Her Story
About Shannon
My journey into career coaching began with a burning question that lived in me for many, many years: What do I want to be when I grow up? That question led me to experiment and explore, and through that process, I discovered the world of personal and professional development and fell in love with it. When I reflect back on my journey, I realize that a lot of people naturally came to me for career advice, which really anchored me into focusing on becoming a career coach. To ensure I was properly prepared, I went to IPEC and became a certified coach. I also took other paths to build credibility - I became an executive recruiter to understand all the different perspectives in the career world, and I became a contract coach, coaching hundreds of professionals. Through all of those hours, I earned my PCC, which I'm really proud of. I take coaching very seriously and I'm always learning and doing the inner work that it takes to be an effective coach. After building my business for 5 years, I recently took it full-time, and I'm now in the early stages of really growing it.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shannon
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I received, which is also what I share with others, is don't be afraid to experiment. We tend to take things so seriously and feel that this has to be it, this has to be the end-all, be-all. But if you can experiment, and also trust - I think trust is a big part of it too - if you experiment and you allow yourself to just see, amazing opportunities will unfold in front of you. But when we have to control, we restrict, and then we miss things. So that would be my biggest tip.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid to experiment. We tend to take things so seriously and feel that this has to be it, this has to be the end-all, be-all. If you can experiment, and also trust - I think trust is a big part of it too - if you experiment and you allow yourself to just see, amazing opportunities will unfold in front of you. But when we have to control, we restrict, and then we miss things. So that would be my biggest tip.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of my personal biggest challenges is that I so want the best for the other person, and sometimes they're just not ready to take that next step. It's hard as a coach to not want to take responsibility. I'm very protective, I'm empathetic, and I just want the best for people. When I see them, I feel it, I know they can be successful in whatever they want, but sometimes there's something holding them back, and I have to release that it's not my responsibility to get them there.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My top three life values are freedom, family, and impact. I wouldn't even tie these just to coaching - these are my life values that guide everything I do.
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