We recently connected with Lila Cantor and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lila thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At Own Your Narrative Coaching, our mission is to empower young professionals to rewrite their career stories and reclaim their confidence after challenging experiences in the workplace. This mission is deeply personal to me because it’s rooted in my own journey.

Throughout my career, I faced moments that shook my confidence—being laid off, missing out on an internal transfer, and navigating the aftermath of working with an inexperienced manager. Each of these experiences felt isolating and disorienting, and at times, I doubted my own abilities.

What helped me move forward was a combination of self-reflection, intentional action, and the support of people who reminded me of my worth. These experiences taught me that setbacks don’t define us; how we respond to them does. I started Own Your Narrative Coaching to offer that same support to others who might feel stuck or disheartened in their careers.

It’s meaningful to me because I’ve been where my clients are. I know how transformative it can be to shift your mindset, rebuild your confidence, and take the reins of your career. My goal is to guide others as they turn the page on their setbacks and start writing a story that reflects their true potential.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Lila, and I was raised in the Bay Area. I studied Psychology and Spanish at the University of Rochester, which laid the foundation for my passion for understanding and supporting people. Throughout my career, I’ve explored different paths to pursue my ultimate goal: helping people thrive. From working in patient experience at a children’s hospital to pivoting into tech sales and customer success, I’ve always gravitated toward roles centered on support and growth. Today, I live in Lafayette with my fiancée and run my own coaching business, Own Your Narrative Coaching, while also doing technology consulting and developing for organizations.

My journey has been shaped by personal experiences and a desire to help others succeed. In my roles across healthcare, tech, and customer success, I witnessed how workplace challenges can impact confidence and career progression. After receiving coaching myself, I felt compelled to turn those experiences into a mission. Coaching became the perfect way for me to combine my passion for personal development with the skills I’d built over the years to empower others to reclaim and rewrite their stories. I started my coaching training at Co-Active Training Institute in early 2021 and pursued my certification starting in 2022.

At Own Your Narrative Coaching, I offer personalized coaching services tailored to young professionals navigating career transitions both in the workplace and navigating their job search. I help my clients overcome career setbacks, build confidence, and take actionable steps toward their goals. Whether they’re recovering from a layoff, navigating a toxic workplace, or feeling stuck in their current role, I empower them to take control of their narrative. What sets me apart is my personal connection to their experiences—I’ve lived through many of the challenges my clients face, so I can relate on a deep level. My approach is empathetic, practical, and results-oriented, offering not just strategies but also the support and motivation they need to succeed.

I’m most proud of the transformation I see in my clients. Watching someone go from doubting their abilities to confidently pursuing their next career move is incredibly rewarding. Beyond that, I’m proud of building a business that’s true to my values and mission, while creating meaningful change for others. I would also say that I’m proud that I started a podcast, Confidently Own Your Narrative, interviewing others who did exactly that!

I want people to know that I’m here to empower them to take charge of their stories, no matter where they’re starting from. At Own Your Narrative Coaching, I provide a safe, nonjudgmental space to reflect, grow, and build a path forward. My work is driven by empathy, authenticity, and a genuine desire to see my clients succeed—not just professionally, but as confident individuals.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building my audience on social media was a journey of trial, error, and authenticity. I started by being really honest on LinkedIn—sharing my personal experiences, lessons learned, and insights about navigating career challenges like layoffs or tough workplace dynamics. I experimented with different formats, such as storytelling, photos versus videos, and even promoting my podcast. What I discovered was that the more honest and relatable I was, the more my content resonated with people who were going through similar experiences.

As I gained traction on LinkedIn, I decided to expand to Instagram and TikTok. These platforms gave me the opportunity to flex my creativity and try out new ways of engaging, from quick tips to storytelling videos. While I continue to explore what works best there, LinkedIn has remained the most impactful platform for connecting with my audience.

One key insight I’ve learned is that building trust takes time. Most of my clients have reached out after reading my LinkedIn posts for several months. It’s as if they need time to process the content, relate it to their own experiences, and feel ready to take the next step.

For anyone starting to build a social media presence, my advice is simple:

1. Be authentic. Share your real stories and insights—people connect with honesty.
2. Experiment. Try different formats and platforms to see what resonates with your audience and feels natural for you.
3. Stay consistent. Posting regularly not only keeps you top of mind but also allows you to refine your voice and approach.
4. Be patient. Relationships and trust aren’t built overnight. Give your audience time to engage and connect with your message.

Social media has been a powerful tool for me, not just for growing my business, but for building meaningful connections with people navigating similar journeys.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In early 2023, I made the decision to pivot and fully commit to building my coaching business—a journey that was both intentional and unexpectedly accelerated. I was in the process to become a certified coach and was laying the groundwork to leave my full-time job on my own timeline. I had explored moving internally to a people-focused role but there were no opportunities for me there. I decided that while still employed, I was planning to focus on learning the ropes of entrepreneurship: refining my sales process, experimenting with marketing strategies, and envisioning how I wanted to serve my future clients.

But life threw me a curveball. In September 2023, while on vacation, I was unexpectedly laid off. It was a jarring experience, but it also forced me to make a pivotal decision when I returned home. I had to choose between staying in my comfort zone—applying for roles similar to the one I had just lost—or taking the leap and going all in on building my business.

Ultimately, I chose the latter. I knew this was an opportunity to bet on myself, but I also recognized the financial realities of starting a business. To support myself during this transition, I diversified my income by consulting and partnering with an Airtable service company. This allowed me to stabilize my finances while dedicating the time and energy needed to grow Own Your Narrative Coaching.

This pivot taught me the importance of resilience, adaptability, and trusting the process. It wasn’t an easy path, but it reinforced my belief in the value of helping others navigate their own pivotal moments with confidence and clarity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ownyournarrative.carrd.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confidently_own_your_narrative/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Own-Your-Narrative-Coaching/61563854264014/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lila-cantor/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@confidentlyownit
  https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lila-cantor3

Image Credits

Mina Kwong