan. Determine what your inancial needs are and how you plan to fund the irst stages of development.
Ÿ Build your brand. Think about how you will showcase and advertise your business to your potential customers. Start with a basic website and a simple marketing plan using social media to your advantage.
Ÿ Build and expand your network. If you don't have a professional network, focus on building a network as soon as possible and continually invest energy into expanding it .
Ÿ Make an operational plan. Unlike a business plan that focuses on high-level strategies, an operational plan lays out tactical steps, the “who, how, when, what,” necessary to execute your business plan.
Ÿ Engage the right people to support your business. Having PEOPLE on your team can make or break a CEO or entrepreneur, so it is important to hire people who believe in your cause and champion your vision.
Ÿ Focus on continual learning. You can ind a business mentor, join a chamber group, or take classes on zoom, online or with your local chamber. The more knowledge you gain, the more knowledge you will have in building your business.
We live in a country that affords anyone, regardless of their background, pedigree, or status to build and grow a business – I am living proof of that! Embrace your vision, leverage your strengths, and build meaningful connections. Remember, the tools are within reach – now, it's time to craft your story.
Rebecca Contreras is the Founder and CEO of AvantGarde—an Austin-based consulting irm that federal agencies depend upon to help them transform their leadership and grow their organization through holistic and sustainable approaches. Unlike most entrepreneurs, Rebecca was born into poverty. But through grit, resolve, and steadfast
commitment, Rebecca transformed herself from a high school dropout and welfaredependent teenage mother to a successful business leader. She has received a number of accolades for her exceptional leadership such as being named the 2023 Austin Business Woman of the Year and having received a golden Stevie award for Best Female Entrepreneur in 2022.
Meet Lisa Zahiya, a dynamic business strategist, life coach, and former dance studio owner who has had an unconventional journey from being a law school dropout to being a celebrated coach.
Based in New York, NY, Lisa has navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship and coaching to make a profound impact on the lives of women and mission-driven entrepreneurs.
With a focus on digital marketing and product scaling, Lisa has helped over 100 entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of business ownership and achieve their goals, all while fostering a culture of celebration and positivity.
Can you please introduce yourself, your business, and your
specialization as a coach?
I am a business strategist and life coach based in New York, NY. My journey has been anything but conventional. When I was 26, I dropped out of Georgetown Law School to pursue my dream of opening an inclusive dance studio that provided movement opportunities for everyone.
I created Studio Zahiya in Asheville, NC as a space focused on empowering all people through dance. The studio thrived and became a cornerstone in the community, winning “Best Place to Take a Dance Class” six times in a row.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, I was left with a studio space I couldn't use, yet I still had to pay rent for it. I felt like I didn't have
control over anything that was going to happen. But after allowing myself to grieve the studio of my dreams, I decided to get creative about how I could serve my clients in a new way. I offered dance classes online and I channeled what I had learned during my entrepreneurial journey into a coaching business to help others scale their businesses. To my surprise, I doubled my pro it and gained clients from all over the world.
I'm now trained as a Certi ied Coach (Coach U), Advanced Master Coach (CTI), In inite Possibilities Trainer and Trailblazer (Mike Dooley), Brene Brown Coaches Training, and Tony Robbins Leadership Training. I help women cultivate lives on their own terms and assist missiondriven entrepreneurs in maximizing their impact.
With a focus on digital marketing and product scaling, I've helped over 100 entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of business ownership and achieve their goals.
As a coach, what are some of the biggest challenges that you have faced in your journey?
I've had to reevaluate a lot of selflimiting beliefs, especially concerning pricing. Like many coaches, I initially grappled with the notion that I needed to cater to everyone's needs and keep my prices low to accommodate all potential clients.
However, I've come to realize that this mindset only hinders my ability to provide exceptional services and attract clients who are genuinely committed to their growth. One of the key shifts I've made is recognizing that my services have value, and it's essential to align my pricing with that value.
Instead of trying to make everyone happy, I now focus on attracting clients who understand and appreciate the investment they're making in themselves and their goals.
Can you share a success story or a signi icant achievement in your coaching career?
One of the most signi icant moments in my coaching career was receiving an invitation to deliver a TEDx talk. It was a surreal and humbling experience to be recognized for my work and invited to share my insights and experiences on such a prestigious platform. As I prepared for the talk, I re lected deeply on my journey,
the lessons I've learned, and the impact I've had on others through my coaching.
Delivering the TEDx talk allowed me to reach a broader audience and share my message of empowerment and transformation with the world. It was an incredible opportunity to inspire and uplift others, and I am grateful for the platform to spread positivity and encouragement. In my TEDx talk titled "Let's Throw a Party," I shared insights from my coaching journey and how I've witnessed the transformative power of celebration in people's lives. I delved into the importance of embracing joy, gratitude, and celebration as essential components of personal growth and ful illment. Through personal anecdotes and practical tips, I highlighted how shifting our mindset to one of celebration can lead to profound shifts in perspective and behavior. I encouraged viewers to ind joy in everyday moments, celebrate their accomplishments, and cultivate a mindset of abundance and positivity.
The talk resonated with audiences as it emphasized the signi icance of fostering a culture of celebration in both personal and professional spheres, ultimately inspiring individuals to live life to the fullest and embrace the power of joy.
How do you measure the impact of your coaching on your clients or teams?
I like to draw inspiration from the B Corporation Model. I measure success by the revenue generated, as it re lects the tangible outcomes of my coaching efforts. However,
revenue alone doesn't tell the full story.
I also assess how my business contributes to the health and wealth of my employees, and how it in luences the success of our clients. This goes beyond inancial metrics to encompass their overall sense of ful illment and achievement of their goals. Lastly, I believe in the importance of using my business as a force for good in the community, the environment, and society at large. I measure the impact of my coaching by assessing how we make a meaningful difference in the world.
What advice would you give to other women aspiring to be leaders in the coaching industry?
1. Persistence is key. Be prepared to face setbacks on your journey. Embrace the process of trial and error, and don't let failure deter you. Get knocked down, but make sure you get back up.
2. Learn from the best. Seek out mentors and role models who have achieved what you aspire to. Don't copy their content but embody their structures and processes. Success leaves clues, and by observing those who have paved the way, you can accelerate your own growth.
3. Don't take yourself too seriously. Keep a great sense of humor and be willing to laugh at yourself. This not only makes the journey more enjoyable but also fosters your resilience.
What are your future goals for your business and brand? What is your vision through coaching?
I hear time and time again from clients that they just don't have the time to implement the strategies we talk about during our sessions. This is when it's time to consider hiring support, yet many of my clients mention concerns about affordability. In reality, they can't afford not to hire, as they're already at their bandwidth. It's because of these concerns that I decided to launch a staf ing company called Scale Up Support, where we source executive admin personnel and tech specialists.
We provide comprehensive training in our proven methodologies, which have yielded success for both me and my clients. Our goal is to equip these individuals with the skills and support they need to thrive in their roles, thereby alleviating the burden on business owners and fostering sustainable growth. I'm so excited to see where this venture goes and to continue providing support to business owners.
On the personal side of things, I'm looking forward to expanding into speaking engagements on a larger scale. I want to leverage my experiences to inspire audiences around the world and instill them with the con idence they need to achieve their dreams.
Ultimately, my goal is to leave a lasting impact on the coaching industry by championing authenticity and impact. I believe that by helping others succeed, we can collectively create a more positive and meaningful future for ourselves and generations to come.
As a Chief Wellness Consultant and performance-wellness coach, Daryl Appleton has made a signi icant impact in various ields, including professional sports, business, government, inance, medicine, and entertainment. Her specialty lies in working with mid-career executives and specialists, helping them work more ef iciently and effectively through self-awareness, strategy, and scienti ic methods. She is often referred to as "the real-life Wendy Rhoades" from the Showtime show "Billions."
In this interview feature, Daryl shares her journey, the challenges she has faced, particularly as a mother of twin daughters, and the success stories that have shaped her approach to coaching. She provides insights into her work at Brown University's General Surgery department, where she has developed a comprehensive wellness program focusing on self-awareness, selfgovernance, and self-improvement.
Can you please introduce yourself, your business, and your specialization as a coach.
My job is to help high performers get out of their own way so that they can do their job.
Currently, I am the Chief Wellness Consultant at Brown University's General Surgery Program and have contracts centered around performance-wellness (the lens in which I interpret and see well-being) and leadership with organizations and individuals in the ields of professional sports, business, government, inance, medicine, and entertainment.
My specialty is in working with midcareer executives and specialist who are looking to work more ef iciently and effectively through self-awareness, strategy, and scienti ic method.
As a coach, what are some of the biggest challenges that you have faced in your journey?
My twin 3-year old daughters. Having kids has absolutely changed the way I see the world and the lessons and strategies I give my clients "trying to do it all". I have truly learned that there is no such thing as work-life balance but instead there needs to be a sway and alignment to work-life integration.
Can you share a success story or a signi icant achievement in your coaching career?
I started working with Brown University's General Surgery department 5 years ago. At the time their wellness program consisted of yoga and meditation, and it was not landing. When I stepped into the role, leadership and I collaborated on an operational de inition for wellness in surgery (which if you know any surgeons you know how well "wellness programs" go over with them).
Here we were able to create a fullbodied program that viewed wellness through the lens of selfawareness, self-governance, and self-improvement for individuals and the team at large. Five years later we have a full bodied curriculum focus on the gamut of performance, wellness, and leadership strategies for residents, jr attendings and senior attendings at every stage of the career. This also includes a newly formed Leadership Lab, Mentorship Program, didactic lecture series, executive coaching, division retreats, and research efforts to continue to expand and improve. It has been truly a collaborative effort between hard and soft science to focus on addressing burnout and non-technical skill development in the world of medicine.
How do you measure the impact of your coaching on your clients or teams?
At Brown we do robust research efforts that include qualitative and quantitative inquiry which also includes focus groups, and longitudinal studies.
What advice would you give to other women aspiring to be leaders in the coaching industry?
When I was fresh out of college, my boss told me that "what I wanted to do didn't exist" and "I would be better sticking to what I knew". You are allowed to Frankenstein together a career that doesn't exist but works for you and the people around you. Keep pushing ahead and innovating in a direction that you can make an impact in.
What are your future goals for your business and brand? What is your vision through coaching?
Looking ahead, my team and I are actively working on expanding our
performance wellness curriculum both virtually and in-person to medical programs who do not have the funds to hire a Chief Wellness Consultant/Of icer. The hope this would also include training for future coaches and executives looking to bring their expertise or transition in the medical ield for leadership and/or coaching in healthcare.
Tania Friedlander's journey from attorney to champion athlete and now a highperformance coach is an indication of her commitment to excellence and her passion for helping others unlock their full potential. With her unique blend of expertise, certi ications from world-leading coaching institutions, and experience working with executives and emerging leaders from top companies, Tania has become a highly sought-after coach in the industry.
As a coach who utilizes a combination of indicators to measure the impact of her coaching, Tania is dedicated to ensuring that her clients achieve their goals, experience meaningful changes in behavior and mindset, and enjoy long-term sustainability
in their personal and professional growth.
In this interview feature, Tania Friedlander shares insights into her coaching philosophy, the challenges she has faced in her journey, and the success stories that continue to inspire her.
Can you please introduce yourself, your business, and your specialization as a coach.
In my journey from being an attorney to a champion athlete to becoming a high-performance coach, I've found my true calling: helping individuals unlock their full potential.
With training from world-leading coaching institutions and certi ications as both an
International Coaching Federation Professional Certi ied Coach (PCC) and a Certi ied Gallup Global Strengths Coach, I bring a unique blend of expertise to the table.
What drives me is the opportunity to guide individuals through their challenges, whether they're navigating their professional careers or personal growth. Working with executives and emerging leaders from top companies like Google, Facebook, Salesforce, Neiman Marcus, and Morgan Stanley has been an incredible privilege.
Together, we've tackled obstacles, unearthed strengths, and achieved remarkable results. Over the years, I've had the honor of helping over 300+ high performers rede ine success, ind clarity, and become
the best leaders and professionals they can be. My passion lies in empowering individuals to thrive, and I'm committed to making a lasting impact on their lives and careers.
As a coach, what are some of the biggest challenges that you have faced in your journey?
I believe at some point many entrepreneurs consider giving up. When the goal becomes too elusive, motivation drops. Too often it's because we're overly concerned with what others think, chasing externally driven goals rather than internally driven ones. In those times it's crucial to reconnect to your vision, be clear on what we really want and set goals that excite us.
There is a saying by the famous philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how .”
When things get busy and tough, we can easily lose sight of what was once clear, in those times it's crucial to reconnect to your why.
Can you share a success story or a signi icant achievement in your coaching career?
A signi icant achievement in my coaching career involves a client who came to me feeling stuck in their career and lacking direction. They were experiencing burnout and struggled to ind ful illment in work.
Through our coaching sessions, we delved deep into their values, strengths, and aspirations. Subsequently, they were able to
clarify their goals and craft a vision for success that resonated with them on a personal level. We did this by leveraging their strengths and addressing limiting beliefs. Through that work we were able to develop a concrete action plan for them to progress towards their desired outcomes.
Over time, I witnessed a remarkable transformation in my client. They regained their sense of purpose, rekindled their passion for their work, and began taking decisive steps towards their goals. Achieving professional success and greater ful illment and satisfaction in their life overall. Witnessing this reaf irmed my belief in the power of coaching to facilitate meaningful change. To this day it inspires me to continue empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
What advice would you give to other women aspiring to be leaders in the coaching industry?
Embrace the diversity of paths to success. There is not one singular formula for achieving greatness as a coach. Instead, focus on discovering and leveraging what makes you unique and exceptional.
Take the time to deeply understand your strengths, experiences, and skills. Re lect on what sets you apart from others in the coaching industry. What aspects of your background and expertise can you draw upon to provide exceptional value to your clients?
By identifying your unique strengths and areas of expertise, you can tailor your coaching approach to maximize impact and resonance with your clients.
Consider where you can create the biggest impact in your coaching practice.
Re lect on the types of clients you are most passionate about working with and the areas where you can make the most meaningful difference.
What are your future goals for your business and brand? What is your vision through coaching?
Empowering individuals and teams on a broader scale. I aspire to offer high-level corporate training that addresses key challenges facing organizations today. This training will be tailored to the speci ic needs and goals of each client, focusing on areas such as leadership development, team building, and organizational effectiveness.
By providing corporate training, I envision helping organizations cultivate a culture of excellence, innovation, and growth. Through immersive workshops, seminars, and retreats, I aim to equip leaders and teams with the tools, strategies, and mindset needed to thrive in today's rapidly changing business landscape.
Ultimately, my goal is to make a meaningful impact on individuals and organizations alike, unlocking their potential and empowering them to achieve extraordinary success. Through coaching and corporate training, I aspire to inspire positive transformation and contribute to a world where everyone has the opportunity to ful ill their highest potential.
Tania Friedlander's Approach to Measuring the Impact of Coaching
Ÿ Combination of Indicators: Utilizes both qualitative and quantitative indicators to assess coaching effectiveness.
Ÿ Goal Achievement: A tangible measure of success is the extent to which clients or teams achieve their stated goals. Regular tracking of progress towards objectives related to career advancement, skill development, or personal growth.
Ÿ Feedback and Testimonials: Soliciting feedback from clients or team members to gauge their
satisfaction with the coaching experience. Positive testimonials and endorsements as indicators of the impact of coaching on their lives or work .
Ÿ Behavioral Changes: Observable changes in behavior, attitudes, and mindset as qualitative indicators of coaching impact. May include increased self-awareness, improved communication skills, enhanced leadership abilities, or a shift in perspective.
Ÿ Performance Metrics: In a team coaching context, monitoring metrics such as productivity, engagement levels, and team cohesion. Assessing the impact of coaching
interventions on overall team effectiveness and success.
Ÿ Long-term Sustainability: Considering the sustainability of changes facilitated by coaching. Assessing whether clients or teams can maintain their progress and continue applying insights and strategies in the long term.
By evaluating these various indicators, Tania strives to continuously assess and improve the effectiveness of her coaching approach, ensuring a meaningful difference in the lives and work of her clients or teams.
In this interview feature with Meredith Turney, she shares her passion for fostering conscious leadership and nurturing a conscious culture within organizations.
As an executive coach with a diverse clientele ranging from leaders of international corporations to those at small nonpro its, Meredith shares her journey from being an employee to establishing her own coaching business, the challenges she faced, and the triumphs she celebrated along the way.
Meredith re lects on the hurdles of starting a business, balancing motherhood with professional aspirations, and overcoming the fear of not being able to attract clients. She also highlights the importance of mentors in her journey, such as Rich Litvin, who provided her
with both encouragement and education.
Can you please introduce yourself, your business, and your specialization as a coach?
I am Meredith Turney, an executive coach who specializes in helping leaders become more conscious leaders and creating a more conscious culture at their company. My clients range from leaders at international corporations to small nonpro its.
As a coach, what are some of the biggest challenges that you have faced in your journey?
Before becoming a professional coach, I was an employee. I'd never built a business before. There is a steep learning curve for building a business. Thankfully,
there are many successful coaches who mentor and encourage other coaches. Rich Litvin has been a source of encouragement and education for me.
I also had my irst child just as I was inishing my coach training. It was challenging to balance my desire to build my coaching business with my desire to spend every precious moment with him. I also struggled with the fear that no one would pay me to coach them. Thankfully, that isn't the case. But at the beginning it was a real fear.
Can you share a success story or a signi icant achievement in your coaching career?
The irst paid client is always a signi icant moment for coaches. I still remember the moment my irst client sent me a payment. I was nervous and excited. Another signi icant achievement is hearing a client share the success they've achieved through coaching with me. It is incredibly gratifying and thrilling to experience their joy with them. Their success is my success.
One client was struggling badly at work. We coached her for 6 months, and she inally had a breakthrough. Her life and work completely changed. She's a different person; joyful and
optimistic. It was our steady work together that empowered her to shift her mindset and make decisions that led to this new, more ful illing life.
How do you measure the impact of your coaching on your clients or teams?
I measure impact in two ways: First, client feedback. What is their subjective experience? If they are personally feeling different and realizing the success they wanted to achieve, that is the ultimate goal. Once their perceptive and energy shift, they can create whatever they want. Second, assessment and goal-setting tools. The client can then see very clear objective benchmarks they are achieving.
For example, if an assessment shows a leader needs to work on their listening skills, we coach around that and then use the assessment to see if those around them are noticing a difference. Or the client may say they want a promotion. We work together to set clear goals that will help them achieve that overarching goal. It helps them stay focused and feel success along the way to the ultimate goal.
What advice would you give to other women aspiring to be leaders in the coaching industry?
Invest in yourself. There's a saying that you can only go as deep with a client as you have gone yourself. So go deep; work on who you are as a leader and person. Who you are and how you are with your clients is the best way to serve your clients powerfully. Just as you would with a client, get clarity on how you de ine success and ful illment. Then become the person who achieves that vision.
What are your future goals for your business and brand? What is your vision through coaching?
My vision is to increase conscious leadership and conscious culture in the workplace. There are so many unhappy, unful illed people at work. My coaching, communication, and trainings are all focused on helping people work, live, and BE happy. The more leaders focus on becoming conscious leaders and cultivate a conscious culture, we will decrease the epidemic of stress and unhappiness at work. We can create companies where everyone can thrive and reach new levels of success and ful illment.
As the Women's History Month comes to an end, a closer look at the trends and data from Pew Research Center surveys, analyses, and federal data reveals signi icant strides in job opportunities for American women over the past 50 years. However, recent years have seen a plateau in progress, and substantial gender gaps remain in top leadership roles across government and business sectors.
In 2023, women constituted 47% of the U.S. civilian labor force, a signi icant increase from 30% in 1950. Despite this growth, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data indicates that the share of women in the labor force has stagnated and is projected to remain just under half through 2032.
Education has seen a notable shift, with women now making up 51% of the college-educated workforce in the U.S., a majority maintained since the fourth quarter of 2019. This shift in educational attainment has taken place roughly four decades after women began outnumbering men in earning bachelor's degrees annually.
The presence of women in the country's highest-paying occupations has also increased, rising from 13% in 1980 to 35% in 2023. Despite this progress, women remain the minority in nine out of these ten top-paying jobs, with pharmacists being the exception where 61% are women.
Financial dynamics in opposite-sex marriages have evolved, with women now being the sole or primary breadwinner in 16% of marriages, a substantial increase from 5% in 1972. Additionally, husbands and wives are now roughly equal contributors in 29% of marriages, a signi icant rise from 11% in 1972.
The gender pay gap, however, has shown little improvement over the past two decades. In 2022, women earned 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, a igure that has remained relatively unchanged since 2002. Half of U.S. adults believe that a major reason for this gap is employers treating women differently, while other factors include women's choices regarding work-family balance and the types of jobs they occupy.
Leadership positions in business and government still re lect a gender imbalance. As of September 2023, women accounted for 28% of U.S. congressional members, about a third of state legislators, 11% of Fortune 500 company CEOs, and 30% of Fortune 500 board members. Public opinion surveys reveal that slim majorities believe there are too few women in top political and business roles, attributing this disparity to gender discrimination and the need for women to prove themselves more than men.
The public is divided on whether being a woman impacts one's ability to succeed in the U.S., with 50% stating it hinders progress, while 24% believe it helps. Workplace perceptions also vary, with 28% of employed adults feeling that being a woman makes success more challenging.
Anew study has revealed the top 10 US states where you're most likely to bump into a billionaire, with Wyoming taking the top spot for the highest number of billionaires per one million people. Following Wyoming, Hawaii and Nevada rank second and third, respectively, showcasing a diverse geographical spread of the country's wealthiest individuals. The research, conducted by Project Management experts at The Digital Project Manager, analyzed data on the top 100 richest people in the US, their state of residence, and each state's population to determine where the most successful people call home.
Wyoming leads the pack with 3.47 billionaires per million people, boasting prominent igures such as John Mars of Mars, Incorporated, and Christy Walton of the Walmart founding family. Hawaii, with its 2.06 billionaires per million people, is home to Larry Ellison, Oracle's co-founder, who has a net worth of $145.2 billion. Nevada, known for its entertainment and hospitality industry, ranks third with 1.29 billionaires per million people, including software mogul David Duf ield.
Oklahoma, New Hampshire, and New York also feature prominently on the list, with notable billionaires such as Harold Hamm of Continental Resources, Rick Cohen
of C&S Wholesale Grocers, and Michael Bloomberg of Bloomberg LP, respectively.
The study further highlights
Arkansas, Connecticut, California, and Washington as states with signi icant billionaire populations. California, despite ranking ninth, has the most billionaires from the top 100 list, with 27 individuals in a population of over 39 million. Conversely, Michigan, New Jersey, and Tennessee are identi ied as the states with the fewest billionaires, underscoring the uneven distribution of wealth across the US.
Nuala Turner, Editor of The Digital Project Manager, commented on the indings, stating, "The US is home to some of the world's wealthiest and most successful people, so it's fascinating to see which states
billionaires are making residence in." She also noted that despite Wyoming's low population, it ranks highest in housing some of the most successful individuals in the country.
Turner offered advice for those aspiring to inancial success, emphasizing the importance of long-term planning, taking calculated risks, and maintaining focus, discipline, and routine.
As the landscape of wealth continues to evolve, these indings provide insight into the geographical distribution of America's billionaires and the states where one might unexpectedly cross paths with some of the world's most af luent individuals.
