Kalia A. | Health Tech / Product / Senior Product Manager

Below is their full testimonial where we dive into their group coaching experience.

If you were to review what you've learned in Real You Leadership and write your own SUCCESS STORY, what would it say? (E.g. Why you came to coaching with Real You Leadership, what you were hoping to achieve or level up, and where you are now)

What do you like best about coaching and what is/was your biggest learning?

I came to Real You Leadership to decide what job I wanted to take next. I was feeling choice fatigue and fear of making the wrong choice or worse, missing out on an opportunity I would never get back. I was also confused about if I should even stay in my given field and unsure of what I was good at. I was hoping to walk away with deciding on the path my life would take moving forward with clear next steps. The biggest learning that uncovered itself in this work was shifting my focus from the external to the internal. I was so focused on what others thought about me, my choices, but I didn't focus on how I felt about my decisions. Or if I did it was always a lower priority. This work showed me the power of tapping into what already exists and taking the time to listen. Never have I ever trusted my intuition more. I don’t make decisions based on fear or external pressures. I am not perfect, but I trust myself now to do what is best for me. Something that I wasn’t able to do before I started this work.

How has your leadership grown or shifted?

Before my leadership skills were strong but rooted in my desire to be liked and respected. After I joined RYL I view my ability to lead has grown in that I realize I don’t have to give everything I have to be a good leader. Part of being a good leader is honoring boundaries and helping others honor theirs. Coaching helped me to realize this with support reflecting on my own personal challenges and how constantly working wasn’t serving me. What I really needed was teams and environments that valued me and allowed me to be my authentic self. 

How has your mindset grown or shifted?

Before I was plagued by a limited mindset and a constant internal loop of negative self talk. I would always be critical of my performance and think that I didn't do enough. After I joined RYL I am able to quiet those doubts and make decisions from a place of possibility instead. The coaching helped me to change course with the way I was thinking about myself and my work. Instead of staying on the endless roller coaster of criticism and doubt I was able to have moments of pause. I am able to see the limitless possibilities that are now available to me. 

How has your ability to self-advocate and/or negotiate grown or shifted?

Before my ability to self-advocate and negotiate didn’t exist. I had never seriously negotiated or advocated for myself in the professional arena. After I joined RYL not only did I have one successful negotiation but I had countless. The coaching I received opened my eyes to the notion that everything is negotiation and took away the stigma and self-doubt that clouded my ability prior. I love negotiating now and even encourage and support friends with theirs. Truly a 180 experience given where I stated.

If you negotiated a pay increase at any point, please share those exact numbers of salary and total compensation (bonuses, benefits, etc.) before and after. 

20% increase in base salary

What are you most proud of accomplishing or learning during your time with Real You Leadership? 💜

I am most proud of discovering how much I carry my ancestors with me in everything I do. As many other Asian Americans connecting my culture with my identity has always been difficult. But through my work in Real You Leadership I now see how the drive and ambition I carry is a result of the struggles my ancestors went through. It’s so empowering to know that as I garner more success it’s not a journey I go alone. I don’t think if I worked with a team and an organization that didn’t cater directly to WOC in tech I would have unlocked  that insight. 

Finally, what might you say to someone considering enrolling in Real You Leadership?

For anyone considering enrolling in Real You Leadership I say fully take advantage of this opportunity.