My winding journey from tired to inspired.

Having spent the first 15 years of my career in New York City, you could say I was “killing it” by most young professionals’ standards. I worked for some trendy ad agencies, top tech brands like Apple and Spotify, and even a holistic medical startup. 

Leading international teams of 45+ talented employees while serving inspiring missions, I had the opportunity to deliver massive impact. Still, I kept finding myself in a continuous cycle. 

It went like this...

• Get a new job → feel super pumped!

• Navigate the new challenges of the job with little guidance → lots of anxiety and stress while winging it on my instincts

• Get promoted and inherit more leadership responsibilities → get overwhelmed and overwork to get it all done and show up for my team

• Notice that I’m burnt out and my quality of life is suffering → bail and get a new job

• Repeat

Sound familiar? 

I fell into the trap of thinking I was working at all the wrong places. I loved the trajectory of my career in management and it felt super rewarding to be developing amazing talent (and earning good money!), so maybe if I changed companies or even industries, then I’d stop burning out, right?

I started outsourcing support from coaches, therapists, yoga, and acupuncture. I began identifying and shifting some unhealthy subconscious patterns. I took 1-2 months long travel sabbaticals to Southeast Asia and India. 

And yet - each time I started a new position, it was a similar story. 

It suddenly dawned on me - it’s not them. It’s me.

The way I was operating in these companies was the problem. I was repeating the same cycles of burnout because I was always putting my work and team first, and my wellbeing last. I kept overriding my needs in order to be an outstanding team leader and employee.

I’ve personally experienced what it feels like to operate with an empty cup, and I felt like a shell of myself. It left me depleted and exhausted. Suffering from symptoms of chronic stress. 

Eventually, these feelings of listlessness drove me to explore holistic wellness. I got certified to teach yoga and completed a full year of training as a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach.

Over the years, I deepened my self-knowledge, broadened my perspective, and built my personal toolkit of nourishing practices. I learned how to rest, cook, meditate, and reflect. I really got to know myself and my body’s unique rhythms, and observed that when I felt better, I performed better.

Learning how to integrate holistic practices and embracing a conscious mindset, gave me the opportunity to choose how I want to live and lead. It also soon revealed the value in teaching my direct reports how to create this lifestyle for themselves.

This was the secret sauce for me to rise to the top of my career as a senior leader at some world class companies, and support others in rising into their power too.

Ultimately, it’s the inspiration behind my purpose to become an Integrative Leadership Coach. Leaders deserve so much more. No one should have to go through what I did when there are proven practices, skills and tools that can support the transition into leadership. It’s my great privilege to advocate for you to achieve success with greater wellbeing, freedom, and ease too.

Erica