We recently connected with Carla Calderon and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Carla, thanks for joining us today. Have you ever had an amazing boss, mentor or leader leading you? Can you us a story or anecdote that helps illustrate why this person was such a great leader and the impact they had on you or their team?

I will forever be grateful for my boss, Dino.

Looking back, I can now see how previous bosses had set a low bar. I didn’t realize how different leadership could be until I worked under Dino.

When I joined the business development and territory management team in a newly created, undefined role, Dino was my director. From the very beginning—even during the interview process—it was clear this would be an exceptional experience. We underwent an assessment that highlighted both of our strengths and communication styles, which helped us proactively align and avoid potential challenges.

This role required me to work independently from home and on the road, giving me the opportunity to develop self-discipline and autonomy while being responsible for an ambitious list of outcomes. What set Dino apart was his approach: he didn’t dictate the “how.” Instead, he provided all the resources I needed and trusted me to plan and execute my own strategy creatively.

Dino was instrumental in teaching me to trust my intuition and to distinguish between strategic goals and immediate wins. As a relatively new graduate brimming with self-confidence but lacking experience, his specific and consistent feedback helped me thrive.

Under his leadership, our department exceeded every goal year after year, achieving maximum bonus growth as both a team and individuals. Beyond professional accomplishments, Dino demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the human side of leadership. When I became a mother, I was adamant that I’d return to work within weeks. Dino, however, prioritized family above all else. He insisted I make no decisions about my leave until I was living it. That wisdom allowed me to take two full, peaceful maternity leaves, a gift I will always treasure.

Even when circumstances beyond our control ended our formal working relationship, Dino remained a steadfast mentor and a cherished presence in my life.

Dino exemplified conscious, connected, and compassionate leadership. By prioritizing people over numbers, he created an environment where both the organization and its individuals could thrive. His example continues to inspire me to this day.

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

My name is Carla, I am a complex, multi passionate human, a conscious self-parenting coach, emotional regulation mentor, and founder of Carla Radical Conscious Consulting. My work centers on helping individuals and organizations reconnect with themselves, their teams, and their values through intentional, compassionate practices. Whether it’s through my signature Radical Pause framework, 1:1 coaching, or consulting services, I aim to empower people to live and lead from a place of connection, clarity, and coherence. I am also a Director of Business development, where I get to use my strategic and conscious sales and marketing “hats” for corporations.

My journey to this work has been both personal and professional. As a perfectionist, who grew up an only child, then mother and career-driven professional, I once found myself thriving on the surface but feeling disconnected at my core. A pivotal moment in my parenting journey led me to realize the transformative power of self-regulation and intentional living. Choosing to get out of the automatic to truly be present. This epiphany not only reshaped my personal life but inspired my professional work in conscious coaching and consulting.

I bring my lived experiences, professional training, and compassionate approach to help individuals, families, and organizations create meaningful, sustainable change.

In addition to my coaching and personal development programs, I offer consulting services through Carla Radical Consulting, focusing on:

-Conscious Account Management: Helping organizations build authentic, client-centric relationships by fostering trust, empathy, and intentional communication.
-Conscious Leadership: Guiding leaders to embrace connection and humanity as a pathway to drive results, foster innovation, and support team well-being.
-Conscious Return-to-Work (Post-Maternity Leave): Supporting individuals returning to work after a maternity leave with a 5 module program with 1:1 accompaniment. Aimed for individuals and organizations in creating compassionate reentry strategies for employees returning from parental leave, ensuring alignment between personal and professional priorities.

My work solves a range of challenges, from individuals managing impulsive reactions to organizations seeking to humanize their workplace culture. Whether I’m teaching a parent how to pause and respond with love rather than frustration or coaching a leader to balance strategy with empathy, my focus is always on cultivating awareness and fostering genuine connection.

What sets Carla Radical Conscious Consulting apart is that it is not just about delivering solutions—it’s about transforming mindsets and habits. I combine my expertise in conscious self-regulation with a deep understanding of business strategy, making my approach both practical and impactful. Clients appreciate my ability to integrate emotional intelligence into professional settings, driving results without compromising humanity.

I’m most proud of the profound, lasting impact my work has on individuals and organizations. Hearing from a parent who’s rebuilt trust with their children, a leader who’s redefined their approach to team dynamics, or a company that’s improved retention rates through thoughtful return-to-work strategies—it’s these transformations that drive my passion.

I want. you to know that whether you’re a parent seeking calm in the chaos, a professional navigating transitions, or an organization looking to lead with integrity and empathy, my work is here for you. Through coaching, consulting, and the Radical Pause, I aim to help you create a life, team, or business that thrives on connection, purpose, and results.

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

Lesson to Unlearn: “If you’re not going to do it well, don’t do it at all.”

Growing up as an only child to an excellence-seeking mother, I internalized this saying in a way that fed my perfectionism. I misunderstood it to mean that if something wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t ready or worth pursuing. This belief weighed heavily on me, often keeping me from taking risks or embracing uncertainty, even when my intuition urged me to leap.

The need for perfection became a barrier, stalling my ability to experiment, grow, and trust the process. The weight of getting every detail “right” was an obstacle in freeing my creativity and prevented me from discovering the magic that can unfold in the messy, imperfect spaces.

Gratefully, through my journey of consciousness and self-reparenting, I’ve been able to reframe this lesson. I still believe in the value of striving to do your best—but now I recognize that “best” is a reflection of the present moment, not an unattainable ideal of potential.

While letting go of perfectionism hasn’t been easy, I’m intentionally working to keep this lesson top of mind. I pause to acknowledge the evidence in my life—those moments where taking imperfect action has led to incredible outcomes, not just in measurable success but in personal growth and resilience.

This practice is far from automatic, but it’s a deliberate choice I make daily: to embrace progress over perfection and to trust that growth often lies on the other side of that uncomfortable, imperfect leap.

Any advice for managing a team?

Never forget that you are working with humans. Regardless of your industry or role, if you are a leader managing people, it’s essential to recognize that everyone needs to feel seen, heard, and valued. While this may seem like a simple truth, only those who genuinely understand and implement it as a core principle in their interactions, will reap the benefits.

People want to feel important. They want to understand their impact and connect with it. They need to know that, while no one is indispensable, each of us has the potential to become irreplaceable.

This powerful distinction, often discussed by my mentor @MichellePoler, highlights the truth that while roles can be filled, it is our unique qualities and contributions that make us truly irreplaceable.

As a leader, when you cultivate an environment where your team feels genuinely seen, heard, and valued, the results are transformative. This fosters personal growth, well-being, and self-worth, empowering individuals to show up as their most authentic and thriving selves.

And as we know, when people thrive, they enter a state of flow—where creativity, productivity, and joy align. In such an environment, life and work become not just a series of tasks but a truly magical experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carlaradical.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carla.radical
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carla-radical-conscious-consulting/

Image Credits

Maria Vega
Byanca Bornon