Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Sgroi.
Laura, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I became a Certified Positive Lifestyle + Business Coach & Speaker after a successful 16+ year career as a Communications and Entertainment professional. I am grateful for the opportunities I had to gain diverse experience and exceptional knowledge while working in massive events with prestigious industry names in several cities in the United States and Latin America. I had the privilege of working with large and heterogeneous groups in multicultural environments, and that has helped me develop strong communication skills that I am now able to transfer to my coaching and speaking roles. After years of introspection and soul-searching, I realized I wanted to help others, mainly inspiring them to take action and make positive changes in their lives and businesses. I obtained my Professional Coach Certificate from the University of Miami in 2018, a comprehensive 11-month program accredited by the International Coach Federation. Beyond a goal accomplished, this is my career dream come true.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road at all. It was not easy to get here. And I am not only talking about finding the right hybrid program for me in an ocean of options, until the right program found me through a Facebook ad, with the curriculum that talked to me, asked for a discount, getting it, ignoring my husband “is it the right time to do this?” question, realizing coaching was not what I thought (what do you mean I don’t get to talk much?), rushing or delaying dinner in order to join tele-classes that my phone company charged me for by the minute. Traveling with my heavy and bulky book and notebook and taking classes with a time difference from a theater in Los Angeles, after my in-laws were in bed while visiting them in Italy, at improvised production offices at stadiums while on a rock band tour in South America, in a van waiting for talent to go to a red carpet in Las Vegas, and only when I got lucky sitting in my office chair or my husband’s LaZBoy at home, to then take the very last classes pregnant in my bed during hurricane season. Doing all kinds of coaching deals: peer coaching, pro-bono, fairly paid hours, coaching anybody that could talk to meet the practice hours required, being coached, pushing my brain and body in the wee hours to work on written assignments and exams, forgetting to press record during the best sessions I ever had to submit for supervision, booking an hour of “supervised play” at an indoor playground on a rainy day to be able to record my exam call, without taking in consideration that is not the quietest place. And now, squeezing the time in between work and family to work on my branding and coaching projects. My advice for other women starting their journey: Keep going. It’s all worth it. Don’t stop looking for what you want. Ask for support and find a way to do the work. As my sister Amy once told me: “Life only gets complicated for the things we really want to do.” Be a leader for yourself.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I coach and speak to hearts and brains looking for positive change. I partner with individuals and organizations in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential and produce fulfilling results. Every day, I engage with clients in a deep brain and heart storming process that empowers them to pursue their own concept of personal and professional success. I am a Certified Bilingual Coach & Speaker, specialized in Positive Lifestyle, which I consider the foundation of sustainable results. After 140+ hours of training and 200+ hours of practice, I am proud of gaining and maintaining the trust of countless clients and colleagues who keep booking me as their coach and sending me referrals.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
My best advice for finding a mentor is to do your research and be patient and understanding. Beyond the ultra famous, choose someone with a path that you can relate too. It took me a while to find a mentor in the coaching world. I kept getting positive responses, but no confirmations of meeting plans. Until my fellow coach, Natalia Jaramillo asked me: Why do you want to meet with them? For inspiration – I answered. She then asked: What other ways can you find that inspiration? And that is how I started asking around about them, reading their bios and books, watching their videos, following them on social media, volunteering for their projects and being willing to pay at least for one hour of their time if necessary. I became aware that those professionals live focused busy lives and they might decline our invitations to meet while they are working on tight deadlines and trying to avoid distractions. A brief phone call is a great start.
About networking, be authentic, strive to make meaningful connections, follow up and keep in touch. In spite of the fact that I am a natural connector, networking as a task feels like fake flirting for benefits. I’d rather connect deeply with one person, following up and keeping in touch exploring opportunities to collaborate, than going around giving out dozens of business cards. Only one tip: Go alone to networking events, if you go with a colleague or friend, you will mostly talk to that person instead of meeting new ones.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laurasgroi.com
- Email: coaching@laurasgroi.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laura.sgroi/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraSgroi
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-sgroi-coach-and-speaker/
Image Credit:
Isis Santana Photography, Eva Hart Photography
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