We recently connected with Marlo Lyons and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Marlo, thanks for joining us today. Have you ever experienced a times when your entire field felt like it was taking a U-Turn?

I started my career as a TV News reporter. Just as I was making big moves up in the business, the commercial internet became popular. I knew that people would soon be able to get their news from more than just TV and newspapers. As you can see now, some 25+ years later, news (and fake news) is everywhere and true journalism is hard to find. Back then, I had the foresight to make sure I had a backup career plan.

I went to night law school while working full-time, moved to Los Angeles, and became an entertainment attorney. It was exciting working on shows such as The Apprentice, America’s Got Talent, Real World, Challenges, Ru Paul’s Drag Race etc. But after witnessing the continued consolidation of media companies which resulted in mass layoffs at networks and cable outlets every year, I knew my job wasn’t immune forever. So once again, I pivoted.

After a lot of soul-searching, I aligned my career to my values – what is important to me – and I obtained my certifications in coaching and HR. I moved industries from media to technology and became an HR Business Partner at Roku and then at Intuitive Surgical. I loved coaching senior leaders on how to solve business problems through people-related solutions. Even though I was a VP in my last entertainment legal role, this was the first time I saw “the other side” of business – the inside of how HR works. I gained valuable insights into how corporate decisions are made at the highest levels, and how HR views and develops employees.

Once again, though, I also saw how HR has been pivoting for years to be more cost efficient, automated, with less human touch approaches. Further, with layoffs, employees are doing more with less, leading to burnout and exhaustion, preventing them from spending time developing themselves into the next generation of leaders. That made me make one final pivot into being an independent globally certified career, executive, and team coach. I am where I am meant to be, completely fulfilled, and helping others manage office dysfunction, lead with confidence, and find their path to fulfillment in their careers, and lives.

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?

I am the President of Marlo Lyons Coaching, LLC. With over two decades of coaching and corporate experience, I have dedicated my career to unlocking the potential of leaders, spanning from C-suite and business unit executives to early-career employees. My diverse background as a business, and HR executive across various industries—from insurance and entertainment to tech and medtech—provides me with a unique perspective when coaching leaders on their development and how to accelerate their company’s momentum.

My approach involves inspiring executives to embody essential leadership skills, empowering them to communicate effectively, influence without authority, implement effective change management strategies, and foster trust within both functional and cross-functional teams on a global scale. Additionally, I have brought consulting guidance and expertise to help leaders with organizational design, talent planning, and succession planning. By combining my coaching, HR, and executive leadership experience, I empower leaders to be ambitious for excellence in their own leadership development, thereby enhancing team productivity, cross-functional communciation, and organization agility.

I also work with individuals looking to find a new career path, even if they don’t know what they want to do, or understand why their career isn’t fulfilling and how to make it more fulfilling. I tell my clients, finding the right career for you does not hinge on what you can do with your skills and capabilities, it is about understanding what you want to do based on your values. When a client has that “aha” moment and knows what career they are meant to pursue based on their values, the swirl in their head disappears and they are confident their new career will enrich and fulfill them. Life is too short to not have a fulfilling career! That’s why I wrote My first book, Wanted -> A New Career, which hit the best seller list in its first week and won the prestigious Eric Hoffer Award for the Best Self-Help book of 2022 . My second book, Wanted -> My First Career for college students and early career professionals will be released in Fall 2024.

In addition to working with my individual and corporate coaching clients, I also am a consistent contributor to Harvard Business Review and have been interviewed by CNN, Forbes, Business Insider, Fast Company, dozens of podcasts, and other international publications.

I can be reached at www.marlolyonscoaching.com.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Curiosity and emotional intelligence are pivotal in building trust with clients and achieving success in any field, especially coaching. Curiosity drives us to ask insightful questions and seek a deeper understanding of our clients’ needs, challenges, and aspirations. It demonstrates genuine interest and commitment to their success, fostering a strong connection. Coupled with emotional intelligence, curiosity allows us to navigate complex emotional landscapes, showing empathy and understanding. By being attuned to clients’ emotions and responding appropriately, we create a safe and supportive environment. This blend of curiosity and emotional intelligence not only builds trust but also empowers clients to open up, share freely, and engage more deeply in the coaching process, ultimately leading to more effective and meaningful outcomes. In any profession, this combination enhances relationships, drives innovation, and ensures a client-centered approach, all of which are essential for sustained success.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for building clientele in career, executive, or team coaching hinges on authenticity. Authenticity builds trust, showing potential clients that I genuinely care about their success and well-being. To do that, I provide sample sessions to potential clients I believe I can help, which allows them to experience firsthand the value of coaching. Further, I have found building credibility in the field is key. Writing for HBR and other esteemed platforms, as well as participating in podcasts, has positioned me as a thought leader, enhancing my credibility and visibility. What I have found to be the best way to grow a coaching business is to leave clients feeling significantly better than before—empowered, confident, and clear about their path forward. When clients experience such transformative results, they are naturally inclined to refer others, creating a robust referral network that continually grows clientele.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marlolyonscoaching.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlolyonscoaching
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marlolyonscoaching
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/
• Other: TikTok @marlolyonscoaching

Image Credits

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