Peggy Wu

04/19/21

Jillian

Professional Certified Coach, International Coaching Federation Whole Person Certified Coach, Coach Training World Registered Yoga Teacher RYT-500 B.A. in Psychology, University of California, Irvine Bilingual: English and Mandarin This is my story Hi there! My name is Peggy Wu, and I’m a Career and Life Coach with Ama La Vida. First of all, thank you for being here! I hope I’ll get to meet you one day and work with you. Here is my story. Born in Taiwan, I moved to the U.S. at the age of 13 for a better education. Living in Los Angeles County for most of my life, I embrace and appreciate the pleasant weather, diverse culture, and superb food scene. Life after college was about making a living to pay back student loans and working hard for that corner office one day. Decades later, the wealth and status I assiduously pursued slowly affected my health and negatively impacted my relationships with loved ones. That office with a view I earned along the way no longer felt like a fair exchange. Acting upon the need to balance life and find inner peace, I turned to yoga teacher training. Little did I know, my life’s direction was about to shift, and I got closer than ever in finding my purpose. Before the yoga teaching journey, I spent two decades working in various positions at private and publicly-traded organizations that involved finance, client service, operations management, and sales and marketing. My longest career was in banking. My last corporate title was a Vice President/Relationship Manager inside a commercial real estate lending team. Those jobs’ satisfaction came from promotions and increases in salary, not necessarily the work itself. I plugged away and put my best foot forward every day for that next advancement despite feeling out of balance and exhausted constantly. Stress compromised my not-so-strong immune system frequently. “I’m busy with work” became an overused excuse to get out of doing things with people who matter to me. The need to re-examine life started to feel urgent, and I shifted my attention to yoga for salvation. Through learning and teaching yoga, I found helping people is where my true passion lies. The sense of contribution to others’ well-being fuels my inner fire. One year into teaching yoga, I left my promising banking career behind to work on my own in finance and accounting and free up time teaching more yoga classes. Two years into teaching yoga, I discovered life coaching training that expanded my visions and prepared me to serve more people than I could ever imagine. Through life coaching, I feel empowered to help others see beyond the self-imposed limitation and make what they want in life possible. My roles as a yoga teacher and life coach complement each other quite well and perfectly manifest my inner passion. I’m thankful to be where I am and to do what I love. I wish to help others do the same – pursue what they love in their career and life and experience success and happiness. All are available to them if they open their minds and be brave to dream. My favorite quote is by Carl Jung – “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” May all of us have the courage to be who we truly are and thrive in our own ways. My Coaching Approach I use mindfulness techniques and the Whole-Person approach that emphasizes working with you as an integrated whole and helping you become aware of all elements of your life – mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual. My solutions focus on guiding you to go through a self-discovery process and tap into your creativity and resourcefulness. As a result of our sessions, you’ll gain clarity on career and personal goals, learn to move beyond self-limiting beliefs, and get into action to create a career and personal transformation that leads to your best life. Are you: Let’s talk! What do we do in a life coaching session? We’ll work side by side to explore your definition of success and happiness, develop strategies that make sense to you, and produce actionable steps that work for you. We may also discover dreams, thoughts, and ideas that are important to you along the way, and we can work together to turn those into reality. As a client, you steer the conversation in a direction you feel beneficial. The following is a list of destinations that we can get to together: What is the potential benefit/outcome of working together? What my clients say “Peggy was born to be a life coach! I started meeting with Peggy because things in my life felt stagnant and I didn’t know how to identify what was truly important and go after those things. She had a wonderful way of turning something that seemed complicated and overwhelming into simple and tactical action items that worked with my lifestyle. She combined an action-oriented approach with inspirational guidance to help me achieve my goals. I think what really sets her apart is her holistic approach and the compassion she has for her clients. She has given me the confidence and the tools I need to take on the world!” – Min Yoo, Director of Marketing Analytics – “I have really enjoyed working with Peggy!! She has a very calming presence and is very intuitive. She helped me get to the core of my issues within minutes of talking to her through her powerful questioning. Peggy helped me connect to my purpose in life and overcome the self-doubt I had been experiencing and was holding me back from moving forward in my career.” – Alex Ornelas – “My sessions with Peggy have been so valuable during this time in my life where I am starting a business. Peggy is insightful, intuitive, knowledgeable and wise and her coaching has really helped me to gain clarity, understand myself, plan my next steps, understand the steps that work for me and my issues and

Justice Lawson

04/07/21

Perfect Search Media

International Business, Loyola University Chicago This is my story Hi, I’m Justice! I am a Relationship Strategist here at Ama La Vida. I have the pleasure of being the first person you meet along your coaching journey, and I’m excited to share a little more about myself. I have always had a passion for helping others reach their full potential in whatever they are striving for. That’s what makes me so thrilled to be able to work alongside the amazing team here at ALV. I love being able to connect with you to learn how I can be of support to you as you achieve your aspirations in life. I have expansive experience in sales, luxury goods & services, customer service, and events. My degree is in International Business from Loyola University Chicago, and I have been fortunate enough to both travel and live around the world. My passion for travel, language, culture, and food (of course) is truly what led me to a position such as this – one where the work I do can actually make an impact on others. In my free time, I love movies, tennis, traveling, cooking and almost anything that has to do with the beach. I’m also an extrovert, so time with loved ones is always appreciated. Thank for reading about me, now I can’t wait to meet and learn about you! Ready to Learn More About Coaching?

Natalia Tamburini

03/30/21

Jillian

BA in Psychology, Loyola Marymount UniversityProfessional Certified Coach (PCC), International Coaching Federation (ICF)200hr Yoga Teacher Certification, CorePower YogaFluent in English and Spanish Nice to meet you! Hola, hello! My name is Natalia. I’m from Argentina, and my family moved to Southern California when I was 10. I’ve lived in Buenos Aires, San Diego, Los Angeles, and now, Madrid. I am an avid traveler (I have been to 15 countries!) and love to connect with people from different cultures and walks of life. As a coach, I love supporting clients as to design a life that’s aligned with their core truth. After years of feeling the pressure to check boxes and do what was expected of me, I dove into working with a coach myself to explore what kind of life I wanted. I learned to define what success meant to me, identify the beliefs and expectations that were holding me back, and create boundaries and habits that supported the type of life I wanted to be living. I work with clients to uncover their innate power, step into their truth and experiment, and embrace the magic of the process itself. I believe that all my clients are creative, whole, and resourceful, and as a coach, I act as a conduit for them to discover the answers they already have to create the life they want. My coaching approach is open and exploratory, with some structure to contain your ideas and allow you to thrive and progress toward your goals. I bring a pure coaching style and also share a variety of frameworks, tools, and resources such as: Who I Serve Professionals who: Individuals who: Leaders who: I bring my endless sense of curiosity to my coaching sessions and always seek to understand and dive deeper to support you and create the life you love! As we work together, you will gain all the tools you need to start tuning into yourself and walk through life with clarity, confidence, and purpose. I look forward to supporting you in your journey! Testimonials Before reaching out to Ama La Vida I felt lost, unsure of what next steps to take professionally and what long term goals to set. All I knew was that the work I was doing was unchallenging and unrewarding, even though transitioning to something else seemed terrifying. My time working with Natalia completely changed all of this. It was an enriching and empowering experience. Through her coaching, I’ve found a career path that’s consistent with my interests and values and helped me develop the tools to be successful in getting there. I’ve never felt excited about my career before, but Natalia encouraged me to explore and embrace possibility. – I highly recommend ALV to anyone, regardless of what you are looking for. I used their services for career help, but honestly their approach was holistic and helped me as a human being and I truly connected to my coach. She has been my accountability partner to keep me moving forward and to keep me positive even in the face of rejection. I have honestly enjoyed working with them during my job search! – I am extremely satisfied with the outcome of my engagement with both Natalia and John. I feel I have the knowledge and resources I need to progress forward and do the work of applying to jobs. Natalia helped me define what I wanted from my next professional role, not just in terms of what I want to DO, but also how I view and value my career within the broader context of my life. John was also an incredible resource when it came to tuning up my resume, LinkedIn profile/activities, and personal website. Both gave me the confidence I need to “take the plunge” and seek a best-fit job. – Norah W. – Working with Natalia through the ALV coaching program has truly been life-changing for me. I was feeling confused, uncertain, and generally unsatisfied with my career prospects. Through the work we did together to identify my gifts, values, passions, and ultimately purpose I was able to gain the clarity I needed to take next steps in my life. With Natalia’s impactful coaching I have rediscovered my creativity, learned to proactively advocate for my needs, and through keeping small promises to myself with consistent action, made changes that I’m so proud of. I’m excited to continue moving in this direction and where it takes me with an open mind. Natalia was able to help me tap into my natural gifts and strengths and I cannot thank her and ALV enough! I will be taking the skills and insights I learned with me forever and that is the most priceless gift. – Ani H. – “I don’t think I would be in the position I am now without my coach, Natalia. Not only is she a great listener and a thoughtful coach, but she truly did set me up for success. She challenged me as well as held me accountable to achieve all the goals I had set for myself when signing up with ALV and some. Everything she’s taught me, the tools she’s provided and all the ALV modules; and even the positive mantra’s she’s encouraged will all stay with me and for that, I’m super grateful she was my coach.” – Victoria B – “Ama La Vida as a whole, and my coach Natalia have provided me tons of value. I highly recommend Natalia Tamburini as a coach and this entire organization for anything life/career coach related. It’s reasonably and affordably priced and well worth the investment. After only a few short months, I was able to get the help I needed to make a job transition and gain clarity on my life and creative goals. Highly recommend!” – Andrew K. – “At the onset of my coaching journey, I felt lost and bored in my career. With the help and guidance of my coach Natalia, I was able to achieve the goals I set

Cait Swamy

02/10/21

Foram Sheth

Graduate Certificate in Executive & Professional Coaching, University of Texas at Dallas MA Organizational Leadership, Gonzaga University BBA, Economics & Finance, Gonzaga University This is my story Hello & welcome! I’m Cait Swamy. My purpose is to help people uncover their strengths, build confidence, and lead authentically. My approach is holistic, strengths-based, and designed to create measurable, real-world impact for individuals and teams. Over the years, I’ve coached 200+ leaders ranging from early career professionals to C-suite executives, across 20+ profit and non-profit organizations both domestically and internationally. One thing I’ve observed repeatedly: regardless of role or level, the number-one challenge holding leaders back is imposter syndrome. Helping people overcome self-doubt, claim their accomplishments, and step fully into their potential has become the cornerstone of my coaching philosophy. Before coaching full-time, I spent nearly a decade leading global talent development programs at a Fortune 50 company. This experience, combined with my 1:1 coaching and workshop facilitation, taught me that the strongest organizations are those where employees feel connected—to their work, their leaders, and each other. Furthermore, it reinforced my belief that personal growth is both an individual journey and a strategic imperative. My Coaching Approach I take a holistic, strengths-based approach to coaching. Clients describe me as both supportive and challenging—I hold space for self-discovery while ensuring accountability and action. As a maximizer, I help clients amplify their innate talents so they can lead, work, and live at their highest potential. My coaching cultivates connection, confidence, and clarity while delivering meaningful, measurable results. I coach individuals to: Whether working with individuals or teams, my goal is always lasting growth, real-world application, and measurable impact. Who I Serve: Beyond Coaching When I’m not coaching or leading workshops, I’m fully immersed in family life with my husband, two sons, and our sweet pup. I’m passionate about wellness, meditation, urban hiking, weightlifting, and cooking—always seeking ways to nourish both body, mind, and soul. You’ll often find me arranging flowers, tending my ever-growing collection of houseplants, or creating a warm, inviting space filled with natural light, fresh blooms, and the soulful sounds of vinyl records. Lifelong learning is at the heart of who I am. Whether it’s reading (I aim for 65 books a year!), practicing daily mindfulness, exploring astrology, or engaging in creative rituals, I believe in the power of continuous growth. I also love puzzles, games, and making art with my kids, because I firmly believe that play is productive. I also believe reality TV is a masterclass in Leadership and so balance it all with a healthy Below Deck obsession. These passions fuel my coaching because life isn’t just about achievement; it’s about creating meaning, alignment, and fulfillment. When we show up as our best selves, we inspire those around us to do the same. Ready to maximize your potential? Let’s connect! What my clients say “Cait is a fantastic coach to work with! You can tell she cares about you as a person and not just a client which sets her apart from my other experiences. She asks thought provoking questions that truly helped me to better understand myself and how to move forward. Cait is the epitome of servant leadership and I left that experience feeling more confident than ever in this next stage of my career.” – Teaira S. – “Before I started working with a coach, I was skeptical that it would lead to measurable results. I was so wrong. Within just a few sessions of working with Cait, I started operating with more self-awareness and personal vision. Caitlin has an incredible talent for asking both thought-provoking and clarifying questions. I walked away from every session feeling more energized, empowered, and equipped to address my challenges. In particular, Cait not only helped me identify my key strengths, but also created space for me to better understand how I could cultivate these strengths. I view my time working with Cait as invaluable to my personal and professional growth. If you are ready to invest in yourself and reach your next level of success, I cannot recommend Cait highly enough as a guide and champion to help you get there.” – Stephen B. – “My time coaching with Cait was one of the best moves that I made professionally and personally that impacted my career and the way I thought about growth. She has an unbelievable ability to hold space for whatever you’re feeling and experiencing. She asks the right questions that lead you to coming up with solutions for yourself. I felt completely at home talking with Cait and was able to be completely honest with her and myself about my career and thoughts. Cait helped me during a huge leap in my career and changed my life for the better.” – Madison W. – “Working with Cait has been educational, fulfilling, fun, and effective. We had a rapport the very first moment we saw each other on the Zoom call. Cait showed me how to be a great coach. She was always welcoming, present, listened deeply, and provided a safe space for me to explore and grow! Her example of how to be an effective life coach helped me to experience what it could be like for me in my own coaching practice – once I finish my professional training. Cait maintained a great balance of having appropriate professional boundaries while still being very approachable. I honestly looked forward to every session with her and always went away satisfied. Simply and honestly, Cait is just a wonderful human being and a great coach! I will miss her.” – Kathy L. – “Working with Coach Cait has been truly life-changing. When I started my coaching sessions with Ama La Vida, I was feeling extremely frustrated and burnt out from my job, but I had no idea what to do next. Cait helped give me the courage to do what I had been dreaming of, which was leave my role and take a career break to spend time focusing on myself, my passions, and what I’d

Eden Waldon

10/28/20

Sky Renteria

M.S. Career Counseling in progress, California State University, SacramentoB.S. Human Development Psychology, Arizona State University This is My Story Hello! I am thrilled to connect with you as a Career Specialist for Ama La Vida. I grew up in Redding, a small town of Northern California where I have many memories of being innature. I enjoy hiking, paddleboarding, camping, and nature meditations, all of which help me find a balance between my work and life commitments. In college, my extracurricular experience included leadership positions and internships at non-profits, which gave me an early foundation in seeking a career path that would allow me to help others. I found that a series of “jobs” in social services and trying different positions on, was exactly what I needed to learn about and gain interest in career advising. I am grateful to say I love doing what I do to assist people in their careers! My background in Career Counseling has allowed me to work with universities includingUniversity of Southern California, UC Davis, and CSU Sacramento, where I worked withindividuals on resumes, interview coaching, job searching, and networking strategies. Iincorporate positive psychology and strength-based approaches into my coaching modelfor career development. I believe in career connection for you: connecting your careerchoice with your values. By career connection, you can find fulfillment and enjoyment inthe workforce. I have a vision that includes more connectedness for people to their careers and that includes helping you discover the career that is ideal for you! As a Career Specialist, I enjoy working with individuals who are ready to take action inpursuing a new career, those who are seeking more fulfillment in their current career orassisting those in the process of finding work-life balance. I am overjoyed to work with individuals to help them answer the following questions:What makes you excited? What gives you the freedom to imagine and dream?What gives your life meaning and purpose? My expertise includes:· Resume reviews and creativity· Interview support and coaching· Job Search techniques· LinkedIn profile support Ultimately, I am excited to get to know you and support you to design a life that includes a fulfilling career, while also providing you with practical tools to assist you in your job search. From the Horse’s Mouth… “Ama La Vida was a great experience. I needed some help finding direction in my current role and with the help of Eden was able to find ways in which my skills and passions are complimented in my current line of work. The program helped me to think deeply about what’s important to me both personally and professionally. I was able to see my job in a new light and forge a path for a change if I am estranged with my industry in the future. I would highly recommend the program to anyone trying to find a sense of direction!” — “My experience with Ama la Vida was very helpful. I did the Get that Job program with Eden as my coach. She was amazing and really helped me in my process finding a job in Chicago. She helped and encouraged me to be more confident even when I felt that I couldn’t do something. I highly recommend Ama la Vida for those people that need a little help on their professional journey.” — “The reviews here are one of the reasons I decided to go with Ama La Vida. If you are looking to make a change or need affirmation this is the program for you. Eden and ALV really helped me find my path and career that fits with my values and skills. I was truly lost and did not know how so many people have jobs they loved and really excelled in. Eden helped me discover my strengths and values and career paths that aligned with me as well as my goals. She also provided great coaching and tools to navigate the daunting job search and interview process. Eden helped me with so many questions and concerns that were very unique to my situation. She always had an answer, advice, or resources for me. I can say now that thanks to Eden and ALV I know exactly where I am going and how I am going to get there!”

Brittny Arnold

10/25/20

Libby Micheletti

Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Southern New Hampshire University This is my story Hi, I’m Brittny! I’m one of the Relationship Strategists on our team who you might meet prior to signing up for coaching. I love meeting new people from all walks of life and getting to know what makes you unique! I’m passionate about helping others succeed, and it is my life purpose to empower others to make a lasting impact and inspire change. During our conversations, I will take the time to make you feel seen and heard as we collaborate together to pair you up with an excellent coach match. I’m here to help you navigate the world of coaching to ensure you receive the best support possible to help you achieve your goals, as well as answer all those burning questions you might have along the way. This is an exciting step in your journey and I’m honored to help guide you through this process! Professionally, I have experience in consumer research, learning & development, sales, and marketing. Throughout my life and career, I have constantly sought the “why” behind everything and created strategies to operate more efficiently. Personally, I love watching live sporting events, reading, listening to music, watching documentaries, cooking, exploring new places, and most importantly, being a mom to my toddler! Thanks for stopping by to read my story! I can’t wait to meet you! Ready to Learn More About Coaching?

Nicole Wood

10/25/20

Perfect Search Media

B.S. Finance, Arizona State UniversityB.S. Supply Chain Management, Arizona State UniversityGraduate of Barrett, the Honors CollegeCertified Supply Chain Management Professional, APICS This is my story Hi there! I’m Nicole, the CEO and one of the co-founders of Ama La Vida. As CEO, I’m not a commander; I’m a cultivator. My job is to create an environment where our team can thrive and our clients can feel empowered. From investing in our coaches’ education to treating client feedback like gospel, I’m here to serve them. Not the other way around. One of my greatest goals is to help our clients to stop dreading Monday and design a career which brings equal parts fulfillment and success. As the clock in clock out work culture dies, and our lives become increasingly integrated with our work, I’m passionate about helping people’s work to be meaningful, thrilling and lucrative. With a background in management consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers, I bring a new level of rigor, process and results-orientation to the coaching industry. At Ama La Vida, working with a coach isn’t just about feeling inspired in your sessions – it’s about making lasting changes in your life after your session is over. I’ve been featured in publications like Fortune, Bustle, Monster.com and Yahoo, as a thought-leader in things like crafting rewarding careers and creating a company culture which fosters innovation and honors individuality. As determined as I am to help our clients love their lives, I’m equally determined to help ALV staff and coaches do the same. Every single person who joins our team is helping us build the world’s leading coaching company, and I work tirelessly to ensure that company is a phenomenal place to work. I am currently leading Ama La Vida to be the first coaching organization to provide a platform for coaches who want to focus their time on coaching and amplifying their impact instead of on business administration. This business model is unprecedented in the coaching industry and is causing rapid growth among our team of highly skilled, certified coaches. I believe this approach is going to be game-changing in making coaching affordable and available to everyone who wants and needs it. On a personal level, I’m originally from Philadelphia, but I’ve put down roots in Chicago, having married a tall, corn-fed, Midwestern guy. We have 3 little dogs, and I fear the day we have a house with a yard because I could see us being crazy enough to have even more. My East-coast edge hasn’t quite gone away – I’m sure the team will tell you I can always be counted on for a joke, an adventure and a wild idea. I dream big, laugh hard and care deeply. And I believe that every meeting gets a little more creative with a glass of champagne! Can’t wait to hear your story! Nicole Read some of my blog posts here!

Libby Micheletti

10/23/20

Sky Renteria

Certified Professional Coach, iPEC (Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching)MBA, Marketing (Loyola University of Chicago)BBA, Marketing and Theology (Loyola University of Chicago)Registered Yoga Teacher (CorePower Yoga) This is my story Hello! I’m Libby Micheletti, and I’m a Career and Lifestyle Coach with Ama La Vida. So nice to (almost) meet you! I’m so fortunate to meet and work with the people I do in my coaching practice. All of you are such bright, brilliant, visionary humans, there is nothing I love more than supporting you in realizing it, getting clear on what you want, taking steps into your own journey. But this wasn’t always my path. When I was 26 I was working at an ad agency and deeply unhappy with the direction my life was moving. I felt stuck and confused and more than a bit lost. I was working 80+ hour weeks at a job I didn’t enjoy. I wasn’t making very much money. And I didn’t want to spend my whole life only living in one city. So I decided to quit my job and move to Seattle, where I’d never been and knew no one. Over the course of my time in Seattle, I continued working in advertising with some of the top Fortune 500 companies but still wasn’t happy. I began teaching yoga outside work, and through that study, the way I perceived my life and the world around me began to shift. It became clear to me that our mindset has a great impact on how we experience life and the choices we make. I wanted to bring this empowerment to other young professionals. Life might not be easy, but it doesn’t have to be so hard. I found the top coaching certification program through the International Coaching Federation and signed up. Becoming a coach is one of the best choices I’ve ever made for myself. I love supporting professionals as they grow and evolve and watching the choices they make for themselves. Outside of coaching, I am also Ama La Vida’s Director of Marketing, and still teach yoga several times a week. I believe everyone can find balance and joy in his or her life, and this is deeply rooted in finding your personal passions and making time and space for them. Our work together will help you create a life you love. My Coaching Approach I see my role as your coach as primarily to help you get clear on what you truly want and then support you in creating your path to get there. We’ll start out with some quick assessments and intake forms to get a sense of where you’re at in your career and life, what’s important to you, and what your goals are. From there, we’ll do a deep dive into what’s been stopping you, why haven’t you made the progress you’d like to make. From there, we’ll get practical about goals and your path forward. This process is usually iterative! We start, make some progress, then reassess as you gather more information about yourself, and adjust accordingly. Working with me, you can expect to address: While we will work through these topics, I also like to leave space for free-flowing sessions on your own personal topics so that we can customize and address what are the most pertinent topics and issues for you. Our work together is all in service of helping you create a life you truly love. Testimonials “This is a great program that provides great framework and great mentors. I worked with Libby and she was amazing! We laid out from the get-go what would work best for me and she knocked it out of the park. By our second session, it’s like she knew me and what makes me tick for years. She provides no-nonsense (by design) feedback that really helped shape the process and where to go next. This is a good program on its own, but Libby made it a must-do for me and I would recommend her to anyone looking for a career shift or change.” — “Libby was great to work with. She had really insightful thoughts and did a great job of helping me to think about things in a different way. She knew when questions she asked would be challenging for me, and she helped me to work through those challenges to get to something meaningful.” — “I am so glad I decided to go through the program with Libby! I would consider myself generally “self aware” and open to talking about things, but through the process I was able to dig a little deeper and really think about why I feel or react in a certain way – leading me to notice the root of the issue rather than its effects. My favorite part was learning about the different energy levels. I realized how much my “Level 4″ energy was showing up in my life, how it was good, but also how it can drain me emotionally. Libby and I strategized about how to tap into higher energy levels and separate my feelings a little bit from my need to care for others. One of my main goals was to be more present in my daily life and feel at peace and I definitely think that I was able to move towards this over the months of meetings. I am excited to continue to grow and see what the future holds!” — “Libby was an amazing coach to work with. I came to Ama La Vida with a good idea of where I wanted to go professionally but was struggling to get there. On top of the great resources that the full ALV team provide, working with Libby helped me drill down on the type of mindset I needed to have that would allow me to face and overcome these struggles. I can’t think of a better coach or advocate to have in your corner than her. She is commiserating but challenging, empathetic but forward-thinking.

Teresa Cella

10/23/20

Sky Renteria

Certified Professional Coach, iPEC (Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching)J.D., Boston College Law SchoolB.S. Finance, Boston College This is my story Hi there! My name is Teresa Cella, and I’m so grateful to you for taking the time to learn more about me and my coaching style. I’m a former “big law” partner turned Career, Executive, and Leadership coach. I was born and bred in Boston, Massachusetts to immigrant parents who instilled in me a strong work ethic and the value of connecting with others (probably my two biggest strengths to this day). I drink my coffee black, my scotch neat, and I never say no to a bone-in rib-eye (or my mum’s eggplant parm, or cheesecake…you get the idea; I’m a “wicked” foodie). I’ve always considered myself pretty driven and knew at a very early age that I wanted to be a lawyer. So, after a brief stopover as a technology consultant, I went to law school and landed a job at a large, international law firm just like I had planned. I’d also planned to leave after a couple of years to go work in-house, but that never happened. And even though I never planned to make partner, it seemed like the next logical step. What’s that they say about the best laid plans? Turns out that just because you’re on a certain path, doesn’t mean you have to stay on it. There were so many things I enjoyed (and miss) about practicing law (challenging work, financial security, and phenomenal clients and colleagues), but I ultimately figured out it wasn’t how I wanted to spend the rest of my professional life. I considered which parts of my job were my favorite and landed on coaching as the next step in my career because supporting people as they identify goals, develop a plan to work toward them, and then take the steps to achieve results is what I’d been doing (and loving) all along. And so, logically, I quit my job, took six months off to catch my breath, traveled a bit, got a tattoo, dyed my hair purple, blue, pink, red, and orange (all at different times), and then got down to the business of coaching. I’m not telling you this so you think I’m crazy (far from it on most days); I’m just letting you know that I’m not afraid to think outside the box. I’d (probably) never encourage anyone to jump off a bridge like I did, but I want to challenge you to think about what you really want out of your professional life, to own that, and to make it happen. It’s not easy (seriously), but it’s worth it! This is My Coaching Approach One of my biggest hesitations when deciding to become a coach was that I might be too direct (read: blunt) for some people, but I have found that busy, motivated, and goal-oriented professionals gravitate toward my “let’s get to the point” approach to coaching. With me, you’ll learn to use your existing strengths and abilities in new and different ways to enhance performance, improve self-esteem, ensure smooth life transitions, and ultimately live a more authentic life of success and achievement. If you have this pre-conceived notion that coaching is too “touchy feel”, don’t worry, we’ll break it down into concrete goals, a laser-focused path, and actionable steps for you to follow. Specifically, I will support you by using powerful questioning, sharing insights and observations, and challenging you with respect to exploring new perspectives and possibilities for a new career direction, rediscovering your confidence and stretching beyond perceived limitations, creating practical, step-by-step action plans to reach your goals, and holding you accountable for achieving your career goal(s). The people that I work with are at various stages of their careers: associates and partners at law firms, mid to senior level executives at a variety of organizations, business owners, and solopreneurs. Some are looking to move up in their current organization, while others are either burnt out or simply looking for a change. What they all have in common is a strong desire to take control of their professional lives and find the career satisfaction they deserve (and have earned)! What my clients say… Jasmine I had been in the same job for 12 years and after my second baby, I knew that I wanted something different. Like most people, I was scared of taking the leap and not sure what I wanted to do next. I had tried other coaching programs and read all the career books, but I was “stuck” and something kept me from actually making the leap. Teresa helped me identify what I wanted my day-to-day life to look like, which then helped me systematically evaluate different job options and clearly see which ones fit the life that I wanted. She helped me work through the fear of change and think through “worst case” scenarios (which actually weren’t that scary!). I really trusted Teresa’s coaching because of her background as an extremely successful professional and her no-nonsense style of communication and feedback. I also appreciated that she continued to check in after I made the job switch and when I needed it, reminded me of my “why’s” and what I had identified as my priorities. I have recommended her to several of my friends who are wanting to make changes in their life, and I will continue to use her coaching in my new role! Katherine l’ve had the pleasure of having Teresa Cella as my coach. I love her kind, bubbly and welcoming personality. She really has a knack for solutions and helping others find the answers that they seek. Teresa is very attentive and really listens to what l’m experiencing. She always adds insight or a perspective that I hadn’t considered. She helps me to push past the beliefs that get in my way. She also helps me to see correlations and patterns that I hadn’t noticed. As a result of our work together, l’ve become more

Foram Sheth

10/23/20

Perfect Search Media

This is my story Adjunct Faculty, Northwestern UniversityOrganization and Leadership Coaching, Northwestern UniversityM.S. Learning and Organizational Change, Northwestern UniversityB.S. Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignHogan Assessment CertifiedFluent in English and Gujarati Hi! My name is Foram Sheth and I first want to thank you for taking the time to read this. We are all busy and pressed for time and it means a lot to me and this company that you’re invested in finding out who we are and assess if we’re a good fit for you. So now, a little bit about me. I identify myself as a mother, a wife and a passionate individual who is driven to empower those around me to thrive. I realized that the best athletes, performers, and leaders all have one thing in common – they dedicate themselves to improving by partnering with a coach. My personal journey began when I moved to the United States at the age of 9 from India. My parents gave up a comfortable life to a struggling one to provide me and my brother with unlimited opportunities. I watched my parents sacrifice everything for us. This upbringing instilled the values of hard work, resiliency and tenacity. I leaned into these values during my time as a healthcare consultant. Consulting taught me the importance of establishing rapport, cultivating relationships and producing results through a data-driven process. While consulting, I pursued my Master’s degree in Learning and Organizational Change at Northwestern University. During this time, I was fortunate enough to work with a leadership coach and that’s when I knew I had to learn the art and skill of coaching. As I became more informed about the coaching world, I realized high quality leadership coaching is typically reserved for the top leadership team. But what about new and mid-level managers who need personalized support to cultivate high performing teams? How do we scale coaching and break down the barriers that traditionally make coaching only reserved for the senior leadership team? These are the questions we asked ourselves when we launched Ama La Vida. And I’m proud to say we have been able to disrupt the coaching industry by leveraging technology to make coaching more accessible, scalable, tangible and results-driven. You’ll learn soon enough that I am obsessed with Harry Potter and often make references to Kung Fu Panda and Modern Family. I like watching TV and laughing at Phil’s jokes, finding inner peace like Master Shifu and waiting for my letter from Hogwarts. This is My Coaching Method Who is the right coach for you?This is an important question to ask before you engage with any coach. Working with a coach is like being in an intimate relationship. You have to be yourself and feel comfortable putting it all out there – your fears, your joys, your sadness – without any judgement or hesitancy. Only then will you get the most out of coaching and will your coach be of value to you. Am I the right coach for you? Are you committed to achieving your goal? Are you willing to be open-minded and challenge your status quo? Are you willing to explore the unknown and reach outside of your comfort zone? Are you willing to be transparent and share your successes and doubts? Are you committed to investing in yourself? If you’ve answered yes to the questions above, you’re the type of person I want to work with and I know we’ll achieve greatness together. You’ll read below a detailed description of my coaching style. How I would describe my style and expertise is: Candid Results Driven Empathetic Confidential Integration of Coaching with Change and Learning Theories As a coach, I want to first get to know you. I want to understand what drives you, fulfills you and what makes you tick. Based on an understanding of who you are, we have a better understanding on how to work together. I want to work with you to develop a custom plan for you based on what we know and identify criteria to measure progress and define what success looks like. My analytical and consulting background has shaped me to be very data driven and results oriented. I believe in the power of assessments, measuring progress and delivering value to every engagement. We will assess each criteria and validate the progress we’ve made and what we still have to work on. This will give me – as your coach – feedback on our engagement and you – as the coachee – a pulse on your progress. A critical component of my job as a coach is to bring awareness and be honest while doing so. My promise to you is to be candid in our communications so you walk away with clarity and honest feedback about your progress and areas of opportunity, while also providing support where you need it and when you need it. I know change is hard. Every coaching engagement requires a form of change – changing your habits to delegate more or changing your behavior to live more. In my coaching with you, I integrate the principles of change and adult learning to accelerate your progress and ensure permanent change. Finally, my promise to you is utmost confidentiality in our work together. I will create a safe, non-judgmental environment, allowing you to be open and comfortable during our time together. I would be honored to work with you and offer my assistance to help you reach your definition of success. See Foram on the ALV blog But Don’t Take it From Me

Shari Santoriello

10/23/20

Jillian

25+ years creative marketing communications10+ years higher educationMaster’s in Communications Arts, Marketing (New York Institute of Technology)Bachelor’s in English, concentration in Communications (University of Albany) This is my story Welcome! I’m Shari Santoriello, a Career Specialist with Ama La Vida and I am as happy as you are to be here! I am a native New Yorker who resides on the beautiful north shore of eastern Long Island. I am a 25-year career veteran who has had success in marketing communications and a ten-year career teaching at the college level. I am passionate about helping and that’s what has led me to coaching. In creating a successful internship program for a private university, I found myself doing more than giving students some “real world” experience. I was running seminars about interviewing, resume writing, job search process, on-line personal branding, best business practices and how to have that all align with personal and professional objectives and values. My students found it so helpful, it became, “can you help my friend, significant other, cousin, Dad?” and I helped each one. What I didn’t know at the time is that this type of helping had a name, and that name is “coaching”. Each and every day, I work hard to be the best me I can, and I try to move forward a little more. It is both a pleasure and a joy to help you do the same! On a personal note: I melt at all the pictures of cute babies (and kids and puppies, kittens, bears, elephants, monkeys, pigs, and goats!) I love to do so many things, but my favorites are laughing, reading, movies, music, food-things, and all things family. My Coaching Approach Dr. Suess said it best, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” Acting as your personal GPS, we work together to figure out the best way to get you from here to there. I can help you travel the planned path or we can reroute as we go, you can feel confident that when there is a fork in the path, I’ll be there to help you navigate it. As a lifelong learner myself, I think by being thoughtful, kind, honest and asking the hard questions, we will both learn on the journey. I believe that everyone’s journey is different, and we all don’t follow the same roadmap. My goal is to help discover what works best for you, so you can feel accomplished and happy. What My Clients Say I learned great some great insights from my coach Shari. The online modules are well thought out and extremely helpful with prompting you through your personal work. ALV has a great set up and can definitely help you get to the next level. ~ Lilli H. – The coaching I received through Ama La Vida was a life changer – and a life saver. I came in looking for help with my resume and sharpening my interview skills and got SO much more out of the experience. I am now excelling in my field, a proud and successful owner of my own business and have learned a lot about myself, my goals and how to best achieve my objectives. ~ Emily C. – “Shari is great to work with. She has a great ability to clarify goals and get down to the nitty gritty of problem solving. Her warm and personable style makes coaching sessions enjoyable, and it helped me remain motivated between sessions. I highly recommend working with Shari!” – Cappy S. – “Shari was an absolute incredible coach for me. She got to know me, spent the time understanding me and truly was the most important piece in this career journey for me. She pushed me when I needed to be pushed and allowed me to hold back when I needed to as well. I reached my goal of getting a new job that is in line with what I want for my future!” – Carly K. – “It was invaluable to have a coach who got to know me very well, to understand my circumstances, and to provide insightful support when I needed it most.” – Jean C. – “Shari is a great coach! She made me feel comfortable and motivated throughout the entire process.” – Samantha G. – “Working with my coach Shari has allowed me to view my career choices differently and given me the confidence I needed to pursue a personal passion as a career path. I’m beyond excited for my next chapter and could not have done it without her. I found the exercises/homework to be challenging yet doable, and the subsequent conversations during our sessions helped me further see trends in my homework. Shari is compassionate yet direct and clearly has an enthusiasm for the work she does.” – Lora D. – “My coach was a mind reader and a genius. We were able to hone my resume and she helped me understand the job application process and also why I made the choices in my career that I did. I also was able to speak to a coach about self-esteem and seeing the bigger picture of what I should strive for. I will be leaving the coaching due to personal issues, but I know where to go to when I need solid career guidance.” – Iris B. – “Shari made me understand how all my skills and background are transferrable. She motivated me and taught me how different the job application process is today! I could not have gone through this career transition without her!” – Gretchen B. – “I feel grateful and lucky to have been matched with Shari as my career coach. I never would have thought coaching would have such a positive impact on my personal and professional life in such a short period

Sara Dawson

10/23/20

Sky Renteria

Health Coach Certification, Health Coach InstituteHuman Potential Coach Certification, Bulletproof Training InstituteCo-Active Coaching Program, Coaches Training Institute13 years Marketing & Advertising LeadershipB.A. Communications, University of Washington This is my story Hi! My name is Sara Dawson, and I am a Health and Career Coach with Ama La Vida. I’m originally from California and spent several years in beautiful Connecticut, though Seattle is my true home. I love exploring the outdoors with my husband and dog, and equally enjoy being a homebody with our two cats. You can also find me playing soccer, practicing or teaching Taekwon-do, running marathons, snowboarding, or enjoying chill time with family and friends. Prior to becoming a full-time coach with Ama La Vida, I led the Seattle Advertising Services and National Business Operations teams for a large digital agency called Publicis Sapient. I was responsible for account management strategy, operations management, and employee development. In my former life, I also leveraged my communications background to execute recruitment and branding campaigns as well as large-scale corporate event registration. While I enjoyed leadership coaching as part of my agency role, I wanted to expand the ways I could support others through coaching and this led me to Ama La Vida. Coaching is my ultimate passion! I especially love applying my corporate and health experiences in support of my clients’ personal and professional goals. I firmly believe everyone needs a strong health foundation to be at their best. I started my own self-improvement journey after enduring 20 years of weight loss and confidence struggles. I was tired of yo-yo diets, the shame from having an eating disorder, and the pressure of hiding an unhealthy obsession. I was overloaded with insecurities, never comfortable in my own skin, and feeling like I was never good enough. These crappy feelings impacted my relationships and my job satisfaction as I distanced myself from others. I retreated into my own thoughts and continued to do less of the things I loved as fear and self-doubt took over. I knew if I didn’t make a big change, nothing would EVER be good enough and I would be stuck with a mediocre life as a shell of my true self. After hitting my wall, I finally took action and found the right diet, high-performance lifestyle, and mindset through tons of research, trial and error, and guidance from my own coach. I’m so grateful to have discovered the confidence and freedom to live my best life! Now, as a certified coach, I enjoy helping my clients bridge that gap between where they are and where they want to be as quickly as possible in all aspects of life. If you are ready to elevate your life and realize your potential, let’s chat! I look forward to connecting with you. This is My Coaching Approach Am I the right coach for you? My coaching approach combines the right system, support, and accountability so you can begin elevating yourself in the areas that are most important to you. Through our coaching relationship, we will co-create steps forward in your health, career, and life. I believe everyone has a unique approach to health and happiness and I will help you uncover yours. I support clients who have found success in certain areas of their life yet struggle in others, including confidence, work/life balance, new business momentum, career transition, job satisfaction, weight loss, stress management, presence, and self-sabotage. The kinds of outcomes my clients have ultimately achieved include: • Weight Loss• Career Transition• Greater Job satisfaction• Mindset Shift• Greater Self-Confidence• Lower Stress Levels• Greater Presence• Leadership Growth• Learning how to bounce back after falling off the wagon• Discovering a sustainable approach to lifestyle and nutrition How I would describe my style and expertise:• Supportive• Authentic• Transformative Expertise in: Mindset growth:Understand how your values and lifestyle factors affect your motivation and achievement of goals Leadership and Development:Learn how to get “unstuck”, cultivate a healthy work environment, and create stronger employee engagement Career exploration:Find meaning in your current work or something new Weight loss:Discover sustainable lifestyle-focused changes vs. “quick fixes” Nutrition and Health:Learn sustainable approaches to eating and lifestyle Client Testimonials I have to say what a wonderful coach Sara is. During my sessions Sara worked with me to improve my LinkedIn, resume, networking, interviewing skills, and job search methods. I could tell you about all the things we did but results are more telling.One of things we focused on was the content on my linked in as well as using it to reach out to make more connections. Last month I was contacted (COLD CALL) by a recruiting company, asking me to apply to a new job opportunity within a transplant / serology testing company (I work in organ/tissue donation). The salary offer for this position is more than double what I currently make, which absolutely floored me and is really a testament how effective Sara’s coaching has been. I applied for the job with my new resume, and I actually got an initial phone interview this Friday. Of course it’s not about money in the end but I am honored to be considered for such an amazing opportunity and absolutely floored that this is happening in the middle of a pandemic with poor job prospects. I am so grateful for all of Sara’s time and effort, I am eternally grateful for all the wisdom she has given me. I feel that without our time I would have been stuck in the same old loop of applying to jobs and not getting them. I really feel that she has enabled me to launch a great career, whether it’s with this company I’m interviewing for or another one in the future. From my very first call with Lori (my relationship strategist) she told me not to undervalue myself. Never in my life did I think I would be considered for such a great opportunity. Thank you and all your coaches for what you do. In this time of great uncertainty it has boosted my

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