I was one of those people who never “fit in at work.” I spent 15 years on a traditional career path in HR, talent management, and learning and development at Fortune 500 companies, so this was much more than an isolated incident. Repeatedly having these experiences motivated me to drive real change in the workplace and organizational cultures for good.

I started with the traditional approach of attempting to make change from the inside, but I eventually discovered the potential of leadership and team coaching to change entire organizational cultures. This unconventional yet evidence-based approach was refreshing and a welcome respite from the traditional programs that were clearly not preparing executives to lead diverse teams, create cultures of belonging, or cultivate psychological safety on their teams.. I was motivated to inspire change in these cultures that were stuck at the surface level.

Through my own experiences and by observing others around me, I had learned that it wasn’t so much about the skills, values, and attitudes you bring to the table. What mattered in corporate culture was fitting in on a very superficial, surface level. Do you look the part? Have you bought into the competitive, relentless, undercutting standards of corporate leadership? Are you forced to keep your personal problems at home? It’s a terrible way to live. To make matters worse, I found it incredibly frustrating to realize that corporate leaders just didn’t have the people skills to work with people like me: someone different. Coaching emerged as my unique opportunity to develop them into leaders who prioritize belonging over fitting in.