We ask our members to share a few thoughts: to introduce themselves to fellow members, and those who are interested in our community.
In this instalment, we interview Karin Holley of Karin Holley Coaching.
Tell us about your business:
I help ambitious, passionate, and mission-driven leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs, who feel they are not living up to their potential and purpose, go from self-sabotage to being the best version of themselves, so that they can grow their personal and professional visions.
What 5 words would you choose to describe your business?
Transformative Personal Professional Mission-driven Growth
What are your most popular products or services?
My most popular services are my four month and year-long coaching programmes that include mental fitness training in small groups and 1:1 coaching. I also give training to teams in coaching skills and mental fitness.
What do you like best about owning a business?
I love being free and creative. Being an entrepreneur is challenging me to grow, do things that I never thought I would or could do. I feel more confident in who I am, what I stand for and value. I’m getting to know myself, all my strengths and short-comings. I’m learning every day. I get to live my values of trust, believing in yourself, connection, growth and making a difference.
What or who inspired you to start your business?
I worked in international education my entire life and was reaching midlife and thought… I’ve got about another 25 years of work ahead of me. What else is out there? How can I keep growing personally and professionally? I realized that my life-long international experiences and my ability to make others truly feel heard and seen, brought me to this moment to try something new. It was time to compliment my teaching, counselling, and leadership skills with coaching. I took a year to complete several international coaching certifications. And so my coaching business was born.
What makes your products/services special?
I think what makes my services special a combination of my lived experiences with my mental fitness training and 1:1 coaching. Having lived, worked, and traveled to many parts of the world, both as a child and as an adult, I easily adapt and relate to many different cultures; I feel at home in multi-cultural environments. I also know what it’s like to go through big life and career transitions experiencing things like intense loneliness, culture shock, home-sickness, starting over, reinventing oneself, anxiety, and burnout. The mental fitness training I do is very powerful – and life-transforming. It allows clients to quickly gain insights into what is keeping them stuck in thoughts and behaviours that no longer serve them. And it gives them tools to self-coach, to become more resilient, and experience more calm and confidence in their lives. We do the training in small groups, so that people realize that they are not alone in their experience, and they support, inspire and learn from each other. In the 1:1 coaching we tackle the particular obstacles that an individual is experiencing so that they can take on empowering beliefs and mind-sets to grow their visions.
Who is your role model or mentor?
Shirzad Chamine – the founder of Positive Intelligence/mental fitness. He’s very wise and experienced. He has created a powerful coaching framework combining research from neuroscience, cognitive behavioural therapy, performance science and positive psychology. It has transformed my life and I also see the impact on my clients.
What is your biggest fear?
My biggest fear is to be the kick-ass coach that I am, but not be able to communicate/market that effectively, so I don’t have enough clients to ensure my business is successful.
What motivates you on a daily basis?
What motivates me is my mission and vision. My mission is to have a positive impact in the world, make it a better place by helping leaders and change-makers improve their parts of the world. It’s an honour to witness and be part of the growth of someone as they settle, become more self-aware, take on their fears, start to experience more joy, and become more calm, clear-headed and confident.
My vision is having a successful coaching business that gives me the freedom to do what I’m good at and live the life I want to lead (to be able to have a fulfilling career while also having the time and space to be healthy, be there for my family and friends, engage in creative pursuits, and travel).
What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
Overcoming my own mental obstacles/saboteurs!! Mental fitness, just like physical fitness, is a life-time pursuit. It’s fascinating when and how the saboteurs show up sometimes. Just yesterday, in a conversation with my business coach, I realized a thought that was holding me back, one that has pursued me my entire life. Ironically, as a service provider, I struggle myself, to ask for help. I think I should be able to do everything on my own. But I’m getting so much better at noticing this feeling, being kind to myself, and asking for help anyway..
What advice would you give women who are starting a business?
For me the foundation of this adventure, and what has given me the strength and courage to do this, has been mental fitness. I couldn’t be an entrepreneur without it. I highly recommend working on your mindset and this will determine whether you give up, whether you are happy, and whether you can make your dreams come true.
What is your favourite business book?
To be honest, I read more about coaching and leadership than business… maybe that’s my downfall! My partner just gave The Lean Start-up: How Constant Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries. It’s an international bestseller, so should be good! It’s my next read.
What are your top tips for networking?
Here are a few top tips for networking. 1. Be yourself. 2. I just got this tip from my business coach – leave every networking event with 3 follow-up calls/connections. 3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help (see, here is my insight from my own coaching session!). See who you can serve and who can serve you, be intentional about exploring collaboration.
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
My daily morning routine (exercise, cold shower, short mediation) energizes me and gets me into a positive mindset. And then my afternoon walk helps me recalibrate, go back to being being present, being grateful and content with what I have and who I am. I’m also taking a weekly dip in the sea – we’ll see if I can maintain this during the colder months (yikes)!
What is your motto or theme song?
Be the change you want to see – grow yourself to grow your vision.
How do you relax?
I have a number of ways I relax. I go for walks, sing, doodle/paint while listening to classical music, read, cook.
What place inspires you and why?
My favourite place is being in the mountains, surrounded by nature and beautiful views. Being high up and seeing nature in all its glory – and having to get there through exertion – makes me realize that the world is a majestic place. The planet is larger than humanity, it has forces that destroy and give life. It’s beautiful, raw, and real.
What do you care most about, as a business owner?
What I care most about is serving my clients to the best of my ability. As a former educator, counsellor, and leader, I’ve been serving others my entire life. It’s what I do and who I am.
What are your future plans?
To become the chosen coach for leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs who want to work on their mindset to lead a fulfilling life and career.
Are you running any offers or promotions that you would like us to mention?
Anyone who is part of WBII can get a 10% discount on my coaching programmes.
How can we as a network collaborate and support each other?
I’m always happy to brainstorm, support and explore. I believe in the power of giving and supporting women in particular (I’m a feminist!). I’ve already been helped by so many people, I am happy to give back.
Thank you Karin!
For more information about Karin Holley visit Karin Holley Coaching.
We ask our members to share a few thoughts: to introduce themselves to fellow members, and those who are interested in our community.
In this instalment, we interview Karin Holley of Karin Holley Coaching.
Tell us about your business:
I help ambitious, passionate, and mission-driven leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs, who feel they are not living up to their potential and purpose, go from self-sabotage to being the best version of themselves, so that they can grow their personal and professional visions.
What 5 words would you choose to describe your business?
Transformative Personal Professional Mission-driven Growth
What are your most popular products or services?
My most popular services are my four month and year-long coaching programmes that include mental fitness training in small groups and 1:1 coaching. I also give training to teams in coaching skills and mental fitness.
What do you like best about owning a business?
I love being free and creative. Being an entrepreneur is challenging me to grow, do things that I never thought I would or could do. I feel more confident in who I am, what I stand for and value. I’m getting to know myself, all my strengths and short-comings. I’m learning every day. I get to live my values of trust, believing in yourself, connection, growth and making a difference.
What or who inspired you to start your business?
I worked in international education my entire life and was reaching midlife and thought… I’ve got about another 25 years of work ahead of me. What else is out there? How can I keep growing personally and professionally? I realized that my life-long international experiences and my ability to make others truly feel heard and seen, brought me to this moment to try something new. It was time to compliment my teaching, counselling, and leadership skills with coaching. I took a year to complete several international coaching certifications. And so my coaching business was born.
What makes your products/services special?
I think what makes my services special a combination of my lived experiences with my mental fitness training and 1:1 coaching. Having lived, worked, and traveled to many parts of the world, both as a child and as an adult, I easily adapt and relate to many different cultures; I feel at home in multi-cultural environments. I also know what it’s like to go through big life and career transitions experiencing things like intense loneliness, culture shock, home-sickness, starting over, reinventing oneself, anxiety, and burnout. The mental fitness training I do is very powerful – and life-transforming. It allows clients to quickly gain insights into what is keeping them stuck in thoughts and behaviours that no longer serve them. And it gives them tools to self-coach, to become more resilient, and experience more calm and confidence in their lives. We do the training in small groups, so that people realize that they are not alone in their experience, and they support, inspire and learn from each other. In the 1:1 coaching we tackle the particular obstacles that an individual is experiencing so that they can take on empowering beliefs and mind-sets to grow their visions.
Who is your role model or mentor?
Shirzad Chamine – the founder of Positive Intelligence/mental fitness. He’s very wise and experienced. He has created a powerful coaching framework combining research from neuroscience, cognitive behavioural therapy, performance science and positive psychology. It has transformed my life and I also see the impact on my clients.
What is your biggest fear?
My biggest fear is to be the kick-ass coach that I am, but not be able to communicate/market that effectively, so I don’t have enough clients to ensure my business is successful.
What motivates you on a daily basis?
What motivates me is my mission and vision. My mission is to have a positive impact in the world, make it a better place by helping leaders and change-makers improve their parts of the world. It’s an honour to witness and be part of the growth of someone as they settle, become more self-aware, take on their fears, start to experience more joy, and become more calm, clear-headed and confident.
My vision is having a successful coaching business that gives me the freedom to do what I’m good at and live the life I want to lead (to be able to have a fulfilling career while also having the time and space to be healthy, be there for my family and friends, engage in creative pursuits, and travel).
What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
Overcoming my own mental obstacles/saboteurs!! Mental fitness, just like physical fitness, is a life-time pursuit. It’s fascinating when and how the saboteurs show up sometimes. Just yesterday, in a conversation with my business coach, I realized a thought that was holding me back, one that has pursued me my entire life. Ironically, as a service provider, I struggle myself, to ask for help. I think I should be able to do everything on my own. But I’m getting so much better at noticing this feeling, being kind to myself, and asking for help anyway..
What advice would you give women who are starting a business?
For me the foundation of this adventure, and what has given me the strength and courage to do this, has been mental fitness. I couldn’t be an entrepreneur without it. I highly recommend working on your mindset and this will determine whether you give up, whether you are happy, and whether you can make your dreams come true.
What is your favourite business book?
To be honest, I read more about coaching and leadership than business… maybe that’s my downfall! My partner just gave The Lean Start-up: How Constant Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries. It’s an international bestseller, so should be good! It’s my next read.
What are your top tips for networking?
Here are a few top tips for networking. 1. Be yourself. 2. I just got this tip from my business coach – leave every networking event with 3 follow-up calls/connections. 3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help (see, here is my insight from my own coaching session!). See who you can serve and who can serve you, be intentional about exploring collaboration.
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
My daily morning routine (exercise, cold shower, short mediation) energizes me and gets me into a positive mindset. And then my afternoon walk helps me recalibrate, go back to being being present, being grateful and content with what I have and who I am. I’m also taking a weekly dip in the sea – we’ll see if I can maintain this during the colder months (yikes)!
What is your motto or theme song?
Be the change you want to see – grow yourself to grow your vision.
How do you relax?
I have a number of ways I relax. I go for walks, sing, doodle/paint while listening to classical music, read, cook.
What place inspires you and why?
My favourite place is being in the mountains, surrounded by nature and beautiful views. Being high up and seeing nature in all its glory – and having to get there through exertion – makes me realize that the world is a majestic place. The planet is larger than humanity, it has forces that destroy and give life. It’s beautiful, raw, and real.
What do you care most about, as a business owner?
What I care most about is serving my clients to the best of my ability. As a former educator, counsellor, and leader, I’ve been serving others my entire life. It’s what I do and who I am.
What are your future plans?
To become the chosen coach for leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs who want to work on their mindset to lead a fulfilling life and career.
Are you running any offers or promotions that you would like us to mention?
Anyone who is part of WBII can get a 10% discount on my coaching programmes.
How can we as a network collaborate and support each other?
I’m always happy to brainstorm, support and explore. I believe in the power of giving and supporting women in particular (I’m a feminist!). I’ve already been helped by so many people, I am happy to give back.
Thank you Karin!
For more information about Karin Holley visit Karin Holley Coaching.