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

Monica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear a story from back when you were an intern or apprentice. What’s a memorable story you can share with us?

I never had the opportunity to be an intern or apprentice. But I did have the opportunity to be mentored by several people.
When I attended my first personal development event, I was lost. I had spent so long in survival mode that I had forgotten how to dream, much less how to act on those dreams. It was a small event, with just 30 women in the room. Yet, the host made me feel seen and heard in a way I hadn’t felt in years. She asked me to start dreaming again, and for the first time, I allowed myself to believe that maybe I could. That host became my first mentor, and her guidance changed my life.
When I began my journey into personal development and business, I was starting from scratch. I had no foundation—no experience running a business, and the techniques I knew were outdated. My mentors taught me that the true foundation of any successful business isn’t in the numbers or the sales pitches but in the relationships and connections you build.
This was a pivotal lesson for me. My mentors shared their own stories of starting with nothing and building something extraordinary. Hearing them recount their beginnings—filled with uncertainty and doubt—gave me faith and belief in myself. Their open book approach, where they shared the good, the bad, and the mistakes they’d made, inspired me to embrace my own imperfections and challenges as part of the process.

What truly set my mentors apart was their ability to see me when I couldn’t see myself. They believed in my potential long before I could. They introduced me to others who also saw my greatness, even when I was still discovering it. Their belief in me wasn’t just encouraging—it was transformational.
Our relationships became the bedrock of my growth. They often knew what I needed before I did, guiding me through struggles with unwavering support. Some of the most meaningful moments were the simplest: sitting together, sharing dreams and ambitions, and planning how we’d touch lives and make the world a little brighter. Through my mentors, I learned a variety of coaching and mentoring techniques. Each mentor brought their own style, and I took the pieces that resonated with me to build my own approach. Two values I carried forward into my coaching program were self-love and personal accountability. Mentorship didn’t just save me time and prevent mistakes; it gave me a foundation to build upon. My mentors’ guidance helped me avoid costly missteps, but more importantly, it reminded me that I already had everything I needed within me to succeed.

Today, as a coach and mentor, I strive to emulate the openness, accountability, and belief my mentors gave me. Their lessons have shaped the way I guide others to rediscover their purpose and build their own foundations. Mentorship isn’t just about knowledge transfer; it’s about seeing the greatness in someone else and helping them see it too. For anyone wondering if mentorship is worth the time, I can tell you this: my mentors didn’t just teach me how to succeed—they showed me how to believe in myself. And that belief has been the foundation for everything I’ve built since.

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 Monica Connolly, and I’m a holistic health and wellness coach, master life coach, and mindset and transformational expert. My journey into this field was born out of personal adversity and triumph. For nearly 20 years, I was the primary caregiver for my medically complex children and the sole financial support for my husband, who suffered a traumatic brain injury. During this time, I faced unimaginable challenges, including losing my infant son, a chronic pain diagnosis due to a rare genetic disorder, and a stark warning from my doctor that my health was failing rapidly.

It was a wake-up call that forced me to make drastic changes. Determined to reclaim my identity, health, and purpose, I embarked on a transformative journey. I lost 140 pounds, healed my mind and body, and found resilience I never thought possible. Along the way, I realized my experiences had given me a unique perspective and a desire to help others navigate their own challenges.

Today, I help women who are the backbone of their families—both emotionally and financially—reclaim their identity, health, and sense of purpose. Through my Rise and Thrive coaching programs, podcast (Unshakeable Belief), and educational materials, I empower my clients to live as their best selves, both “on purpose” and “in purpose.”

The Products and Services I Offer
My flagship coaching program, Rise and Thrive with Monica, is built around my THRIVE Blueprint—a six-step framework designed to help clients reconnect with their core identity, improve their well-being, shift their mindset, reignite purpose, value self-care, and set empowering goals for growth.

I also offer workshops, speaking engagements, and mentorship opportunities, all of which focus on resilience, personal transformation, and holistic health. My podcast features inspiring stories of individuals overcoming immense challenges and actionable strategies to help listeners thrive.

What Problems Do I Solve for My Clients?
My clients are often women who feel overwhelmed by the demands of caregiving, career, and family. Many have lost their sense of self, struggle with guilt or shame when prioritizing their health, and feel stuck in their circumstances. I help them overcome these barriers by:
Providing tools to heal from past traumas.
Teaching strategies for better health and well-being.
Helping them find their voice and confidence.
Guiding them to discover their purpose and live authentically.
What Sets Me Apart?
What sets me apart is my lived experience. I know what it feels like to hit rock bottom physically, emotionally, and mentally—and to rise again. My approach is rooted in empathy, authenticity, and practicality. I combine holistic health practices with mindset shifts to create real, sustainable change.

Additionally, I prioritize connection and community. My clients don’t just work with a coach; they join a supportive network of individuals who share similar goals and challenges.

What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m incredibly proud of the lives I’ve touched through my work. Whether it’s helping a client regain their health, guiding them to rediscover their purpose, or seeing them achieve a goal they never thought possible, every success story fuels my passion. I’m also proud of my personal transformation and the resilience that has brought me to where I am today.

What I Want People to Know About Me
Above all, I want people to know that change is possible, no matter how hard things may seem. My story is proof that even in the face of overwhelming obstacles, we have the power to rise, thrive, and create a life we love. My mission is to inspire and equip others to do just that—because everyone deserves to feel empowered, healthy, and fulfilled.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

For a long time, I didn’t realize I was living my life with resilience—I thought I was simply surviving. From the heartbreaking loss of my son to navigating my husband’s traumatic brain injury and caring for my medically challenged children, I just got up every day and did what needed to be done. It wasn’t until I looked back that I understood the strength it took to keep moving forward.

The hardest part of this journey wasn’t just the external challenges; it was the internal realization that I had completely lost myself. I couldn’t recognize who I was anymore or even remember what brought me joy. When my doctor delivered the devastating news that my health was failing and I had only a couple of years left unless I made drastic changes, I knew I had to do something—but I had no idea where to start.

That’s when I discovered the world of personal development and the power of physical movement. These two tools didn’t just help me reclaim my health—they also began to heal my mind. I learned how to prioritize myself, rebuild my identity, and find the purpose I thought I had lost. By making those changes, I not only defied the “expiration date” my doctor had given me, but I also stepped into my purpose, creating a business to help others discover theirs.

This journey taught me a profound truth: everyone has resilience because everyone faces hard things. But resilience isn’t just about survival—it’s about choice. Do you use that resilience to keep living the same way, or do you channel it into creating a life of purpose and impact? For me, the answer became clear: I wanted to live every day intentionally, helping others discover their resilience and live in their purpose, on purpose.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Not yet, but this is my ultimate goal because I know this is my purpose. I believe that once I can take my coaching business full-time, I’ll be able to help even more people reclaim their health, identity, and purpose.

My journey into coaching began as part of my own personal transformation. After a doctor’s warning that I had only a couple of years left to live if I didn’t make drastic changes, I began the hard work of prioritizing my health, healing my mindset, and rediscovering myself. This journey saved my life, and in doing so, it lit a fire in me to help other women who were facing the same struggles I had overcome.

I started coaching as a side hustle, helping women navigate challenges like caregiving, managing their health, and rediscovering their identities. As I gained certifications and developed my THRIVE Blueprint, I saw the impact my programs were making, which confirmed my belief that this work was my calling.

Another component of my side hustle is my partnership with a gut health supplement company. This collaboration aligns perfectly with my mission of holistic wellness. These products played a significant role in my own transformation, and now I share them with others as part of their journey toward better health. This partnership isn’t just about physical well-being—it’s about creating financial and generational well-being too.

Through this business, I’m empowering other women to build legacy businesses they can leave to their families for generations. For so many women, especially those who have been caregivers or the sole financial providers for their families, this represents a chance to step into their power, achieve financial freedom, and create lasting impact.

I’m still balancing this work with my other commitments, but I’m working diligently toward making coaching and wellness my full-time career. Every day, I’m reminded of why this work matters—because I see the transformation in my clients and in the lives of the women I mentor.

Key milestones along this journey have included:

Developing my signature Rise and Thrive program and the THRIVE Blueprint, which provides structure and support to help women create real, lasting change.
Building a thriving community of like-minded women who inspire and support each other.
Expanding my impact through speaking engagements and launching my podcast, Unshakeable Belief, where I share stories of resilience and actionable tools for growth.
What drives me is the belief that resilience is in all of us and that the purpose of our challenges is to help us grow and make a difference in others’ lives. This work isn’t just a job for me—it’s a mission to help women live in their purpose, on purpose, and to create a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://monicaconnollycoaching.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicaconnollyandco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monica.a.connolly.7
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mnconnolly/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoachMonicaConnolly
• Other: https://monicaconnollycoaching.com/unshakeable-belief-a-podcast-for-people-ready-to-rise/