Nidya S., Washington D.C.

Why did you choose to work with Nadia?

I wanted to work with a coach who specialized in coaching women of color. Nadia came across as genuinely interested in the challenges women of color face in the workplace and approaches coaching in a way that addresses all facets of an individual's life.

What goals did you want to achieve during coaching?

I wanted to find a new job, work on my leadership in the workplace, and find ways to incorporate more creativity and fun in my life.

What results have you achieved since we started working together?

I found a new job within weeks of signing up with Nadia. This new job gave me the opportunity to reset how I presented myself in the workplace, and ended up giving me new confidence in my leadership. I felt so comfortable with having achieved the first two goals that we ended up working a lot on the third goal of creativity and fun. I feel like I'm in a completely different place in my life from when I first started coaching.

What was the impact of working with a coach that specialized in working with self-identified WOCs?

It was so much easier to speak freely about my life and my experiences without having to pause to explain myself. Working with a woman of color who specializes in coaching women like us meant that we started from a similar place, and I felt understood and accepted in a way that would have been more difficult to find with another coach.

What do you like best about working with Nadia?

She's a great listener and picks up on what I'm trying to say even when I'm not too sure where I'm going or what I want out of a session. Our time together always felt valuable and well-spent. She's also great at seeing how different areas of life are interconnected and pointing out the big picture.

How else have you benefited from working together?

Since our coaching ended, I've reflected on what I've learned through my time with Nadia and have tried to continue building on what we laid out.

Would you recommend Nadia and her services? If so, why and to whom?

I would definitely recommend Nadia and her services, particularly to anyone who is looking for coaching that integrates all parts of your life. There are many coaches who walk you through the dryer aspects of finding a new job or navigating the workplace, but Nadia didn't focus on things I could google myself. Instead, she encouraged us to dig deeper and that's where she was really helpful.

How was the experience different than when you were doing/trying to achieve your goals on your own?

It was great talking to someone to sort out ideas I was already thinking and feeling, and being held accountable by someone other than myself for what I was trying to do. I made progress a lot more quickly than I would have on my own.

What was a pleasant surprise during our coaching, or as a result of our coaching?

The most pleasant surprise for me was getting to a place where I was ready to tackle more than just my career. I had a lot of anxiety around my job and workplace when I started coaching, and by the end, I became more grounded in what I really want out of my life - including my job, but also more than that.

What's the most important thing people should know about working with Nadia?

She's genuine, and kind and thoughtful. Personal connection is really important for coaching, and she always made me feel comfortable.