We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mariah Pinckney. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mariah below.

Mariah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I was given the advice that you can’t run from your purpose. Either you face it and figure out how it fits into your life, or it will haunt you.

For years, I’d felt this nagging sense that I was meant for something bigger. Despite success in various roles, that feeling of purpose was never fully satisfied. It was masked at times, depending on how well or poorly my personal life was going, but it never went away.

In conversations with my coach and therapist, I would talk about work and the growth I’d experienced in my career. Even in my best moments, there was still that feeling that something was missing. I would think that maybe I needed to make more money or take on more responsibilities. I did both, and nothing stopped the nagging. I took on more work and, on two occasions, doubled my salary by climbing the ladder and pivoting into tech.

One night, I remember being overwhelmed to tears, feeling like God wanted me to do something, but I couldn’t figure out what. More importantly, if I knew what it was, I might still be too scared to do it. I can always muster the courage to be brave on behalf of someone else or a company, but for myself, I lacked faith. I questioned myself often. I remember watching Tyler Perry’s documentary “Maxine’s Baby” and him going after his dream for 7+ years, getting no return, and ending up homeless, only to turn back around and give it one more chance.

I remember thinking, “I wish I had that kind of faith in myself. There is no way I would make it out of homelessness and just go right back to what sent me there,” lol. (“I was like, I don’t want it that bad, whatever it is,” lol.)

Earlier this year, I parted ways with my job and decided to take a short break to just relax for a bit. Although this was a very amicable split, it still felt like a failure. I failed to invest in myself during this time and felt weird about jumping back into the market. I felt siloed in my last job, working fully remote and not actively networking as I did in previous roles. In Q4 of last year, I decided to start meeting new people and take some courses to make sure I was still abreast of all the new lingo and methodologies of customer success and sales.

After my split from work, I thought I’d network and help people with their problems. I’d always been involved in coaching and mentoring on the side, so I decided to dive into it more fully. I started attending events and met a few mentees. One memorable event was hosted by Sisters in Media at LinkedIn. Afterward, a girl approached me to compliment my glasses, and we began a conversation. She was curious about how to navigate work culture. I remember her saying, “Does it ever get easier?” and it made me laugh. I told her with community, coaches, and some direction, you’ll get smarter and more confident, which will make things feel like a breeze at times. She asked if I would mentor her.

Another time, someone contacted me on LinkedIn, asking for my help. They had found me while searching for leaders in customer success. I was initially surprised, as during this time, I wasn’t active on LinkedIn outside of liking a few posts.

The more I spoke with people, the more I realized that I was meant to help others navigate their careers based on what I’d learned in mine. Bigger than that, I am supposed to be the catalyst for change. There are so many people like myself with tons of skills and a strong work ethic, but they aren’t in the right spaces. They don’t have adequate resources, and no one is telling them that they are meant for more and how simple it could be to start making changes to increase their well-being and improve their lives.

Two big leaps in my life were my transition to tech and my transition into entrepreneurship. Moving into tech, not only did I make way more money, but I was introduced to full autonomy and a more relaxed environment. You ran your desk like your own business. You could be creative, try new things, and incorporate your life into your work schedule. I had breakfast dates with friends, worked out in the middle of the day, ran errands, took clients out to lunch and dinner, and worked from wherever. I wasn’t chained to my desk, which gave me the confidence and experience to start running my own business.

People often go through their careers without a clear plan, jumping from one opportunity to the next based on frustration or dissatisfaction. I realized that I could provide the guidance, structure, and resources that I wished I’d had earlier in my journey.

Facing a layoff while preparing for marriage, a new puppy, and maintaining the complexities of being a new homeowner are all extremely stressful. It’s not the ideal time to have to job hunt, nor the best time to start a business. I knew I was meant to do this, so I took it slow, practicing and iterating my workshops and programs to ensure they provided value.

Despite the financial uncertainty, blessings kept coming. Opportunities to coach, network, and speak at events seemed to materialize whenever I got scared. My network grew, and I found myself with several clients.

This journey reinforced the advice I was given: you can’t run from your purpose. If you don’t embrace it, it will haunt you. The universe has shown me that this is where I belong, and I’m grateful for the support and opportunities that have come my way.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

About Me and My Business

I’m the founder of AYC Consulting Group, also known as Authentically You Coaching. With over a decade of experience in management, coaching, mentoring, and team building in both corporate and startup sectors, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a passionate perspective to career development.
How I Got into the Industry
I spent the last 10 years managing, coaching, and building sales, customer success, and account management teams. During this time, I noticed the way people navigate their careers, often leaving due to dissatisfaction with pay, treatment, or culture. I realized the importance of having a clear plan, goals, and a roadmap. Surrounding yourself with the right people and communities is crucial, as the higher you climb, the harder it is to land a role through a job application alone. Sometimes, even when things seem good, people overstay their welcome and limit their growth potential.

What We Do
I specialize in helping young professionals navigate career transitions, especially those aiming to transition into tech from non-technical roles. I offer one-on-one coaching and group sessions. For businesses, I provide fractional work as a customer success director, manager, and head of customer success. I also offer team performance workshops on value-based selling and negotiating, overcoming imposter syndrome, time management, leadership development for new leaders, and data-driven performance coaching to improve account plans and selling techniques.

Problems We Solve
We help clients overcome challenges like lack of clarity, feeling stuck, and lacking direction in their career path. We address imposter syndrome, ineffective work habits, role confusion, office politics, and limited access to professional networks. We also focus on building assertiveness, helping clients navigate their path in a way that aligns with their unique needs.

What Sets Us Apart
AYC Consulting stands out because we focus on authenticity and tailor our coaching style to each client’s personality and learning style. We push clients to grow while ensuring their actions align with their long-term goals and values. We provide realistic and actionable approaches that prioritize happiness and fulfillment. If clients have two options, one offering more money and the other better culture and work-life balance, we guide them toward what aligns with their overall well-being.

What I Want People to Know
What I teach is based on 10 years of experience coaching, managing, and mentoring young professionals. My insights come from my own trials and tribulations, as well as moments where coaching was a valuable resource that helped me make better decisions. My aim is to offer this support to my clients, guiding them through their own career journeys.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

My consistent focus on delivering value has helped build my reputation in my market despite being relatively new. I always ask, “What can I do for you?” and seek ways to leverage my connections and conversations to offer tangible help. This approach has been fruitful, as my passion for coaching naturally emerges even during casual networking calls. It’s not something I do deliberately, but simply through conversation, people see why I’m here and why I do what I do.
Additionally, I bring a positive vibe and energy that makes interactions with me enjoyable. I thrive on connecting with people, and this is evident even when I’m tired after a long day. These conversations genuinely bring me joy, and I believe this positivity has been instrumental in building my reputation quickly in the coaching industry.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The first 90 days by Michael Watkins
Get Momentum by Jason and Jodi Womack
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Kelly Vincent
Buyer First, Carole Mahoney

Contact Info:

• Website: https://authenticallyyoucoach.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariah-pinckney/