We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julia Korn a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Julia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry?

Many companies believe that providing career + executive coaching to their employees is a “nice to have.” I would argue that it’s essential. All business problems are because of people. All business success is because of people. Companies that invest in coaching see higher rates of retention and engagement as well as improved communication between employees (to only name a few benefits). I have seen firsthand that coaching can make the difference between companies failing and succeeding.

Julia, 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?

I’ve worked in a variety of industries throughout my life — from corporate finance, to healthcare operations, to impact investing, and many industries in between. Despite finding professional and financial success, I struggled over the years to find a career that I was truly passionate about. I wanted to feel excited when my alarm clock went off in the morning. I never did. I felt stuck.

After some years of deep introspection and help from others, I embraced a fact that I had been ignoring for a long time: I was discounting and devaluing my natural gifts as “unimpressive.” In fact, my true super power and love was always coaching. I had always “coached,” whether it was colleagues, friends, bosses, or teams.

In 2018 I launched my coaching company, The Authenticity Guide. I feel a pressing need for work to feel more human and for humans at work to feel more authentic.

I now have the immense privilege of coaching individuals and corporate teams. I love working with ambitious professionals who also want to prioritize joy. I have a rockstar team of coaches that work with me. I am also a keynote speaker and Contributor to Forbes.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I have had to unlearn hyper-achievement.

I self-identify as a recovering perfectionist — meaning I am STILL on this journey!

As a perfectionist and hyper-achiever, I have historically had a tendency to tie my accomplishments to my sense of self-worth. Over time, this trait has been harmful because it turns out one never feels that they have truly “arrived.” When one milestone is met, the bar is just set higher. This creates a mental space where you feel you’re never enough, and that your accomplishments are never worth a pause or a celebration. It means there is always someone else to compare yourself to. It means you struggle to find an unconditionally loving home within yourself.

My focus in the past few years has been on loving what IS: the messy, the still, the unfinished.

The thing that has helped me do that most is becoming a mother. Every day that I get to spend with my child is the greatest gift — more than any professional accolade, she helps ground me in the present. She helps me focus on enough-ness.

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

Writing!

This is something I recommend to ALL of my clients. Write down your ideas. Post about them. People want to hear what you think. This has been such a crucial tool for me in establishing myself as a thought leader.

I started writing a blog on LinkedIn called Thoughtful Thursdays. I would force myself to publish every Thursday! This allowed me to connect with Business Insider and become an occasional contributor. That got me into Forbes, and the rest is history!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theauthenticityguide.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__juliakorn/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakorn/