Representation matters. That’s why Joyce Guan West founded Coaching with Empathy, where she serves as an executive and business coach specializing in helping Asian-Americans, people of color, and women. Though Asian Americans are a large part of the professional workforce, the percentage in the C-suite is small and disproportionate. Joyce’s work serves as a force for good by helping them land management roles and inspiring them with her own leadership.

In this episode, Joyce discusses her journey as an entrepreneur and how networking has helped her success. Through it all she’s learned many entrepreneurial truths, such as how and when to pivot from her original business plans in order to succeed in a natural new direction. Finally, she gives her top 3 tips for using coaching to make a difference in the world.

Takeaways from this episode:
- It’s important to focus on the customer as early as possible when creating a product or service. Validate your offering with them early on to ensure you’re on track and your hard work isn’t wasted.
- There’s value in knowing how to run different aspects of a business in order to see how everything fits together.
- When times are tough, lean into it: Tackle your problems, delve into the details, and bring your courage to find a solution.
-  Identify a target group you’re passionate about serving. This will have a ripple effect in that population.
- Take care of your employees to take care of your clients. Encourage your team to rejuvenate and reenergize with self-care so they can perform their best.
- Address any moments with teammates or clients that don’t respect your boundaries.
- Give people hope by sharing your story, and let your empathy lead the way.

Topics from this episode:
- Authentic Leadership
- Empathy in the workplace
- Representation in the workplace
- Entrepreneurial Lessons
- Business Coach

Resources mentioned in this episode:
How to Conduct an Annual Life Review That Will Catapult You into the New Year
https://schlaf.medium.com/how-to-conduct-an-annual-life-review-that-will-catapult-you-into-the-new-year-d5aaffebac1f

Book a Corporate Strategy Session through:
https://mariemae.com/corporate

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www.thegoodofficepodcast.com
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Show notes and more resources:
https://thegoodofficepodcast.com/episodes/31

How to connect with Joyce Guan West:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyceguanwest/
https://www.instagram.com/joyceguanwest/