Her Story
About Paulette
Dr. Paulette Bethel is the Founder of Step Beyond Coaching and Consulting, an author, speaker, and cultural storyteller, and the creator of the Identity Disruption & Reorientation Framework™, through which she helps individuals and audiences navigate life-changing discoveries, transitions, and disruptions that challenge identity, belonging, and purpose. Her work focuses on meaning-making during periods of profound change, supporting individuals as they move through what she describes as the “messy middle” toward greater clarity, coherence, and self-understanding. She is also a Certified Master Coach and has presented her work in academic, professional, and global forums, including Harvard Divinity School.
She brings a deeply interdisciplinary background spanning military service, clinical practice, nonprofit leadership, coaching, and education. She served 15 years in the U.S. Air Force in logistics management before becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist. She later served as CEO of a nonprofit organization in Hawaii for four and a half years, where she led programs focused on family support, youth services, and community development. Across each stage of her career, she has remained committed to guiding individuals and systems through transformation, resilience-building, and human-centered change.
Now in her seventies, Dr. Bethel continues to expand her impact through writing, speaking, and consulting. She is currently working on a book and partners with executive women navigating major life transitions, drawing on her frameworks around identity disruption, trauma recovery, and personal reorientation. Her work integrates lived experience with scholarly insight, offering a grounded and compassionate approach to helping others reconstruct identity, rediscover purpose, and move forward with intention.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Paulette
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance and a strong belief in my own abilities, especially when navigating non-traditional spaces where I often had to work twice as hard to demonstrate my value. These experiences strengthened my resilience, discipline, and commitment to excellence, while reinforcing the importance of staying focused on long-term goals despite short-term challenges. I have learned to embrace obstacles as opportunities for growth, consistently showing up with determination, integrity, and a willingness to exceed expectations.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came during my service in the Air Force, when I was told I am an “implementer” rather than a “maintainer.” That insight shaped how I approach my work, encouraging me to focus on initiating projects, building frameworks, and driving new initiatives forward rather than solely sustaining existing systems. It helped me recognize my strength in creating structure where none existed and bringing ideas into action. Since then, I’ve carried this perspective throughout my career, consistently seeking opportunities to innovate, improve processes, and add value through forward-thinking leadership.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering my industry to stay clear about their goals and remain committed, even when the path becomes challenging or takes unexpected turns. Success often requires persistence, adaptability, and the confidence to keep moving forward despite setbacks or uncertainty. There will be moments that test your resolve, but those experiences ultimately build strength, clarity, and resilience. Trust that the journey, with all its twists and turns, is worthwhile and will shape both your professional growth and personal development in meaningful ways.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field have largely been shaped by issues of race and gender. Early in my career in the Air Force, race presented the most significant barrier, influencing how I was perceived and the opportunities I was given. As I progressed professionally, gender became a more prominent challenge, particularly in environments where some colleagues held the belief that women should not occupy leadership roles. These experiences required resilience, confidence, and consistent performance to overcome bias and establish credibility. At the same time, they also created opportunities to lead by example, break barriers, and help pave the way for greater inclusion and equity in leadership spaces.
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