Today we’d like to introduce you to Richie Kyriacou

Hi Richie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

Like many people, I stumbled into my career. Straight out of university, I landed my first office job. Having spent my teenage years doing manual labor on farms and in furniture warehouses, I carried that same hardworking mentality into the office, focusing on getting through repetitive tasks without doing the ‘other’ work to be recognised.

In meetings, I was often too intimidated to speak up, especially with seniors in the room. I didn’t understand in my head why at the time, but I was experiencing physical symptoms like sweating, a racing heart and shaking. Eventually, I grew tired of feeling that way and decided to look for solutions.

I began a journey of self-awareness and inner work to overcome fear. Fear of being judged. Fear of being rejected. Fear of looking stupid. Fear of being ridiculed. The list goes on. I started choosing courage. By pushing myself to speak up, present, and take on new challenges, I gradually built my confidence. This shift led to recognition, promotions, and eventually a senior leadership position, overseeing multiple teams across the Asia Pacific region in banking.

To some, this may have looked like success. I was young for my title, earning good money, and had a lavish lifestyle in sunny Sydney. Deep down something was still lacking. I was not fulfilled. I had no purpose. I didn’t even have any goals. I just worked hard during the week and played hard on weekends to destress and distract myself from this empty feeling.

I found relief in bad habits but like all bad habits, that relief gives way to the same negative feeling but more amplified. These habits progressively got worse to the point they were destroying my mental, physical and spiritual health. Sick and tired of the merry-go-round, I became desperate for change. So one day in October 2020, I stopped drinking (my Achilles heel of all bad habits!). It wasn’t easy in the beginning. Drinking was so intertwined with my chosen lifestyle at that time. A bottle of red with dinner, beers with colleagues after work, a session out with the lads, all gone. I let it all go. I had to let it all go because trying to drink in moderation rarely worked. My weekends were wasted and I felt so low afterwards. I had to trust that if I gave it up, there was a better life on the other side. And there was.

One thing gained was time and energy. Remember, this was 2020, the pandemic was in full swing and I took advantage to develop myself. I read a lot of non-fiction. My walks in the park were with an audiobook. I’d have another hard copy book at home to come back to. I was working out, journaling, meditating and cooking new healthy meals. Beginning 2021, everything became clear regarding my next career move. A trusted friend suggested I become a coach, a direct report suggested I become a coach and my partner who knew me best, suggested it too. It all made sense. Leadership is coaching. I had that skill. But I also had formed a burning desire to help other professionals out there struggling with a variety of challenges. With my skills and experience, I knew I had a sustainable solution to share. So I took action on it. My first step was to attain a certification recognised by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). I left that course believing in myself. And my professional coaching journey began.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

My first year of business was a rough road. I was pranked, no-showed and hung up on. I was ghosted after leads said ‘Yes I’m in!’I feared selling myself on LinkedIn. I feared negative judgment from family, friends and ex-colleagues. The voice inside would say: ‘Who is he to help people just because he overcame his own struggles’. But my purpose was clear so I had to keep going. I was hired 26 times and witnessing each client’s journey made the adversities of Year 1 insignificant. I earned 1/4 of my corporate salary. I spent 35% of my revenue on my own coaching and mentoring. Revenue covered living and business expenses. I was happier.

As you know, we’re big fans of Reset With Richie. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?

My mission is to help people find lasting solutions to their challenges. The name “Reset” has a special meaning for me—it signifies a fresh start, which is what I aim to provide for my clients. I chose “Reset” because it’s simple to pronounce and spell over my surname ‘Kyriacou”, but more importantly, it embodies the transformation I want my clients to experience. Unlike a short vacation that offers temporary relief, my coaching is about creating real, sustainable change in people’s lives.

I specialize in guiding individuals through their career and personal journeys, helping them gain clarity, transform stress, and build confidence. It’s about finding out what people truly want and giving them the tools to achieve it. For some, this means navigating a career change; for others, it’s about achieving a sense of calm and balance in their lives.

I call myself a Mindset, Career & Life Coach. I don’t like it and remain open to that lightbulb phrase that describes what I do in a few words. When that moment comes, I suspect it will remove the word ‘coach’. It’s not who I am or what I do, it’s a tool I use. Plus with the coaching industry on its way to doubling in coaches since 2019, and with zero barriers to entry for someone to call themselves a coach, the true meaning of the word ‘coach’ is becoming lost. It’s become a catch-all word for describing someone who wants to help people without needing to do years of study before starting. To explain what I do in words is impossible. To fully understand, you have to experience it. The same applies to a lot of experiences, sometimes words can not describe them and yet we feel a need to. Or worse, take out the camera at the key awe-inspiring moment.

When you think of Coaching you may think of goal setting and action plans. In some cases, I use these tools but mostly I’m taking you deeper than tools. I take you on journeys beyond the tangible to allow you to see the truth. The truth of who you are at your core and the potential that already exists there. That’s why I don’t do one-off sessions. I go for transformation. I see the potential in everyone I choose to work with. We are each uniquely complex, after all the human brain is the most complex thing yet discovered in our universe and each of us has a goldmine sitting on our shoulders. My job is to help you mine it.

I’ve coached a variety of professions and levels of seniority. It doesn’t matter what your title is. We all experience difficulties whether it’s stress, self-doubt, imposter syndrome, fear or a lack of confidence for example. You’re not that special. Humans have most likely been experiencing these difficulties since humans evolved into developing cognition. Truly facing what is going on with you is special. That’s where I come in. I help you build the mindset to overcome challenges sustainably so you can continue on your fulfilling path far long after we finish working together.

What are your plans for the future?

A few goals are in progress and I’ll be launching new services from the start of 2025.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.resetwithrichie.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@resetwithrichie