Have you ever felt lost in your career, suffered from imposter syndrome, or found yourself stuck in one place, yearning for growth? If your answer is yes to any of those questions, you’re not alone. Many people are on the same journey, looking for answers.
That’s why a community of South Florida women is available to help.
Women in Miami Tech, started in 2016 by Maria Derchi, focuses on supporting and advancing women in technology through networking, events, coaching, mentorship, and more. With more than 3,000 members and engaging monthly events, Derchi’s focus and mission are to build momentum for women within the Miami Tech ecosystem.
That’s why Women in Miami Tech , together with the City of Miami’s Department of Economic Innovation and Development, launched the You Belong Series, a monthly installment with a mission to help women feel empowered, confident, and engaged with the Miami Tech ecosystem.
On Tuesday, September 30, during the fifth installment of the You Belong Series: The Power of Career Coaching, women from all over South Florida came together to hear directly from seven career coaches [pictured above] about the critical tools that can help individuals understand their identity, values, and vision – not just in their professional lives, but in their personal ones as well.
Sharing their thoughts and lessons learned on stage were four career coach panelists, moderated by Rhapsodi Pierre-Jacques, founder of Introsense and HerKind; Nathalie Weister, who focuses on embodied leadership coaching; Domonique Worship, an executive coach and leadership advisor; and Katherine Huang, founder and executive coach of Flywheel Executive Coaching.
After the panel discussion, the coaches – including Nurdes Gomez, Rosario Lago and Shakti Radhakishun – met in smaller groups with the attendees.
Here are three things we learned from these coaches about our professional and personal journeys:
- There’s a difference between coaching, mentorship, and therapy.
What is coaching, anyway? The answer is that coaching is a tool to help you realize your own goals and vision for yourself. You’re the expert in your own life, not the coach.
Throughout their panel discussion, the coaches emphasized that coaching is a “forward-looking process” that can help individuals clarify their goals and overcome any limiting beliefs they may have about themselves or their careers.
“Coaching is a process to get you from where you are to where you want to go,” Worship said. “When I’m supporting my clients through coaching, I’m helping them get clear on three things: first is who they are at their core. Second is their vision. And third is unlocking our own limiting beliefs – I call it the ‘saboteur,’ or the inner critic and voice in our heads. If you’re not mindful about how you’re navigating that voice, it can get in the way.”
- It’s important to understand yourself to create clear goals and objectives.
When working with a career coach, think of them as your accountability partner. It’s important to have clear, actionable goals – if you don’t have this, then what are you working toward?
“Being super clear and having those discrete goals of, ‘I want to achieve X, Y, and Z by this timeline’ is essential for success,” Huang said. “Clients should come prepared with specific objectives they want to achieve, as this clarity enhances the coaching experience and allows for targeted support, ultimately aiding in accountability and measuring progress.”
- Embrace the “messy middle” of your professional and personal journey.
We all know what the “messy middle” is like – that gray area where you know you’re doing well. Your resume is stacked, you’re at the peak of your career, but you still don’t know if you feel that drive or purpose to keep doing this forever.
The “messy middle” is that phase where you may feel uncertain about your career direction or next career move. And that’s okay.
“These blind spots are not just obstacles; they’re opportunities and invitations to expand our awareness,” Weister said. “When we find ourselves in the ‘messy middle,’ it’s essential to recognize this phase of uncertainty can lead to profound personal growth. Embracing those moments allows us to uncover hidden strengths and insights, ultimately guiding us toward our next steps and helping us align more closely with our true purpose.”
“Take that pressure off of yourself and embrace the messy middle as just a reality of growth, not necessarily a problem to solve,” Worship said. “Identifying non-negotiables during this time helps individuals on what truly matters – in life, you have your rubber balls and you have your crystal balls. Crystal balls are made of glass; you drop them, they shatter. So get really clear on what your rubber balls and what your crystal balls are.”
To stay updated on the sixth and final You Belong Series event, make sure to sign up for the Women in Tech newsletter or the Refresh Miami newsletter by visiting refreshmiami.com/wimt/.
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