How did you find your way to where you are today? Share a little about your professional journey.

While I have held many different jobs throughout my career, my story is really about people and impact. When I first came to New York City, I was recruiting college students to join Teach For America (TFA). That was the beginning of a six-year stint in education reform, a cause still incredibly important to me. After spending time teaching sixth grade in the Bronx through TFA and recruiting teachers for a Brooklyn charter school, I realized I was most passionate about one-on-one interactions helping people of all ages to achieve their goals. From there, I spun this passion into a role as a nonprofit fundraising consultant. I had the chance to support nonprofit leaders so they could show up powerfully in donor meetings. Taking my consulting, recruiting, and education experiences, I moved on to LinkedIn, where I started advising talent acquisition leaders at global enterprise companies on their recruitment strategy. LinkedIn is an environment that encourages continual personal growth, so I was able to pursue a coaching certification program while building my business. Now, I am in the land of entrepreneurship and running my coaching practice full time, practicing what I preach and doing the bold thing.

Was there a catalyzing experience that shaped your career? What advice would you offer someone in the same situation?

When I joined the team at LinkedIn, my boss asked me what I was really after in my career. He was the first person who challenged me to think beyond my current job, beyond the company, and become crystal clear on what I wanted out of my career. I shared that I wanted to be a coach and that set off a whole series of motions that changed my career and life forever. I set a goal to enroll in a training program, started enrolling clients in my coaching practice, and the rest is history. Now, I am running my coaching practice full time and am incredibly grateful I had a company as amazing as LinkedIn to be my launch pad. I likely would have kept putting off my dream had I not had someone really pushing me to follow through on the thing near and dear to my heart.

My advice is this—do not wait to do the thing you want to do! Decide you want to do it now and figure out how. It sounds simple, but most people avoid doing what they really want to do because it is uncertain and outside of their comfort zone.

When providing advice for professional development, what are some tools or resources one should consider?

My relationships with people have propelled me forward the most in my career. They are your greatest professional development resource as you are trying to navigate your career. If I had to guess, I have reached out to over 100 people over the past ten years who I did not really know in order to network and learn about their career path. Be curious, ask thoughtful questions, provide value when possible, and follow up. Develop a clear system to keep track of and stay in touch with your contacts. You can of course use LinkedIn for this by adding notes to profiles, but even a simple spreadsheet works. Nurturing your contacts over time will make you stand out and few people do this well.

I recommend The Big Leap to anyone considering his or her next big move. It asks readers to consider what their greatest contribution is to the world. There are many ways to earn money, but how can you really ensure you are aligned to a role or business that makes use of your best skills? That is what this book answers and you must read it.

How have mentors impacted your professional development? How did you develop those relationships?

Mentors have been a pivotal part of my journey across the years. Sometimes I have had informal mentors and I have also had a more official structure. Many companies are starting to create more formalized programs around this to make it easier, but you cannot count on this. I encourage you to examine people around and several levels above you, and notice who you find inspiring. Who says and does the bold thing? Figure out a way to get introduced or set up a time to talk. Then, once you see chemistry, pop the question. Figure out a normal cadence and come ready to drive the conversation. I have fallen into mentoring relationships simply because I found someone who spoke my language and realized we would both gain from the conversation. Do not be afraid to ask—it is often flattering for the mentor.

What do you wish you would have known getting started in your field?

I always thought I needed to have decades of experience and the gray hair to show for it to become a great coach. Since the main job of a coach is to empower clients, you can actually become a coach at any point throughout your career. While it is helpful to have my kind of corporate background and understand the contexts where my clients are working, it is not actually essential. Consultants come from experts. Coaches serve as a mirror for people to see themselves and the patterns holding them back in their lives. If you want to be a coach, start now.

What additional education or certification is required/recommended?

In some industries, certification or additional education is a bit of a dog and pony show. However, aligning with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and gaining credentials through the organization means something. Following and practicing the standards set forth by the ICF will make you a better coach who can serve your clients more effectively, and will also legitimize you to coach in a corporate setting. If you pursue a program, check to make sure it receives its credentials through the ICF.

How has your liberal arts background shaped your career path or supported your success?

At Furman, I learned to be a great thinker and that has carried me through my career. There is no way I could have prepared myself for the exact scenarios I have overcome over the past ten years in my career. Because I was conditioned at Furman to think about larger problems and themes, I was able to look at anything new in any industry I have worked in through the same lens.

Any final advice for students or recent grads?

Be authentic. Listen to your heart. Do the thing. Honestly, there is so much noise about what you should do at this juncture in your life. It comes from the media, parents, peers, and even professors. Check in with yourself about what you really want. Take a risk. Even if you are not sure about what you really want, go after the experiences and people that are interesting to you right now. You will learn a ton and where you are headed will become clearer as you go. It is okay to not know. Keep moving forward towards the things that energize you and you will figure it out.