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

Hi Claudia , thanks for joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

This wasn’t my plan. It was my purpose. I just didn’t know it. I didn’t set out to start a company and do all these incredible things. It is amazing what happens when you look back and see the breadcrumbs. I had a full-time career. I did the work to move up the ranks. I hit all the goals. Pieces of what I was doing were a part of what I do now, just on a bigger scale. People who knew me, saw it before I did.

I remember the day I hit the big goal I had set for myself many years prior. When I hit it, I was like, now what? I had reached as far as I am going to get. That just won’t do, I wasn’t done yet. A mentor of mine suggested I connect with some board members to expand my circle and get on social media. I had never been on any social platform before 2020. While I was on LinkedIn, I connected with some phenomenal people, that led to unbelievable opportunities. One of the most powerful things they suggested was for me to share my voice, my story. That opened the door, but I still had to walk through it. The more I wrote, the wider that door opened. People started reaching out to me asking if I was coaching. Looking back, I gave away a lot of clients to other people at that time, That kept happening, people said they needed to hear what I had to say, it meant something.

A podcaster reached out and asked me to do his show. I had never done one of those before. One of my connections was kind enough to send me a mic and a camera. I will never forget that. One big step through that door. I found a huge love for podcasts, so much fun. They sure do get me fired up! The virtual conferences, panels, more podcasts, writing for magazines. Finally, I got the message. Which led to me realizing it was time to start a company.

I jumped in headfirst, no plan. Just action and an idea. No fear, just going for it. Now did I have to back track to catch up, 1000%. There were many things I had to go back to in order to move forward. Many times, actually. I learned new things, I studied, I got my certifications, I reached out to my supportive community. I learned to ask for help. I always got it figured out. Am I still learning, failing and growing? Absolutely yes!

I had to figure out how to make this idea work. I got lucky in so many aspects. My first clients found me. Through my writing and speaking and they reached out. It was slightly disheartening when I actually had to start looking for leads, but another learning experience. I had to let go of my battle with technology and embrace it. I couldn’t say I hate it anymore; I had to learn to work with it. From building my website to creating my own marketing. It all became something I would learn to enjoy. I also learned the hard way, when to ask for help, to stop saying yes to every opportunity, because I realized burnout would soon follow if I didn’t put up and stick to my boundaries. It has all been worth it. Even though it isn’t easy, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am globally recognized inspirational leader, international keynote speaker, consultant, coach and writer known as The Enthusiasm Igniter™ and Self-Doubt Eraser™. With over 20 years of experience coaching high-performing teams and leaders, I help individuals and organizations break free from limiting beliefs, strengthen communication, and lead with unshakable confidence.

I started my journey in the spa industry. Moving up the ranks as a makeup artist, esthetician, spa director and executive director. I spoke to local schools and community organizations and hosted an annual wellness event. Wrote for local magazines. Served on boards and panels. I built a clientele from the ground up and became the highest producer in every job I was in for every company I worked for. I was in a leadership role from the time I could talk. Always taking charge and stepping in where I was needed. Always willing to work hard and go for it.

Having transformed profound personal loss into purpose, I went through over a decade of one blow after another. Two toxic marriages, several deaths in my family and losing myself completely, while pretending I was fine for years took a toll on me. I threw myself into work. I could always work through anything to avoid facing my own truth. I got the point of I didn’t recognize who I was or the life I was living. I was exhausted and hiding. No one had any idea what was really going on with me. I call it being stuck in the vault. I have written a powerful keynote around it. That was when I had epiphany… why was I putting up with this? This is not who I am or the life I was meant to live. That discovery empowered me to rise up and do the work to breakout. In that moment, I vowed to never let anyone go through what I went through alone.

In the process of figuring out what type of coach I wanted to be, I was in a one-on-one with a team member. I remember telling her, “Who told you that you can’t and why do you believe them?” She looked at me with intention. I smiled and said, ” why are you looking at me like that?” She said, ” I have never met anyone as confident as you Claudia.” That was it. I became a certified Confidence, Cognitive Behavior and Life Purpose Coach, with an emphasis in empowerment and leadership.

I am multi-faceted and have a lot of tools in my belt for being someone that is always excited to learn and try new things. I do the work and coach/consult/speak/write from lived experience. This is how I founded my signature program, The Walkabout Method™. I have “walked” every step of this method and it delivers! The best part about it, it meets you where you are at. Everyone’s “walk” is different. It is not one size fits all. I am grateful what it has done for me, for my clients and audiences.

I guide leaders & individuals to reclaim their power, elevate emotional intelligence, and lead boldly from within, unmute themselves and stand in their power. Showing up as themselves for themselves and to live on purpose. I offer one-on-ones for individuals and leaders. I work personally and professionally. I have The Walkabout group, which also works for teams. I also have The Walkabout membership. I have several self-paced courses, from the Walkabout Method, The 3 Day- Confidence Boosting Bootcamp, Freedom Walk, Clarity Qwest and Hero’s Journey. I work with companies to create a community that thrives, communicates effectively and takes action on their goals by discovering how amazing they really area and by turning chaos into collaboration delivering results. I provide support, vulnerability, honesty and cheer you on!

Recognized as Best Executive Life & Leadership Coach – Midwest USA (2025) and featured in global media, My impact is immediate, audiences leave energized, empowered, and ready to rise. Spanning across global stages, corporate leadership summits, conferences, podcasts, radio, and media platforms. Whether I am delivering a keynote, consulting with executive teams, or coaching individuals one-on-one facilitating a workshop my presence is electric and my influence is immediate. People sit taller. Leaders breathe deeper. Teams reconnect. Possibility expands.
Audiences leave energized, awakened, and ready to take bold action. I live for this!

I love being on stage! My energy is magnetic my message provides not only hope, but empowers people to take action, to fight for themselves, to speak up and live on purpose. To show people if I can do it, you can do it. my mind works like lightening and panels & podcasts fuel that fire. I always have an answer and will light it up!

I am most proud of the people I serve. Whether it’s clients, teams, companies, audiences or just someone that listened to or reach my words and used them to take action. The work was powerful for me and lead me here, but I wouldn’t be able to continue the work without the people I serve. I am incredibly grateful for all of you. Everything I do goes along with my mission, to inspire and empower people to believe in themselves.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Storytelling. Content creation, podcasts, panels, conferences, keynotes, publications. Connection, collaboration and networking, letting people see the real me. Commenting on social media posts, showing your knowledge. Anywhere my voice could be heard. Getting my story out there and being truly vulnerable was the greatest source of opportunity for me. It was a huge part of my healing journey. By letting go of the fear and being vulnerable, it connected me to people, places and things I was meant for. It allowed me to show up authentic. It became my brand and legacy. By sharing all my celebrations and pitfalls, I became relatable, I became real. Not just a marketing campaign, but a real person with real problems that rose from the ashes and created her dream life, company and self in the face of loss, failure, traumatic events.

The more I showed up as me, the more that reputation came with it. Of course, backing it up with proof through the work, testimonials, awards, people being able to see the real me sealed the deal. All of this lived experience, personal and professional let me put my two cents everywhere it was welcomed. I started showing up consistently with my voice and people started to recognize it and me.
Having a great story to tell or a lot of wisdom to share is all well and good, but if you don’t keep showing up, no one will know who you are. Take chances, show up in places you may not have considered, expand your reach. The more you get noticed, you will get recognized and that is how you become remembered.

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

I have been underestimated my whole life. I have used that as fuel to me move forward. I have been shut down, allowed myself to be muted, compromised myself for the sake of others and for peace, been passed over. Those hard lessons are where you find your resilience. One of the greatest motivators for me is to tell me I can’t do something. Now can’t and won’t are two very different things. I have been shut down while talking, ideas dismissed. Someone thinking I don’t have any wisdom to offer because I was the youngest, a woman, because I don’t have a degree. All these things made me dig in even harder. I know where I came from and I know who I am. Only I know what I have truly been through, that has made me resilient. That has made me not sweat the small stuff. By doing the work I rose higher into my true authentic self. That made me speak up, shut down bad behavior, stand up for what is right or for someone that can’t speak up for themselves, yet. When you have been through the mud you don’t need to prove who you are to anyone, but you do need to show up for yourself. Resilience is always waiting on the sidelines, it’s always there, you just need to see it, feel it. When you decide, now wait just a minute, I wasn’t done, I have something to say, I don’t agree with that. When you fight back, that is when it comes flooding in.

I was in a meeting with the owner of a company I was working for. I noticed a discrepancy in my check. I stated that something wasn’t right. He tried to tell me he told me that and danced around the issues. I stood my ground and calmly stated my claim. In that moment, two other team members came into the room, and he stated talking with them. Like we were not in the middle of a meeting. I looked at them and said we are in the middle of a conversation, would you come back after we are finished. I looked at him and said, ” I wasn’t done.” The look on his face was priceless. He thought I was just going to roll over and forget we were in the thick of it. We resolved the issue and he never tried that again. Here is the lesson, how many times has this happened before because someone talked around you, dismissed the conversation before it was resolved, talked down to you or thought you wouldn’t notice. Stand your ground. Don’t let anyone play with you. Take action of your life. Speak up even when it’s difficult. Your resilience will be there to guide you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://claudiawyatt.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theclaudiawyatt/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61554805040594
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiawyattcoaching/

Image Credits
Photos by Caroline Sieren Photography