We recently connected with Elena Zanfei and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Elena thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

One day, I sat across from my director in her beautiful corporate office for what I thought would be the ‘usual’ weekly 1:1 meeting. I thought we would discuss the usual projects, how my team was doing, what to focus on for the coming weeks, and her expectations for “deliverables.” Little did I know this would end up being one of the BIGGEST defining conversations of my life. “Elena, have you ever thought about being a coach?” asks Kelly, my then-director, in a very matter-of-fact way. “What’s coaching?” I ask with a curious look on my face. In 2000, I had no idea what a life coach was. Kelly informed me about an industry entering the corporate sector—one where an individual with specific skills works with staff to support personal or professional goals. That gets my attention.

“With all the work you have done in your personal development journey and your knowledge of human dynamics and potential, I think this would be right up your alley,” continued Kelly as she went on to explain the details of how our New York corporate office used a coach for its managers and high-level employees.
Now, when someone you respect as much as I do Kelly suggests something, you pay attention, so I immediately went home and researched the field of ‘coaching.’ “OMG!” I thought, “This is what I had wished for but did not know existed.”
During my two-hour commute to my corporate job, I often reflected on my life’s purpose. I would ask, “God, what do you want me to do with my life? I want to do something with this information that I love”. I want to make a meaningful impact, particularly in helping others.
Many had suggested I become a therapist, given my ability to be present, listen attentively, and provide guidance. Although I had worked with a therapist and saw the value of therapy, I was in a different mindset. While I valued therapy, I realized my true calling was more about guiding individuals toward their future rather than delving into their past.
I believe allowing ourselves the time to process our emotions is crucial. Yet, it’s equally vital to consider what’s next in our journey; coaching supports that step. It’s all about identifying your current desires and determining what you want to achieve, considering your past experiences, sense of self, and future aspirations.
The path to becoming a therapist never quite resonated with me. I was oblivious to coaching until now, and it felt like a revelation.
For the first time in a long time, I saw how I might ‘serve’ in a way aligned with my ideals and values. While I appreciated and loved my job, working for such a prestigious company and making great money, a part of me felt disconnected from a genuine sense of purpose.
“Could this be it?” I thought. “Could this be what I have been ‘prepared’ for?” My mind was full of questions, so I did what most would do: I began researching schools in the industry. I looked at requirements, measured credentials, checked for governing bodies, and gathered all the details that a manager like me would typically do.
I discovered one organization that oversaw the industry and provided standards, the International Coaching Federation (ICF), so I studied their site. I settled on the recommended coaching school, CTI (the Co-Active Coaching Institute), and enrolled in their program.
The first of the five three-day, in-person intensive training sessions was upon me, and I was as scared as I was excited. “What if this is completely out of my league?” I thought. Am I just wasting my money?” But something inside me felt I was being led here, to this place of learning and exploring a new way God would use my life.
The days overflowed with so much learning, new information, ways of being, listening, watching, sharing, and practicing; it was all exciting and new. And then, two or three hours into my first day, something interesting happened; I began to cry. It was an unexplainable feeling that came over me. A feeling that maybe my life’s trauma and hardship might have been for a purpose greater than myself. Perhaps I was meant to heal and learn to pass it on to make my life purposeful.
For the first time, I felt life’s meaning expanded beyond what I had known. Perhaps a profoundly broken and wounded person like me could take everything she had learned to heal herself and feel ‘enough’ and use it in the service of others.
I felt my soul had found its’ home.
As I completed my in-person training and became a full-fledged coach, I grew on all levels, as was my excitement to serve others through my newfound passion. I began coaching people and was experiencing love on a whole different level. Supporting another person was like no other reward I had ever experienced—my soul was awakening.
When I had completed all my training in 2001, my director arranged for a severance package. My position was being redefined and required me to travel to New York weekly for new responsibilities, which I did NOT want. So I was free to pursue my new life. It was scary to remove the golden handcuffs and leave the security of my 9-5 career. But apprehensively, I felt God was lining up the next chapter and that I needed to walk through this new door. I left with a few coaching clients already working with me and began this journey I’ve been on since then.

Elena, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As a Life Empowerment Coach, I’m all about helping people—especially women—tap into their limitless potential and design lives that feel truly fulfilling. My work is all about breaking through limiting beliefs, healing old wounds, and connecting to your inner self, where all possibilities exist. Whether that means building confidence, finding clarity, or creating a plan to move forward, I’m here to guide you.

I got into this work because I’ve always been fascinated by the mind and spirit and how we can shape our lives when we understand them better. My journey of healing immense personal trauma and abuse led me to profound personal growth and transformation and created a desire in my soul to share what I had learned with others who might be hurting.

Over the years, I hosted summits like ‘Rewire For Success’ in 2015 and ‘ExtraOrdinary New Year’ in 2016, created programs like ‘Empowered You,’ and worked one-on-one with amazing clients to help them step into their power.

Right now, I’m also writing a book called ‘Enough’. It’s all about helping people let go of the “not enough” stories that hold them back and truly embrace that they are—and have always been—more than enough. It’s a message close to my heart, and I can’t wait to share it.

What sets me apart? I like to think, in part, it’s my ability to blend mindset work with a spiritual connection in an approachable, warm, and even fun way. I also love adding a creative touch to everything I do, whether designing a dreamy vision board workshop, crafting a guided meditation, or creating inspiring content. The other, and maybe most differentiating thing about me that my clients thank me for all the time is my heart. My ability to truly connect with the person’s soul and be a safe space for them to share, heal, and evolve.

What am I most proud of? First and foremost, I’m proud to have overcome what many cannot. I came full circle to a place where I not only forgave but also learned to love those who hurt me deeply. I’m also incredibly proud of the moments when clients have their breakthroughs—when they realize they are not broken and see the steps they can take to reclaim their hearts, joy, and peace of mind. They begin to take bold steps toward their dream lives. Seeing that shift is what keeps me doing what I do.

My goal is simple: to help others heal, connect to their highest self, and create a life that lights them up by aligning to the version of themselves that God created them for.

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

A lesson I had to unlearn—and it’s a big one—was the belief that I was worthless, unlovable, and destined never to be loved. These weren’t fleeting thoughts; they were deep, painful, destructive beliefs that had been drilled into me since early childhood. By the time I hit 26, those beliefs weren’t just in the background—they were my entire programming and made everything in life feel heavy, impossible, and hopeless.

When I began my personal development journey at 26, I learned just how much those beliefs had been shaping my life. But unlearning them? That’s a whole other story. Replacing those old patterns with positive, healthy, loving beliefs was—and still is—one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It’s not quick or linear, and sometimes it feels downright impossible.

But I’ll tell you this: it’s worth it. Over the years, I’ve invested over half a million dollars into learning new paradigms, trying different modalities, and applying everything I could to create a radical personal transformation. And it has been radical. What I’ve learned—and unlearned—has shaped me into the person I am today. I now know I am worthy, lovable, and enough—exactly as I am.

If there’s one thing I’ve taken away from this journey, it’s that unlearning is just as important as learning. Sometimes, we must tear down the old, crumbling structures within us before rebuilding something solid, beautiful, and true. It’s not easy, but it’s the most meaningful work we can do. And honestly, it’s why I’m so passionate about helping others rewrite their stories, too.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

If I could go back, I honestly believe I’d end up right where I am now. While I excelled in corporate America, something always felt off—like my work wasn’t connected to the deeper calling in my soul. I had this pull, this undeniable nudge, to serve struggling people, much like the thousands I had met during my personal development journey and even the person I once was.

When I discovered coaching, everything clicked. It wasn’t just aligned with the education and growth I’d invested in over 15 years—it was aligned with what I truly believe God placed on my heart. This wasn’t a career I sought out; it felt like a purpose that found me. And once it did, there was no turning back.

So, would I choose this profession again? Without a doubt. But more than that, I believe it would always choose me. This work is my passion project, my way of living out what I’m here to do. And for that, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.elenazanfei.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenazanfeicoaching
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elena.zanfei
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenazanfei/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elenazanfeicoaching

Image Credits
these are all mine