From Ivy League to Inner Wisdom
Discover how this Executive Coach found her true calling and now helps others do the same
Courage to:
Defy Expectations: She traded her Ivy League pedigree and corner office for a life of purpose and impact, proving that "success" isn't one-size-fits-all. Now, she empowers other leaders to rewrite their own definitions of achievement.
Embrace Imperfection: This isn't your typical "guru" spouting platitudes from a pristine pedestal. She openly acknowledges her own vulnerabilities and "deeply ingrained" fears, making her relatable and refreshingly honest.
Lead with Compassion: She believes in the power of empathy and understanding, not fear and judgment. Her leadership style is all about fostering connection, building resilience, and inspiring growth in others.
Trust Inner Wisdom: She's a firm believer in tuning out the external noise and listening to that inner voice. She encourages others to do the same, guiding them to uncover their own authentic paths to leadership and fulfillment.
Meet
: Practice and Play
Q: Tell us a bit about your background.
I’m a daughter of immigrants who always dreamed of a more fabulous life when I was younger. I thought travel, luxury goods, and eating out was the bar for a fulfilling life. I worked hard to do what I thought was “right” to achieve that life – getting into an Ivy League school, landing an investment banking job, and climbing the corporate ladder.
Along the way, I realized that while I could be successful doing the “right” things, my source for the definition of “right” was off. I don’t blame my parents or society. In fact, I don’t blame anyone. It’s more that as I got older, I started to listen to and trust my inner wisdom. I gradually redefined my “right”. In my career, my inner voice guided me to try different sectors and different roles, and to learn above all else. As my financial needs were met, I found that more money and more things didn’t matter as much to me as more time with the people and experiences I loved. I also found that the mission and the service to others, mattered more than the brand name of the company or the metrics we were hitting.
Around 15 years ago, I had a vision of becoming a coach and advisor. Supporting the growth and development of others motivated me more than anything else I spent my time on day-to-day. As the primary breadwinner of my family, I needed to prioritize stability and so I delayed launching my coaching practice. Late last year, I made a commitment to start my coaching business as a side hustle in 2024. Then in January, my role was eliminated. The stars were aligned!
I’m now directing my 20+ years of executive experience across multiple industries and functions to help leaders who want to get unstuck, maximize their impact, and live a fulfilling life. I’m leveraging my experience launching 4 businesses, restructuring 3 organizations, and serving as a CEO and COO 2x each to help leaders listen to their inner wisdom, lead with more confidence, and create stronger, more resilient organizations. I could not wish for a more rewarding next step.
Q: If you had to choose an SEO keyword for your life, what would it be?
Driven
I had to really think about this one. There are so many words that came to mind, but I think this one fits me best. When it comes to anything in my life – at any age – I have always felt compelled to be intentional and to move forward. Even in my mindfulness practice and my commitment to rest, I take a 110% approach. I believe that almost anything is possible if you are willing to be curious, committed, and compassionate with yourself. But first, you have to know where you want to head and be driven to get there.
Q: What are your hobbies, passions, obsessions, or what excites or inspires you? What sets your soul on fire?
I’m most passionate about helping to grow and develop living things – humans, organizations, plants, and communities. I love painting and creating art, connecting with nature, and mindfulness practices. I enjoy reading and get energized by the people in my life and new people I get to meet. I am in awe of the many stages of life and seek every day to cherish each moment, including those that are challenging. Caring for my family is my top priority and their growth and development fills me with the greatest joy.
Q: What is the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
Starting to write online about my journey, my learnings and my business offering has required me to overcome many fears and areas of resistance that are deeply ingrained. The deeply held fears around not being good enough, worthy enough, as well as tendencies to be perfectionist and overly critical are all aspects of myself that have held me back. Being able to accept these parts of myself, but not let them prevent me from reaching my potential – this has been the most courageous thing I have ever done.
Q: Why do you write on Substack?
I am writing on Substack because I believe it will be a wonderful way for me to reach more leaders and people who might benefit from my experiences and my guides on how to increase your impact as a leader and live more fully.
I love that Substack has garnered an incredible number of talented writers, leaders, and creators. The community they are building feels in line with with both the people I seek to work with as clients and the community I want be a part of and nurture.
Q: What are your values as a writer/creator/leader?
To always bring value to my audience and customers by helping them navigate important challenges with confidence. Most people know the answer, but struggle to put it into action. I offer practical tips that they can use immediately. I believe that compassion and inspiration drive change so much more effectively than fear and judgment. I want my content to always leave someone feeling positive, motivated, and full of potential.
Q: How do you connect with your readers/team?
I currently send weekly Substack newsletters and notes, and I’m present on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X. I offer free consultations that customers can book through my website www.kwbstudios.com and in 2025, I will also host live sessions where I will share learnings and invite conversations with my audience and customers.
My practice currently consists of 1:1 coaching, but I will be launching group coaching shortly and courses that folks can access asynchronously in late 2025.
I love hearing from my readers and invite them to share other ways they want to engage with me.
Q: Why did you join the Connected Community project, and how do you find it so far?
I’m a huge fan of Magdalena and her approach to people, leadership and creating value in the world. I have learned over and over again, for me, the most important part of my life is the people that I get to journey with. The Connected Community project is all about people and their potential and their impact. It’s a privilege to be part of this incredible group that Magdalena has curated through her vision and commitment. I’m so excited to be a part of what Magdalena is creating because I know wherever she goes, great people will follow.
If you enjoyed this share and resonate with the Practice & Play way of being, too, subscribe and reach out! I’d love to hear from you:
I love these interview series and getting to know interesting people!
I'm glad you liked the idea of the SEO keyword of your life - it's a great way to get people to reflect.
Cheers
Kathy is amazing and her new group coaching looks fantastic.