The biggest gift I didn't know I needed

I must confess.

The majority of my time at Goldman Sachs, I didn’t do a “regular” job.

I didn’t have peers.

No one understood what I was doing except my direct manager, the regional head of a large division, and his/her direct reports.

Over my 10 years in the corporate world, I pretty much worked with every division from front to back office on global, regional and cross-divisional projects, with teams from around the world.

It gave me a birds-eye view on the operations and often behind-the-scenes happenings in the firm.

From day 1 as a junior, I sat in on all the leadership meetings that decided the fate of many people - who would be hired, fired, promoted (or not), and why - and executed these decisions.

I handled all the headcount, and remember once staying in the office till 4am crunching headcount numbers on Excel because my boss and I shared a common goal to try and save as many jobs as possible in the pending layoffs.

Number-blind me handled all expenses and budgeting. I not only knew everyone’s salary - I also knew why someone was being paid more - or less - than another.

There were people I remember who were paid unfairly, who were oblivious to the fact that they were never in line for the next promotion. I so wanted to say to them, LEAVE, YOU SHOULD LEAVE NOW! ... and find a better opportunity (pay/promotion) elsewhere.

But a lot of what I handled was confidential, so I could only keep what I knew to myself.

I also survived several rounds of layoffs, and handled the layoffs, so I saw firsthand the psychological (and other) impact of being laid off. And in my last few years, I moved to work in HR.

Basically, I was fully immersed into how the corporate game is played.

And…

I hated my job.

It was the wrong job for me.

A lot of it was numbers, which for me, went in one ear and out the other.

And I was a generalist in every sense of the word.

I worked closely with people in different divisions on projects, but rarely with my colleagues in my own division.

Which meant, I didn’t know how to do any one thing well enough to specialize. I just knew some things about many things. Which worried me, career-wise.

Unfortunately, "Intimate knowledge of how the corporate game is played from all angles, from every touch-point" is not something you'd find on a job description.

It wasn’t until much later did I realize, those “lost years” were a big gift.

The years I spent honing my ability to see things from a 360 perspective - local, regional, global, front to back office, business to HR side?

It’s because of those years that I am able to help my clients see past the smoke and mirrors of what’s going on at the office (office politics, anyone?).

It’s because of those years spent in meeting after meeting that with only a slight hint, I know exactly what the real deal is going on behind the scenes.

It’s because of those years spent listening to leaders justify their people decisions that I know exactly what is going on in their minds, and because of my time dealing with HR before myself working in HR, that I know exactly what goes down, how and when for HR in handling different situations.

This is how I am able to guide my leadership clients on how to navigate tricky situations with their staff, and to guide them on tricky situations for themselves. Ultimately, it's how to influence work relationships so my clients can get promoted, create high performing teams, feel secure in their jobs, and sleep well at night.

It’s how I was able to guide my client Taylor - here in this 25 sec clip - through his career decisions large and small, and make sure that each step is made with the right strategy so his path is smooth and takes him closer to his ultimate goal.

Why waste time going around in circles when you can get there directly?

Including, taking Taylor’s somewhat vague and loosely defined career ambitions and guiding him to create a plan that is both concrete and fluid - and execute flawlessly at each stage. From a career shift at exactly the right time, to passing on a seemingly perfect job offer (but with multiple red flags 🚩), then ultimately landing his dream job and nimbly manoeuvring a very challenging year of personal and work challenges - all the while successfully establishing himself as a charismatic speaker.

It’s why Taylor, who is also a professional basketball player, calls me his "head coach".

Turns out, the universe had a much better idea of what I needed to succeed - including a much better understanding of how I needed to equip myself so I can help my clients, like Taylor and others, succeed.

That was worth years at a job that didn’t suit me, that at that time I thought wasn’t meaningful.

Turns out “job suitability” wasn’t the point. Knowing how to X-ray sensitive work situations with limited information for my clients, is.

For this, I am eternally grateful.

(And if I knew earlier, I would’ve complained less along the way. Hindsight is always 20/20!)

How has the universe equipped you when you didn’t know better yourself at that time?

What (unhappy) work experiences ended up being pivotal to your later success?

- Natalie

Here are 2 ways to work with me:

1. The Relationships That Work group coaching program. Our next cohort is tentatively scheduled for June 2025. If you’re interested to get the guidance, insight, clarity, accountability and support to be in the driver's seat of your life, DM me to be added to the waitlist.

2. 1:1 Leadership Coaching Program. I work with a highly select group of senior leaders to help them create the success and happiness they want in their careers and personal lives. This program is currently full. DM me if you’re interested to take one of our 3 May openings.

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