Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Juliano.
Jessica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story began in early 2016 when my dad, the love of my life, was diagnosed with leukemia. I found myself unexpectedly in a caretaker role while maintaining a full-time job, which thankfully allowed me to work remotely.
At this time in my life, I had no skills to process such a traumatic experience, let alone even the simple emotional roller coaster of being a human. I kept it all inside and gave all my energy to first my dad, and then my job. After that, there was nothing left for me.
As the treatment worked and my dad’s strength improved, I had time for myself again. Jamie Mendell, a woman I had met years earlier on a Birthright trip, had ventured into life coaching and invited me into her group coaching course Master Your Life which taught me the foundations of caring for myself: emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. At a time when I was busting open at every seam, she taught me how to sew myself back together with love, gentleness, and compassion.
I learned how to process difficult emotions, question the doubtful thoughts in my head, treat my body with love and respect, and take responsibility for creating a life aligned with my values. In a nutshell, it was conscious and intentional living. A whole new world opened up for me.
The following year, my dad’s strength began to decline again. He’d built up a resistance to the treatment and felt defeated. He couldn’t keep up the fight any longer. He peacefully passed away in April of 2017.
To this day, I’m not sure how I made it through those first months after his passing, but in part, I know it was from the skills I learned from Jamie. I learned to breathe when it was all I could do to get through each moment. I asked for what I needed from other people. I loved myself enough to share my story with others because it helped me process the experience.
After taking care of my dad, the most meaningful way I could ever imagine spending my time, it was excruciating to go back to my tech job where everything felt so pointless. I knew I was destined to give back in a deeply impactful way. I was meant to really connect with people. As I looked back at my own journey and how Jamie helped me, I realized how much her work had changed my life. I knew at that moment, I had to give this back.
I allowed myself several more months to grieve, and by late 2017, I was enrolled in a health and life coaching certification program and started my business. The rest is history!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest struggle and blessing has been that every step forward in this process, even the smallest ones, has required me to elevate myself. I constantly have to face my doubts and insecurities and just do the scary thing anyway. As someone who used to identify as an introvert, simply calling up a potential venue for a workshop would terrify me, and sometimes take me days, weeks, or even months to find the courage to do.
At the moment, it feels like a setback, but this growth is necessary for me to bring the utmost value and authenticity to my practice and my clients.
My advice to other women starting their journey is to keep yourself surrounded by people who believe in you 100% and who are also investing in their own growth and expansion. If you don’t have those people in your life already, go find them. Go to different events, classes, meetups, or professional organizations that interest you and talk to people. Consider starting your own mastermind with people who uplift you.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a self-worth coach who helps women who feel trapped in a job or relationship that’s not making them happy. I help you build your confidence and courage so you can stop settling and create the experience you deserve.
People often assume I will help you find a new job or relationship but that’s not the case. Most of my clients struggle with making decisions. This work is about building trust in yourself so you can confidently make the decision that honors your worth and value. Yes, sometimes, you will find that job or relationship no longer fits, and it’s time to move on. If so, I will help you through that transition. Other times, we find the job or relationship was never the root of our unhappiness, and all along it was actually because we had abandoned the relationship with ourselves. Rebuilding and strengthening that relationship is what I do with all of my clients.
What I am most proud of is how this work and my clients have inspired me to keep pushing myself. I want to be my best because I know I can only help others as far along as I’m willing to help myself. In the past two years, I’ve left a comfortable job, a comfortable relationship, and a comfortable living situation. All of these situations were stifling me and my ability to shine. Choosing ourselves, our worth, despite comfort, can be excruciating. But once you reach a certain level of self-respect, choosing to leave suddenly becomes easy.
I think what draws people to me as a coach is my willingness to be imperfect and transparent. I won’t say this sets me apart because I know many other women who exemplify these traits. But we all do so in our own beautifully unique way. I share both the highs and lows of my experiences because I’m committed to authenticity. Other women sharing the depths of their pain is what inspired me many times to find the courage to make a change. We have to let each other know we’re not alone. And we have to be a mirror reflecting back to others the beauty and magic of what’s possible on the other side.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
My advice is to attend a variety of networking, and even non-networking events and find what works for you. When I first started my business, talking to strangers was extremely difficult for me, but as I attended more events, it expanded my comfort zone.
I think there’s a lot of pressure to be networking all the time and going to these organized events, but what I find to be more important is going to events that genuinely interest you, and talk to the people there. It’s so much easier to have an authentic conversation when you’re both engaged in something you naturally enjoy.
I don’t really go to organized networking events anymore. I go to drag queen yoga classes, belly dancing, meditation and mindfulness classes. I talk to the other attendees. I invite people to tea and get to know them. This is how I make friends and build my support network. Many of these people act as mentors to me and vice versa. Often times, it turns into an opportunity to collaborate, refer to each other, or work with each other in some other capacity.
I’m heavily involved in Toastmasters, an international organization for public speaking and leadership. This group has helped me find my voice, share my story, and step into my power. I’ve found a family that believes in me and my success 100%. They are constantly pushing me to grow and I’m forever grateful. Everyone deserves to have people like this in their life.
Pricing:
- Complimentary Know Your Worth Clarity Session – book online at https://jessicajuliano.org
- Corporate workshops to improve confidence, stress management, and job satisfaction: $500/hr (non-profit rates available)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jessicajuliano.org
- Phone: 570-269-7975
- Email: jessicajulianocoaching@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicajulianocoaching/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicajulianocoaching
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
