HOW Career Charisma Came to Be...

The story behind Career Charisma

I was seeking something different, something more! 

Back in 2018, I made the bold decision to quit my corporate job with no safety net because I knew that I was made for something different, something bigger, something more! You see, at the beginning of my career I followed the traditional path of go to school, get good grades, and get a good job with benefits. I earned a degree in Industrial Engineering and landed a job in Supply Chain at a Fortune 100 company with a starting salary that was higher than what my parents had ever made. I was off to a pretty good start.  

After a ton of soul searching, asking for advice, scouring the interwebs, and considering things that didn’t meet the mark, a mentor introduced me to the field of coaching.  Instantly, I knew it was a fit!  While still working the job I didn’t love, I began pursuing my Master’s Degree in Executive Coaching and Organizational Consulting at the University of Pennsylvania to demonstrate my commitment to the field. Even after that I hemmed and hawed and waited 2 years to quit my job.  Eventually, enough was enough. I had to bet on myself and make a switch. 
 

Because I jumped without a parachute, I had to sort through what worked and what didn’t to find the next opportunity in a totally different field with no experience. In the meantime I even took a job as a waitress for the first time at 35 years old, accidentally spilling drinks on people and everything, smh. (Bills didn't stop just because I decided to pursue my goals). Within a few months I landed the job of my dreams that  incorporated all the components of the ideal workday I designed when I worked with my career coach. Since then I've been promoted 4 times and the work I do feels more aligned than ever.  Rather than forcing myself into my old company's definition of success, I am valued for my difference and the expertise that I bring to the table because of it. 



   

Over the years, although I was good at the work I was doing, I didn’t enjoy it or see the impact. I felt like a cog in a machine and questioned what it was all for. On top of that, I found myself and my colleagues of color struggling to get promoted on pace with others in the organization. I became OB-SESSED with personal and professional development as a way to grow faster because opportunities for my advancement seemed limited. I refused to be held back by unsupportive managers or leaders that meant well, but cautioned me to "play the game" because of their own fears. The more I learned about development and exposed myself to new possibilities, my passion for finding a better way could no longer be contained. 

I created Career Charisma because so many people (old colleagues included) kept asking me how "got out".  While I found the support and courage to make a career switch, so many others never do. They feel confined by the golden handcuffs or unsure of how to take the first step even though they feel called in a new direction.  It's the service and support I wish I had when I was stuck thinking "why won't they just let me be great"! 

Sis, I have been exactly where you are and understand the difficulty associated with  navigating your career (especially as a woman of color). Don't settle for this path just because you've been on it for a while, or you've secured the bag, or others won't approve, or whatever. 

You deserve better! Let us help you find your charisma and craft your unique career path today.