I coach mid-career corporate women to build the confidence and courage to face their fears so they can realize their full potential.
When we find ourselves stuck in our careers, it is often because our career no longer aligns with who we want to be in the world, and we know we are meant for more. Sometimes fear can be holding us back, and sometimes it’s more. As your coach, I am interested in you as a whole person. With gentle curiosity, I will explore all domains of your life, to see what could be in the way of overcoming that challenge, reaching that aspiration, or embracing that opportunity that will bring you closer to the life of fulfillment that is awaiting you. By offering you my full presence, we create a safe space to allow the truth to naturally arise, and will discover together the path that will most authentically align with your vision and purpose.
How we show up in our careers and life is often more influenced by our way of being in the world than by what we are doing. When we are operating from a place of fear, we keep ourselves from fully expressing who we know we are meant to be. I will empower you with tools, resources, and practices to build new competencies to help you grow in your career. By observing yourself and experimenting with these practices, we will uncover underlying patterns that are keeping you from realizing your full potential. I will offer you new perspectives and distinctions to help integrate new ways of thinking and feeling about yourself and your world, to build your capacity to be with whatever life brings you whether inside or outside of work.
You already possess the power and wisdom to create the career you want, and my role is to help you realize that power. Sometimes our greatest gifts are overshadowed by our greatest fears. When embarking on something new or taking a bold risk, having a coach can help you build the courage to explore the unknown. By engaging in and committing to your development, we will nurture your courage and strength to be your true self and take bold action in new ways that will have you living joyfully and confidently in a career you love. If you are seeking to transform your professional life into one with more balance, courage, self-expression, passion, fulfillment, and breakthroughs, join me on this journey to explore what is possible.
ABOUT LAILA
My Coaching WORK
I am certified as an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach™ (PCC)™ and an Integral Coach® by New Ventures West. My training program at New Ventures West has been recognized by the ICF as an Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP). We learned from expert coaches, practiced with multiple clients, and obtained feedback through careful observation by our mentors. This methodology, based on research, theory, and practice, has equipped me with tools and models to fully assess the complexity of my clients’ lives. This allows me to gain a deeper understanding of my client so that I can best design a coaching plan that will build the right competencies needed to fulfill what is most important in their lives. In addition to my ongoing one-on-one work with clients, I have served on the adjunct faculty at New Ventures West, am a certified restorative yoga teacher, and practice as a certified mindfulness meditation facilitator.
My Path to Coaching
My intention for the work I want to do in the world has always been the same: to help others do and be what they never thought possible. I went into engineering to work on prosthetics—to enable people to do what they previously could not do. Although I loved science and math, engineering was not the right fit for me, and I knew it from day one. I then transitioned to project management at large companies like Genentech and Johnson & Johnson. Through my work on teams, I provided the tools and resources to help people explore options and make wise decisions. I enjoyed project management, but there was still something missing in how I wanted to be of service to the world and provide impact. I never felt quite fulfilled until I found coaching, and looking back I see how my path led me to just where I need to be. Coaching has brought all of my values & intentions together: As your coach, I seek to support you with insights, tools, and resources, to help you listen to your innate wisdom and align with who you are meant to be, so you can do and be more than you thought was possible.
MY LIFE
I was born and raised in the California Bay Area. As a daughter of immigrant parents, my culture and spirituality have continued to remain important pillars of my life, and I am curious about how people integrate into new worlds of life—whether that be in work, relationships, or otherwise. I am always seeking to expand my world and learn more about this life and our experience of being human. I practice this through continuing my own personal development, enjoying hobbies I love like pottery and tennis, and connecting with my loved ones. I am also enjoying being a mom and witnessing human development through the growth of my little one. I am so grateful to my clients for allowing me to share in their experience and growth, and through them, to feel more connected to our common humanity.
MY EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach (PCC)™
Certified New Ventures West Integral Coach®
Qualified Inner Team Dialogue Practitioner
Certified Mindfulness Meditation Facilitator
PsychHub Mental Health Ally Certification
Certified Relax and Renew® Level 1 & 2 Restorative Yoga Teacher
Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®)
Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Faculty at New Ventures West
Mental Health Coach at Lyra Health
Life & Wellness Coach at Spring Health
Leadership Coach at Growthspace
Professional & Personal Coach at Boon Health
Project and Program Manager, and Chief of Staff at Fortune 500 Companies
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
—MARY OLIVER
What Coaching Offers
By engaging in the coaching program, you are truly committing to your personal development. Coaching can help you:
Integrate balance and harmony into work and life
Deepen trust and connection in your relationships
Foster courage to make a career change
Build the capacity to take risks in your career
Develop self-compassion and resilience
Discover and pursue your passions
Express your voice more confidently
Realize breakthroughs in your performance
Create new possibilities for your extraordinary life!
WHY I COACH
I coach because there is something magical about helping my clients recognize that more is possible for their lives than they had previously imagined. I become witness to that light of awareness in you— the moment when you have a new insight and perspective or begin to break free of an old pattern or belief. At this moment you look up, your posture becomes more upright, and you begin a transformation, small step by small step. Being witness to that process fills me with joy and affirms for me that this is the work I was meant to do. I wish for that same feeling for all my clients. You have so many gifts to offer the world, and when you are attuned to those gifts, you will be aligned with what life is asking of you.
HOW I COACH
I see coaching as a co-creative partnership—one that grows through a nurturing support system where you feel safe to be seen as you really are. Over time, your innate wisdom, intuition, and inner voice may have become quieted by outside influences. My intention is to encourage you to go within, and regain access to your internal truth.
We often feel stuck because we are only aware of the surface of an issue. My coaching goes a level deeper— to become grounded in the reality of where you are and what is really happening—to find the true starting point from which you can build the confidence and courage to pursue your potential.
Embracing the coaching process means stepping out of your comfort zone. When you are willing to share authentically and explore what might feel difficult, you will be more enabled to break free from old ways of being, and new possibilities can open up for you and your career. With your commitment and my support, we can discover together how to bring you closer to living a professional life that expresses the fullness and wonder of you.
Just beyond yourself. It’s where you need to be.
—DAVID WHYTE
“Working with Laila over the last year has been – to put it simply – transformational.”
—MH, Vice President, Communications Firm
Personal development is a journey. When a client decides to embark on this journey, I join them to help guide their path. Read more about their experience of working with me.
As the owner of a small creative business, I am constantly looking to find balance between the demands of work and a social life. Laila has helped me realize I have the power to tip the scales in my own hands. Admittedly, I tend to feel like a victim of the stresses in my life. My work with Laila has led me to believe otherwise. Learning the power of saying “no” and not having to give an explanation for it has been an extremely valuable lesson. Laila made me feel comfortable with myself, my habits, and my ability to improve behaviors in all aspects of my life. I enjoyed working with Laila so much, that I am currently in my second round of sessions with her and I love it! —Leah J., Small Business Owner
Laila is one of the greatest coaches and healers I’ve ever met. She has helped me through some of the hardest times of my life. She knows how to listen deeply and lift me up out of hopelessness. She has the skills that always lead me back into self love, empowerment, and excitement for life. I highly recommend her to anyone who is blessed enough to cross her path. She will help you follow your inner guide as you create a life you love. —Lauren Stocksdale, Art Therapist and Nutritionist
Working with Laila over the last year has been – to put it simply – transformational. At every turn, Laila dug deep, asked me questions and helped me reflect about the underlying fears, doubts, desires, and goals – the stuff you don’t even know is going on but in reality is shaping every single one of your decisions and relationships. Laila digs into that—with enormous compassion, wit, and always deep insights and works with you to discover your inner warrior and creative genius. —MH, Vice President, Communications Firm
Laila has supported me in my development through unwavering presence, deep inquiry and joy. She has an elegant way of walking you through a challenge with questions that open up the world. She is patient and creative, bringing in new perspective and powerful distinctions to an experience. Laila’s zest for life is contagious and she makes the journey of self discovery more exciting and fulfilling. I highly recommend her! —Mariana Velez, Coach & Leadership Facilitator
Laila is a stellar collaborator and coach. She served as a valuable resource to both coachees and her fellow peers. Her willingness to go far and beyond was evident, and her patience and overall style and approach always proved to be effective and successful with me and my team. It was a pleasure and honor to have the opportunity to work with her. —Victoria H., Auditing Business Owner
I started working with Laila as a coach during a difficult period in my life. My experience with Laila helped me uncover the common thread I struggled with—my inability to deal with life’s uncertainty. Laila is attentive and focuses on developing a coaching plan that is right for you, one that is action-oriented but also incorporates self-care, meditation, podcasts and literature. Coaching with Laila has been one of the best investments in my personal development. —Jessica C., Global Manufacturing Engineer
Laila put together a wise and insightful coaching plan that couldn’t have been more perfect. It reimagined where I wanted to be in a way that I can only describe as inspirational. Laila has this unique ability to provide new ways of thinking about a situation that always creates more freedom and possibility. I’ve been blown away by her ability to lean into just the right things to help old ideas reveal themselves and loosen their grip on my perspective. She’s an incredible listener, she has a knack for suggesting the right resource for every moment, and she gently, but purposefully leads your work towards your desired goals. Because of her coaching, my view on my world is so much more flexible, confident, and compassionate. -Julie H., Branding & Design Studio Co-Owner
The sessions with Laila were very therapeutic and I always walked out feeling like I discovered parts of myself that I had forgotten even existed; the years do that to us. She gave me the freedom to explore sides to my personality just to see if it would help achieve my overarching goal. Laila is a great listener, and always made sure the sessions were meaningful. She helped me look at myself very differently. If there was one big takeaway, it was to open up to the world and not lose out on the opportunities that may be waiting. -Shiva, Sr. Director
Laila has incredible insights and a way with words, that is almost poetic, to help you understand or reach the core of the issue. Her comforting kindness allows you to open up almost instantly. She has helped me immensely in my never-ending battle with self-worth and value, and has been caring, patient and an amazing support to me since the very beginning. She is simply a beautiful person and an amazing coach. -Sofi V., Jewelry and Textile Designer
LET’S CONNECT
I’d love to share how we can work together to help you reach your full career potential. Contact me to schedule a free consultation. I look forward to hearing from you!