The Best Gift I Ever Received as a New Leader Was an Executive Coach

I was in my mid-20s when I stepped into my first director-level leadership role.

I was excited, proud, and determined to prove I belonged. But I was also overwhelmed. I was navigating a new title, new responsibilities, and a leadership table where I was the youngest, one of the few Black women, and the only immigrant. English was my third language. I had been working hard for years, but this role came with a level of pressure I had never felt before.

And then, something unexpected happened.

The CEO I worked with—herself a strong, visionary leader—pulled me aside one afternoon. She said, “You’re going to be great in this role. But I don’t want you to do this alone. I’m gifting you an executive coach.”

That moment changed my life.

Why That Gift Mattered

It was more than a professional development perk. It was a clear message: You matter. Your growth matters. Your leadership deserves care and support.

At the time, I didn’t fully understand what coaching would do for me. I thought it might be like having a mentor or a guide. But it turned out to be much more.

In our sessions, we talked about leadership challenges, yes. But we also talked about identity, confidence, boundaries, and emotional strength.

We talked about what it means to be a woman in a space that was not always built for us.

We talked about the subtle (and not so subtle) ways race, culture, and language shaped how I was perceived and how I showed up.

We talked about the fear of being too much and the fear of not being enough.

That coach didn’t just help me become a better leader. She helped me become a more grounded, self-aware, and intentional version of myself.

Coaching Helped Me Lead with Clarity

Through coaching, I learned how to manage difficult conversations without shrinking.

I learned how to regulate my emotions in high-stress situations.

I learned how to trust my voice, my values, and my ability to lead in a way that felt true, not performative.

And when things got hard, when conflict showed up or the stakes were high, I had someone to help me step back, process, and lead with intention.

That coaching didn’t just help me survive. It helped me lead.

But the impact didn’t stop there.

As my career grew, my coach became more than just a support system. She became an advocate. Because of the work we had done together, and the relationships she had built across industries, she started referring me for leadership roles at other organizations. She introduced me to decision-makers who might never have seen me otherwise.

That access, that credibility, that care—it opened doors.
Not just because of what she knew, but because of what she saw in me.

And that coaching?
It paid for itself over and over again.
In every room I walked into after.
In every challenge I faced.
And in every new opportunity that came my way.

That’s When I Knew I Wanted to Help Others

That coaching experience planted a seed. I didn’t know it then, but it would grow into something much bigger.

Years later, after leading high-impact teams and guiding organizations through change, I launched Mindful Leaders.

Because I believe leaders need support. They need a safe space to think, grow, and show up as their whole selves. They need tools, yes. But they also need trust. They need space to say, “This is hard,” without fear. They need someone in their corner.

Just like I had.

Mindful Thought

The best leaders are not the ones who know everything. They are the ones who know when to pause, get support, and grow with intention.

If you’re a leader feeling the pressure of your role, navigating the weight of identity, or trying to lead without losing yourself, I see you.

You don’t have to do this alone.

Are you ready to lead with clarity, courage, and care?
Mindful Leaders offers coaching and strategy for executives who want to lead with presence and purpose. Let's work together to build the kind of leadership you deserve.
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