The Badass Leader: Helping High-Achieving Women Lead with Calm, Clarity, and Deep Self-Trust

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 8 - What's Your Gremlin Message?
Episode 9 - Transform Your Gremlin

In this episode, I share a breakthrough that started with what I thought was a money mindset issue. But through coaching, I realized it was actually my Gremlin—the belief that “I’m not successful”—driving my doubts around money. Shifting to “I’m already successful” created a major change in my confidence in how I take action in my business. 

If you feel stuck, 
If you struggle with self-doubt, 
If you notice the gap between what you want to do vs. what you are actually doing, 

Then, work on your Gremlin. It can change everything. 

Don’t let your self-doubt, insecurity, and fear hold you back any longer; take this step toward building your grounded confidence and becoming unstoppable in achieving your goals. 

Want to go from Good Girl to Badass Leader—calm, clear, and deeply self-trusting?

I offer a free 60-minute consultation to help you get clear on where you are, where you want to go, and what’s holding you back.

From there, we’ll explore what working together could look like.

Book your call:
https://calendly.com/cocoduancoaching/1-hr-consultation

Send us Fan Mail

Please listen to Part 1 of the Gremlin work - 8: What's Your Gremlin Message?

In this episode, we’ll continue diving into the Gremlin work— transforming the limiting belief that "I’m not good enough" into an empowering truth that "I am good enough." This method is broken down into five transformative steps:

1. Acknowledging: Identify your Gremlin—the limiting belief that holds you back. By bringing this hidden message to light, you begin to strip away its power over you.
2. Integrating: Understand that your Gremlin once served a purpose, protecting you from hurt or failure. But now, it’s outdated and no longer fits who you are today.
3. Releasing: Let go of the old belief and give your Gremlin a new job. Instead of limiting you, it can now encourage and support your growth.
4. Shifting to an Empowering Belief: Replace the false message with the truth—“I am enough”—and find real-life evidence that supports your new belief.
5. Taking Aligned Actions: Reinforce your new belief by acting on it. Each small step aligned with your new truth strengthens your confidence and rewires your mindset.

Join me in this transformative process to build your grounded confidence and become unstoppable! Don’t forget to subscribe for more empowering episodes.

The script to say to Gremlin: 
“I thank you, honor you, and embrace you.. And you are not needed to hold me back from your goal..."

"Since I no longer need you to protect me from….., I would like you to, instead, use your energy to do Gremlin’s new job." 

Imagine your gremlin saying back to you, “ I’d love to. I’m only here to help.” 

Want to go from Good Girl to Badass Leader—calm, clear, and deeply self-trusting?

I offer a free 60-minute consultation to help you get clear on where you are, where you want to go, and what’s holding you back.

From there, we’ll explore what working together could look like.

Book your call:
https://calendly.com/cocoduancoaching/1-hr-consultation

Send us Fan Mail

Do you ever catch yourself thinking, “What will they think?” Whether it’s a work presentation, a networking event, or posting on social media, I used to worry if people thought I wasn’t smart enough, interesting enough, or confident enough.

That fear held me back from speaking up, asking for help, and fully expressing myself. I felt small, constrained, and limited, wanting to be more expressive, confident, and free, but something always got in the way.

It wasn’t until I discovered my Gremlin message—that inner voice telling me I wasn’t enough—that I realized what was really holding me back. In this episode, we’ll explore how to identify your own Gremlin message and take your first steps toward replacing it so that you can take a critical step into your grounded confidence.

You can find the Emotion Wheel here. 

The list of common Gremlin messages: 

- I’m not smart enough
- I’m not pretty/attractive enough
- I’m not strong enough
- I’m not persistent enough
- I’m not valuable 
- I’m not deserving (of love, success etc)
- I’m not worthy (of love, success etc)
- I’m not important 
- I’m not lovable 

Want to go from Good Girl to Badass Leader—calm, clear, and deeply self-trusting?

I offer a free 60-minute consultation to help you get clear on where you are, where you want to go, and what’s holding you back.

From there, we’ll explore what working together could look like.

Book your call:
https://calendly.com/cocoduancoaching/1-hr-consultation

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the Grounded Confidence podcast, Coco Duan explores the transformative impact of solitude, stillness, and silence on your inner dialogue. She explains that when you connect with yourself in these quiet moments, you become aware of your thought patterns, a crucial step toward personal growth. Most of our 60,000 daily thoughts are repetitive and negative, undermining confidence. Coco shares her personal battle with self-criticism, from harsh inner judgments to moments of self-doubt, and how she overcame them by practicing self-compassion. Drawing from Dr. Kristen Neff’s teachings, Coco introduces the three pillars of self-compassion—mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness—that helped her shift from being a "shaky mess" to an "unshakable force of nature." 

Tune in to learn how to quiet your inner critic, transform your mindset, and build your grounded confidence.

Want to go from Good Girl to Badass Leader—calm, clear, and deeply self-trusting?

I offer a free 60-minute consultation to help you get clear on where you are, where you want to go, and what’s holding you back.

From there, we’ll explore what working together could look like.

Book your call:
https://calendly.com/cocoduancoaching/1-hr-consultation

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Grounded Confidence Podcast, where we unlock the secret to building lasting, unshakable confidence from within. I’m Coco Duan, former Fortune 500 senior leader turned life and leadership coach, and I’m here to share how you can feel free, courageous, and unstoppable. Grounded confidence is about knowing yourself, embracing your strengths and limitations, and trusting your own actions.

In this episode, we explore the first C of my 6C Framework: Connecting with Yourself. I’ll share the powerful story of my own healing journey, including a transformative 10-day silent meditation retreat that changed the course of my life. Together, we’ll learn how daily moments of solitude and stillness can help you reconnect with your true self and build confidence that no longer needs external validation.

Are you ready to start your journey toward authentic, Grounded Confidence? Let’s dive in!

Want to go from Good Girl to Badass Leader—calm, clear, and deeply self-trusting?

I offer a free 60-minute consultation to help you get clear on where you are, where you want to go, and what’s holding you back.

From there, we’ll explore what working together could look like.

Book your call:
https://calendly.com/cocoduancoaching/1-hr-consultation

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the rebranded Grounded Confidence Podcast! In this episode, Coco Duan, a Fortune 500 senior leader turned Life and Leadership Coach, shares the story behind the podcast’s new name and how it reflects her own personal transformation.

Coco takes you through her journey of moving from a life that looked like a "solid success" outside, yet felt like a "shaky mess" inside, to building what she calls "Grounded Confidence." Learn how this unique form of confidence—rooted in authenticity and self-trust—helped her find clarity, courage, and conviction, leading to bold life changes.

She also dispels common misconceptions about confidence and shares why “fake it till you make it” and external success alone won’t lead to true confidence.

Tune in to explore why Grounded Confidence matters and discover how you can cultivate it in your own life to be your true self, act with courage, and become unstoppable in achieving your goals. 

Want to go from Good Girl to Badass Leader—calm, clear, and deeply self-trusting?

I offer a free 60-minute consultation to help you get clear on where you are, where you want to go, and what’s holding you back.

From there, we’ll explore what working together could look like.

Book your call:
https://calendly.com/cocoduancoaching/1-hr-consultation

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Stress Less for Greater Success, we’re diving into a powerful tool to help you release limiting beliefs and reduce stress—the REWIRE framework. Over the last two episodes, we explored six common cultural expectations that many Asian women leaders face, like high achievement, emotional restraint, and selflessness. These often lead to limiting beliefs like “asking for help is a sign of weakness,” which can keep you from achieving your goals.

Episode 2 - How Common Asian Expectations Are Holding You Back (Part 1)
Episode 3 - How Common Asian Expectations Are Holding You Back (Part 2)

Today, you will walk away the REWIRE framework to shift those beliefs and help you stress less and achieve great success. 

• Recognize the pattern – Identify recurring thoughts or behaviors that stem from limiting beliefs.
• Evaluate the belief – Ask yourself what it’s costing you to hold onto that belief, and imagine how life would improve without it.
• Write a new belief – Replace the limiting belief with one that empowers you, like “Asking for help is a sign of strength and self-awareness.”
• Identify evidence – Find real-life examples, such as Indra Nooyi’s journey of relying on mentors and family support, that show the value of asking for help.
• Reinforce the belief – Use affirmations and surround yourself with supportive people who view collaboration as a strength.
• Engage in new actions – Start small by asking for help in low-stakes situations and build toward larger requests, observing the positive outcomes.

By following REWIRE, you’ll shift your mindset, lighten your load, and create space for greater success without constant stress.

Tune in to learn how you can start rewiring your thoughts today and move closer to a life of less stress and greater success. 

Want to go from Good Girl to Badass Leader—calm, clear, and deeply self-trusting?

I offer a free 60-minute consultation to help you get clear on where you are, where you want to go, and what’s holding you back.

From there, we’ll explore what working together could look like.

Book your call:
https://calendly.com/cocoduancoaching/1-hr-consultation

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Stress Less For Greater Success, host Coco Duan continues the two-part series on the unique cultural and parental expectations that shape the lives of Asian women leaders. If you missed the last episode, be sure to catch up, 
as we covered the first two expectations: high academic achievement and high criticism with low recognition. 

Today, Coco dives into the remaining four expectations:

1. Emotional Restraint – How suppressing emotions can lead to internalized stress and unresolved tension.
2. Conformity and Respect for Authority – The impact of strict obedience and how it stifles confidence and career growth.
3. Sacrifice and Selflessness – The pressure to prioritize family over personal ambitions and the following guilt.
4. Modesty and Humility – How underselling yourself can hinder success and why grounded confidence is the key.

Drawing from personal stories, client experiences, and cultural insights, Coco explores how these ingrained patterns may be holding you back. Discover how you can identify what’s serving you and what’s not, and start building an empowered, authentic version of yourself—free from the constraints of others’ expectations.

Tune in for practical insights on how to stress less and achieve greater success on your own terms!

Want to go from Good Girl to Badass Leader—calm, clear, and deeply self-trusting?

I offer a free 60-minute consultation to help you get clear on where you are, where you want to go, and what’s holding you back.

From there, we’ll explore what working together could look like.

Book your call:
https://calendly.com/cocoduancoaching/1-hr-consultation

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the Stress Less For Greater Success podcast, host Coco Duan delves into parental, societal, and cultural expectations that shape the lives of many Asian women leaders. This episode focused on the first two expectations: 1. the pressure to achieve high academic success, 2. the tendency to receive more criticism than recognition. Coco shares a personal story that many can relate to, highlighting how these expectations have shaped her identity and the way she measures self-worth. She discusses the emotional and mental toll these beliefs can take, driving unhealthy behavior patterns like overachievement and fragile self-confidence.

Tune in to learn how becoming aware of these expectations is the first step toward breaking free from them and living a more balanced, fulfilling life. Coco will also guide you on how to start shifting from autopilot to conscious choice, empowering you to redefine success on your own terms.

Want to go from Good Girl to Badass Leader—calm, clear, and deeply self-trusting?

I offer a free 60-minute consultation to help you get clear on where you are, where you want to go, and what’s holding you back.

From there, we’ll explore what working together could look like.

Book your call:
https://calendly.com/cocoduancoaching/1-hr-consultation

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of "Stress Less for Greater Success," Coco Duan explores the nature of stress and its impact on your life. Discover the difference between good stress that motivates and bad stress that overwhelms, and learn why most of the stress you experience is internal. Coco shares personal insights, including her own struggles with overachieving and people-pleasing, and how she transformed these habits by uncovering and shifting limiting beliefs. Please tune in to understand what's fueling your stress and take the first step towards managing it effectively.

👉 Want to build your Grounded & Unshakable Confidence? I offer a free 45-minute clarity call to help you gain insight into where you are now, where you want to go, and what’s holding you back. If you’re ready to take action, email me at [email protected].

💛 If this episode resonated with you, please:
✨ Leave a 5-star rating
✨ Write a quick review
✨ Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear this message

Until next time, remember: Be kind to yourself. 

Want to go from Good Girl to Badass Leader—calm, clear, and deeply self-trusting?

I offer a free 60-minute consultation to help you get clear on where you are, where you want to go, and what’s holding you back.

From there, we’ll explore what working together could look like.

Book your call:
https://calendly.com/cocoduancoaching/1-hr-consultation