We were lucky to catch up with Renee Dominguez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Renee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so one thing we think people don’t talk about nearly enough is investments – either time or money. What’s one of the best or worst investments you’ve made and what did you learned from the experience?

The best investment was hiring a coach I had on my wish list to work with. Didn’t think it would ever be possible but also knew that I could make it happen. This person is a world renowned motivational speaker who sparks emotions and transformations with every word she speaks. I invested the money and time which was outside my comfort zone as I never spend so much money on a coach. I learned how to tell a story from stage, how to connect and engage with my audience. To this day, I’m always complimented for my energy and connections I’m able to create in a large room.

The worst investment is hiring a coach and her team who were excellent at marketing and said all the right things, but didn’t deliver on the promise. They only didn’t deliver, they didn’t care. I was mad at first but then used this as a valuable lesson on how to NOT show up in my own business.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a disruptor. I’m someone who is changing the game on how women get to show up for themselves in their career or business. See, I was her. I was in corporate with the right degrees, worked at the right places, had the right job titles, and yet, I was still made to feel like I wasn’t enough. When I went to networking events and shared my frustrations, other successful women raised their hands saying “me to”. Decisions that were theirs to make was being made by others and it was totally acceptable in the workplace. After 8 months of hearing more and more stories like this, I finally decided to quit my job and take massive action into my calling and purpose.

Today, I work with women who are ready to own their space with authority and authenticity while also learning how to make massive changes in their lives. My team and I believe that when you’re living from your authentic purpose, you can’t help but succeed.

We offer a variety of services, including one-on-one coaching, live masterminds with other like-minded women, retreats, and group workshops.

What makes me different is that I’m not a marketing person. I’m a businesswoman who has been in my avatar’s shoes. I know the pain and frustrations and built my business to help those who are ready for more in their lives. I’ve invested the multi-six figures to learn what I wished I knew while in corporate. I have successfully supported my clients in leaving their soul-sucking jobs to start purpose-driven businesses. I’ve also supported clients with pay raises and new career opportunities making more money than they ever thought possible.

Working with me and my team is not just about business, but about creating a life on your terms, with ease. Success ins’t meant to be a hustle and when you are surrounded by those who get you – you become unstoppable.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

For more than twenty years, I was the definition of a corporate trooper. I did everything by the book, checked all the right boxes, but still, it was like I was invisible. There I was, always the first one in the office, the last one to leave, yet constantly asked why I wasn’t doing enough or, strangely, why I was doing too much. Leadership? I was either ‘too much’ or ‘not enough’. And let me tell you, being often the only woman in those meeting rooms? That’s a whole other level of tough. I even found myself mimicking the guys just to get by, but man, did that cost me my joy and peace. I ended up angry, snapping at everyone, and one day, I looked in the mirror and thought, “Who is this person?”

I kept thinking that if I just learned one more skill, got one more degree or certification, I’d finally be ‘enough’. So, I did it – got the degree, the certs, went to all the seminars. But all I got from that was a one-way ticket to burnout and feeling downright depressed.

Then came the last straw. My boss started nitpicking everything. “Renee, you were in a meeting you weren’t supposed to be.” “Renee, why’d you call that vendor?” “Renee, who said you can apply for that job?” The day he called me out for taking notes in a meeting, that was it. I just dropped everything and said, “I quit”. I knew deep down, I was meant for something bigger. It was time to bet on myself.

Those 20 years in the corporate grind? They weren’t just a job; they were my boot camp for entrepreneurship. Starting your own thing is tough, it messes with your head, makes you question who you are and what you’re doing. But I’ve never been clearer about who I am and what I’m here to do. And I haven’t looked back since.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Redefining success away from the hustle was like trying to change the direction of a river. I’d spent so long equating success with that non-stop grind, it was almost like second nature to me. When I started my own business, it hit me – this was my shot to do things differently. I didn’t want my business to just be successful; I wanted it to resonate with joy, purpose, and passion. But man, unlearning that hustle mindset? That was tough. Every decision I made, I’d hear that old voice telling me to push harder, work longer, do more. It was a real challenge to shift gears and remember that this time around, success meant more than just hitting targets; it meant finding a balance and feeling good about what I was doing.

It was a slow and steady journey to get there. I had to teach myself to take a step back, to breathe and actually enjoy the process. I won’t lie, there were times I felt guilty, like I was slacking off or risking everything I’d worked for. But over time, I started to see the change. I began aligning my business with what I was truly passionate about. Meetings became less about winning and more about meaningful exchanges of ideas. Working with clients transformed into building lasting, fulfilling relationships. I learned that success isn’t about how hard you hustle; it’s about creating something that brings real value and joy, not just to your life, but to those around you too.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.empoweredleadhership.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweredcoach
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renee.dominguez/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/empoweredcoach/

Image Credits
Drew Mraz, Carina Fleckner