When I look back at the start of my career in 1991, having an executive coach or career strategist for guidance was not even a thought—I don’t believe they existed back then, at least not in my circles. 

Many of us had to pave our way, relying on the support of managers and the few mentors we had access to. One of my clients, Jeanette, told me recently, “Ginny, gone are the days when we have to do this by ourselves,” and I couldn’t agree more!

How come I’m sharing this? 

I’ve noticed that it’s not uncommon for careerwomen like us to feel lonely and unsupported. We need structured guidance to integrate our cultural obligations as mothers, daughters, and partners with our professional responsibilities and development.

Often, we get caught in the “tactical trap” of excelling at daily tasks but lacking the strategic vision required to reach the next level if that’s what we want. 

In my case, back in those days, I leaned on the supportive figures in my life—such as my dad and managers who doubled as my sponsors and mentors.

Part of my strategic vision was to become a leader and be in high demand. I wanted to capture my managers’ endorsement by demonstrating a strong work ethic and becoming a valuable and dependable employee.

 I figured that to be in high demand, I needed to put “keys in my pocket,” as my dad called it. Those keys included continuing my post-college education to expand my knowledge base and understanding of the business world.

While working full-time, I earned my MBA in management, a master’s in computer science, and a Ph.D. in information systems. I chose this route to leverage tuition reimbursement benefits at my companies while earning real-life experience in my technology field. 

Those keys and my sponsors and mentors helped me open doors and windows throughout my leadership journey. I felt confident applying for higher-level roles and eventually became one of seven Directors reporting to the Chief Information Officer of my company. 

I can only imagine how much easier and faster my trajectory would have been had I relied on the guidance and support of an experienced and caring leadership coach who had my best interest at heart. 

The good news is, it’s not 1991! LOL. Today, career coaches are a “thing.” Navigating a male-dominated environment where female role models were few and far between, being the “only” in the room, and feeling isolated, among other things, was quite challenging.

When I founded Fearless Women @Work and ExecutiveBound, I wanted to become that support for other women and leaders who are now enduring what I had experienced all those years ago. 

We are here to help you and your organizations by providing valuable resources you can apply immediately to continue evolving into the leaders we’re here to become. And there’s no excuse why we should continue doing it alone. 👇

You can connect with us over a complimentary one-on-one strategy session at www.CallWithGinny.com to clarify your vision and create a plan to tackle today’s challenges head-on.

Live with purpose, live with joy!

Coach Ginny 💕