Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brenna Potter. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Brenna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

Before becoming a coach, I worked in HR, starting as a Sr. Human Resource Assistant and eventually advancing to an HR Business Partner role. Along the way, I learned invaluable lessons about people leadership—things I hadn’t picked up from previous student leadership positions. HR often comes with a lot of connotations—many think HR isn’t your friend—but I always aimed to shift that narrative for the employees and managers I supported. I saw my role as serving both the company and its employees. Without engaged and effective employees, how can a company function at its best? Making sure they had the tools, knowledge, and resources to perform their jobs well was a significant part of my responsibilities.

There were certainly stressful parts of the job, as with any role. Employees would often come to me with issues that, in the grand scheme of my responsibilities, weren’t emergencies. However, as I grew in my roles, I realized that for the employee bringing the issue, it might feel urgent. I had to remind myself that their perspective mattered, even if the situation didn’t seem critical from where I sat. This understanding taught me one of the most valuable lessons in my career: the power of listening, really listening, and giving people the space to express themselves.

This experience pushed me to explore empathy and compassion more deeply, particularly in a work setting. While I still had a job to do, I made it a point to be as kind and understanding as possible because I realized that people need to feel seen, heard, and validated. We all go through challenges, and sometimes we don’t have the internal or external support systems to help us cope. Even when employees were simply having a frustrating day, listening to them made a significant difference. Just feeling acknowledged was often enough.

Ultimately, the ability to truly listen has been one of the most powerful skills I’ve developed and continue to refine. It builds trust, strengthens relationships, and helps connect with people on a deeper level. That human connection is essential, and I carry that lesson with me in all aspects of my work today.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Absolutely! I’m a daughter, sister, friend, girlfriend, cat mom, and certified life coach with a passion for helping people create lives they truly love. Aiming to build confidence and help clients follow their own unique path, my work centers around guiding clients to break free from the boxes they feel pressured to fit into and discover and pursue what truly speaks to their soul. This is not just work for me. It is my mission and a major part of my life purpose. I’ve always been someone who walks to the beat of my own drum so much of my work is deeply rooted in my own journey.

During college, I went through a personal growth journey that led me to discover the coaching industry. I immediately fell in love with the idea of helping people improve their lives, figure out where they are now, where they want to go, and how to get there. I knew early on that I wanted to be in a helping profession, and coaching felt like the perfect fit. I was excited about empowering people to live full, meaningful lives, not just feel like a cog in the machine.

After graduating, I initially took a detour into HR, where I spent a few years learning about business, people leadership, and how to navigate the corporate world. While it was a valuable experience, I quickly realized that my heart wasn’t in it—I still felt called to coaching. So, while working in HR, I pursued my life coaching certification, preparing myself to transition into the career I knew I was meant for.

What sets me apart as a coach is that this work is more than just a career for me—it’s my mission and purpose. I love people and I deeply care about helping individuals find their own answers and live a life that feels fulfilling and aligned with who they are. My goal is to create a space where clients feel empowered to explore what gives them joy, purpose, and meaning and then apply it to live their best lives.

Currently I work with individuals one on one helping them to overcome self-doubt, build confidence, and navigate the complexities of life. Often I find myself working with people who want more from their lives but don’t always know where to start—whether it’s in relationships, career, or overall personal growth. I’m proud to say that through my coaching, clients gain clarity, set achievable goals, and ultimately transform their lives in ways that they once only dreamed of.

On a more personal and fun note, beyond coaching, I spend a lot of my time with my boyfriend and our two sweet cats. Of course I also do my best to make it a priority to stay connected with friends and family and make time for hobbies such as art, cooking, journaling, and finding ways to spend more time outdoors.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

The most honest experience that comes to mind when I think about pivoting is how my journey into entrepreneurship has evolved. When I first envisioned starting my coaching business, I imagined going all in—working full-time, booking out my practice, doing speaking gigs, and more. While none of that is off the table, I quickly realized that entrepreneurship comes with humbling realities that meet you right at the gate. Starting a business is expensive, and with me building mine from scratch, there was a huge learning curve. I poured a lot of time and money into launching my business, as expected.

What I didn’t anticipate was the impact of recovering from burnout from my previous job at the same time I was starting my business. In hindsight, that timing wasn’t ideal, and it made my first year particularly challenging. I had to balance my recovery while pushing myself to build my dream, and things didn’t quite go as planned. I didn’t have the energy or mental capacity to give the level of dedication and consistency it takes to not only set up a business but to get the word out, establish clientele, and make it thrive. I didn’t hit the milestones I had envisioned, which was disappointing, but looking back, it all makes sense given what I had going on. I’m proud of how far I’ve come.

Over time, I’ve realized the importance of slowing down and being more intentional with my decisions. I started applying the same philosophies I teach my clients—doing things in a way that feels aligned with who I am. Still, about nine months in, I had to face the reality that to maintain my lifestyle and continue growing my business, I would need another job. That realization was tough, but I knew it was necessary, and I was willing to do whatever it took. It took nearly a year of searching before I found a part-time job that aligned with my skills and values. Navigating the job market while balancing my mental health and dealing with financial strain was difficult, but eventually, I found a role that I enjoy, and it has made all the difference. Now, I work part-time for another company while continuing to build my business. I also have a third job that I do a few nights a week, which is fulfilling in its own way.

Balancing these jobs, my business, and my personal life is a lot, but I’ve been fortunate to piece together opportunities that support me financially and fulfill me personally. This pivot wasn’t what I originally envisioned for myself, but it has worked out better than I could have imagined. I’m in a season where I feel secure, even with the multiple demands on my time, and I’m grateful that everything I’m doing aligns with what I enjoy.

To sum it up, my pivot moment was realizing that I needed additional income and finding a way to balance that with my business without giving up on my dream. That shift has allowed me to continue growing my business while feeling more secure and fulfilled in the process.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Practice, practice, practice! I believe that in any service-oriented profession, especially coaching, the key to success lies in continually honing your skills. There’s a chapter that solidified this for me in the book The Prosperous Coach by Steve Chandler and Rich Litvin: “Without a Client You’re Not a Coach.” This chapter, and truthfully the rest of the book too, taught me the importance of actively working with people and applying what you’ve learned.

While tools, techniques, and training are essential, nothing compares to the hands-on experience of actually coaching. One way I personally practice is through peer coaching. It’s an incredible opportunity to work with someone who understands coaching from a different perspective than a typical client. You get to exchange feedback and gain hands-on learning that truly sharpens your abilities. For me, this continuous practice has made a huge difference in both my self-confidence and my overall success as a coach.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.coaching2confidence.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/coachingtoconfidence23
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091230811424
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coaching-to-confidence-llc/