We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joan Russell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joan below.

Joan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I’ve taken quite a few risks in my life and career (and am in the “messy middle” portion of one now!).

But the one I’m most fond of was the first one. I was 23 years old, working as an accounting assistant in another state, and I HATED it. I had always wanted to work in the entertainment industry! I loved music, stage management, and managing events and bands, but I couldn’t imagine making money at it. My mother was sick and dying, and I decided to go back home to help and go back to school.

I was not a “school” person, but with that crazy goal of working in the music industry in mind (I knew NOBODY who had tried to do that and was told I was nuts and that what I wanted to do didn’t exist), I started at community college and then transferred to the University of the Pacific, where I earned a BS in Business Management with an emphasis in Entertainment Management without any guarantee of a paying gig. I interviewed for a lot of internships in LA and ultimately decided to take an unpaid one at an independent metal label so I could learn everything about the industry. From there, I moved on to an underpaid job at another indie label, then was recruited into television with USA Networks, then Disney, and eventually found an amazing career in Inflight Entertainment, where I licensed music, movies, and television shows for airlines around the world.

It’s funny how it all worked out! I had read an article in Cosmo years before about how you could work and travel. I had always wanted to do that, and in the end, I got to work in entertainment and travel for a living.

Joan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, I’m Joan! I’m a Change Coach and Transformation Strategist, helping individuals and organizations navigate life and work transitions to unlock growth, achieve goals, and thrive with clarity, resilience, and purpose.

Drawing on years of experience in corporate leadership and coaching, I combine practical change management strategies with tools like the Enneagram, Life Design, and mindfulness to create actionable plans for success. My mission is to empower you to embrace change as an opportunity for transformation and step confidently into your next chapter — whether that’s a career pivot, a major life transition, or adapting to the rapid changes happening in today’s world.

I offer 1:1 coaching, workshops, and events, as well as corporate coaching, and I’m available for speaking engagements and facilitation. My work is all about making the process of change feel less overwhelming and more exciting by providing clear, structured strategies and support to help you move forward.

What sets me apart is my ability to blend deep insight with a practical, strategic approach that combines mindset shifts with real-world action. I don’t just talk about transformation; I help people live it. My background spans corporate leadership, entertainment, and entrepreneurship, giving me a unique lens on how people and organizations evolve.

I’m most proud of the impact my work has had on my clients to help them gain clarity, make big moves they never thought possible, and step into lives and careers that truly align with their purpose. My brand, Intuitive North, is all about guiding people through the unknown with confidence, knowing that change isn’t something to fear, it’s the key to unlocking your greatest potential.

If you’re looking for support in navigating change—whether personal, professional, or organizational—I’d love to help you turn uncertainty into opportunity.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your firm or practice?

I funded my business by doing it on the side of my corporate day job for over 2 years before going full time and I won a pitch contest

It was really helpful to me to think of my corporate job as an “angel investor” in my business, helping to fund it from my salary while I learned the ropes.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to, and still am unlearning being hyper independent.

Fact is you can’t do everything yourself, and if you do it sets you back.

Having coaches, mentors, supporters, cheerleaders (and maybe a good therapist) will only help you deal with the constantly changing dynamics of launching a business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.intuitivenorth.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoanrussell/