Alyssa Smith

I attribute my success to self-awareness, authenticity, and my willingness to embrace personal growth and vulnerability. That pivotal moment when my coach asked me if I was truly loving my work, and tears started running down my face, was transformative. I realized I hadn't done the internal work to accept myself as I was. I had to stop powering through and playing by the rules, and instead tend to my own emotions and be honest with myself. What was missing was my steadiness, not the kind where I locked everything out, but genuine steadiness that came from accepting that my kids don't need a perfect version of me. The version living life in all its gray areas, going through transitions and challenges, is okay enough. Once I became that steady human and aligned my work with my true passion, everything changed. My ability to reflect on my own experiences, especially going through loss, international moves, solo parenting, and my daughter's ADHD diagnosis, has been a key driver in my journey. Those experiences taught me that we can be honest with one another, lean on one another, and nobody has to show up perfectly any day, ever. That's what I bring to my work with families now.

The best career advice I ever received wasn't advice in the traditional sense, but rather a powerful question from a coach in a mastermind who asked me, 'But are you, like, loving it? Because you're such a passionate human being, like, I'm noticing your fire isn't quite there when you're talking about it.' That question hit me so hard that tears started running down my face unexpectedly. I had built a successful business, I had arrived, I had succeeded against all odds, but I couldn't ignore those tears. That moment made me sit with the truth that I wasn't aligned with my true passion. I was angry at first, wondering why I hadn't listened to myself earlier, but it led me to do the internal work I needed and ultimately find my way to parent coaching, where my fire truly is. That coach helped me recognize that success isn't just about building something that works, it's about building something that lights you up inside.

I encourage young women entering this industry to trust their instincts and align their work with what genuinely matters to them. It’s important to embrace vulnerability, let go of the pressure to be perfect, and allow yourself to grow through the process. When you focus on creating meaningful impact rather than meeting external expectations, you build a career that is both authentic and fulfilling.

My biggest challenge right now is figuring out how to reach more people, especially busy parents who are the busiest humans in the world and don't have a whole lot of extra time. That's my conundrum: how do I help them see that there's nothing wrong with the love they're giving, it's perfect, but maybe where we're working ourselves too hard and expecting a little too much of ourselves, it could actually backfire in what these kids are capable of. At the same time, this presents a huge opportunity. I have this fierce justice part of me, maybe because I'm a Libra, but I want to reach people who can't drop a few thousand dollars. When I talk about building community, I want to make it something that's really affordable and accessible, where we can invite very real conversations. I think when we start talking about how much we doubt ourselves and realize that we all do it, it just frees something up within all of us, which allows us to step back and not stress so much about the output our kids are giving into the world. I'm exploring different platforms and creative ideas, and considering speaking engagements as a way to reach more families and build that bigger, wider, connected community where parents can find support.

Authenticity, growth, and compassion are at the core of everything I do. I believe in meeting people where they are and reducing unnecessary pressure on both parents and children. In my own life and in my work with families, I value honesty and vulnerability. We have family meetings every week where we practice being honest with one another and leaning on each other, and nobody has to show up perfectly any day, ever. We're a weird little group of three, and we'll go, 'oops, she's having a day, how can we best support her,' rather than jumping into feeling upset or targeted. I also deeply value experiences that promote mindfulness, connection, and personal well-being. Yoga helped me come back to my sane self, and meditation, which is weird for this extrovert, just grounds me. I love hiking, especially at Storm King with a view of the Hudson River, and traveling with my girls. We just hopped in the car for spring break to go see the Night at the Museum Museum in DC. I value creating space for growth, both for myself and for the families I work with, and helping everyone build confidence and resilience in a sustainable and compassionate way.