Sarah Elliott
Intend2Lead
Austin, TX USA
"Be open to exploring. Notice what lights you up and what gives you energy and what does not. Craft your career as you go."
Career Roadmap
Sarah's work combines: Entrepreneurship, Business, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Learn from others who have been in these positions before you. Listen, ask questions, see what resonates with you. Then evaluate whatever inspiration comes up regarding your own next steps. If you want to be a business coach, any degree in business is helpful. For leadership coaching in general, I recommend a major or courses in leadership, psychology, or organizational development. I also suggest attending an ICF accredited coach training program and obtaining coaching credentials through ICF.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Accounting
Texas A&M University
Certification
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certification
Executive and Professional Coaching
University of Texas at Dallas
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
Both my dad and sister are engineers, so I went into college to pursue engineering—I hated all of my engineering classes and eventually switched my major to accounting.
2.
I graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting, then worked to get my CPA license.
3.
I worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for about ten years before leaving to join a smaller accounting firm called PMB Helin Donovan, where I eventually became a partner.
4.
While volunteering with the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants), I realized there was a strong need for leadership development in this field and felt like that was my calling.
5.
During my second year as a partner, I decided to leave the firm and essentially start over—I went back to school for a year for executive and professional coaching.
6.
When I left the firm, I was pregnant, so I had to juggle this huge business risk of starting my own company while navigating life as a new parent.
7.
I co-founded a leadership coaching company where I get to do what I love and help people through one-to-one coaching, group learning, and leadership program design.
8.
I also founded the Ellivate Alliance, where women can come together and support other women who are starting businesses.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
Why would you walk away from a career after you worked so hard to make it where you are?
How I responded:
A few colleagues questioned my decision to become a leadership coach after working so hard to make partner. No one knows what is best for you but you, but we can confuse ourselves by absorbing the expectations of others. Look at life as a journey to uncover who you are and who you are meant to be. Approach it with curiosity, always seeking to learn, grow, and have fun along the way. Life isn't about "getting it right." Instead, try new things, learn from them, and evolve your journey as you go.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I left the comfort and stability of my accounting firm to start a leadership development business. It was hard, but I know it would have been harder to stay because I realized this is my true calling. Fortunately, I had a great support system.
I was pregnant when I decided to start my own business, so I had a young child throughout the early stages. It was very stressful to take such a huge business risk as a new parent. I was fortunate to find a good support group to help me through it.