Client Case Study

As a personal and professional life coach, I believe we’re all meant to live abundant, meaningful lives.

The reason the majority of us don’t? We simply don’t know how.

We’ve never been given the tools or resources that can help us unlock our potential.

I work with individuals from all walks of life, implementing a process that reprograms limiting beliefs and behaviors.

As my clients will tell you – change is possible. And it can be quick, efficient, and complete.

Bryan Wooden is one such example. Below, in his own words, he shares his experience of working with me to become a better version of himself…

Bryan Wooden Testimonial for Amy Bracht Coaching

Background & History

Following my education, I enlisted in the U.S. Army.

I come from a long line of family members who also served and ended up doing more than eight and a half years – including two combat tours, one in Iraq and the other in Afghanistan.

I was a field artillery commander before I reclassified to join military intelligence. This would put me on the path that helped me transition back to civilian life.

I was taught software engineering and Linux– having never been exposed to the industry before.

Working in the private sector for companies like MI Corp and SUN Microsystems, I found that I really enjoyed engineering work, which included infrastructure and cybersecurity. By happenstance, I veered into a new territory – corporate recruiting for technical and engineering positions.

Being a person of color, they appreciated the insight I provided on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). That was the second iteration of my career, which grew until I was working for two Google spinoff companies, X and Loon.

I was building and running programs, monitoring big data, and evaluating performance KPIs.”

What were some of the challenges and obstacles you faced?

The work I was doing – mostly program management – required more schooling and certification, which I completed.

But big tech companies like Google and Alphabet had siloed their DEI programs, leaving no real room for advancement.

It was like there was a lid on my area of specialty and contributions.

It was a big inflection point. I became discouraged, then eventually pessimistic about my career track.

How did you find Amy and the coaching services she provides?

Amy and I just so happened to be members of a LinkedIn professional group, so she reached out to me right around the time I was at my lowest and offered me sessions for her dual life-professional coaching program.

Our first meeting was eye opening, as she peppered me with questions I never before considered on my own. What makes you happiest in your career? What’s standing in the way of you doing what you want to do, versus what you are doing?

We did several sessions to explore these answers. Then we discussed what it would take for me to reach these goals.

I was back on track. And I had to confront my own belief system and evaluate it for what it was.

Amy never stopped driving the point home. What would help me succeed in my new role that I don’t already have? I discovered that it was about identifying my own solutions and forging a path forward that appealed to me.

She helped me through all of that.

I think the biggest lesson was learning about the ways we subconsciously self-sabotage ourselves – and how to stop doing it!

Amy gave me a new perspective and helped me find the practical answers I needed to get unstuck.

Tell us about your experience in working with Amy - what did you discover about yourself?

I think now that I have a much better perspective on both my personal and professional life.

I discovered how I can leverage my own network to find the answers I need to secure what it is that I want to do. Like how to find better opportunities.

Over the sessions, I learned to feel much more self-worth and confidence in myself – especially as it pertains to relating my story to would-be employers.

I’d say the biggest lesson learned was a really simple one – that I didn’t even know what I didn’t know! I had no idea about the resources and strategies that were out there and available to me. To cope with this shortcoming, my personal defense mechanism had become defeatism.

Amy was able to snap me out of this way of thinking. In a direct way, she said, ‘Why do you think like this?’

Bear in mind, at the time, I didn’t think there was anything particularly wrong with my way of thinking.

Yet Amy was the first person to ever question me this way.

Tell us how Amy's coaching has made a difference in both your personal and professional life?

Currently, I’ve become the head of DEI for a top-flight cybersecurity company, Zscaler.

Before I learned how to change my thinking and approach, I didn’t know there were others like me – director or VP-level executives that lead the programs I specialized in running. I had only experienced it from the program manager level.

I’m so grateful that Amy broadened my horizons. This job is a much better fit for my skills and experience.

Amy and I have been discussing, over the course of the last several weeks, how her coaching could be instrumental for building unique corporate cultures – including learning and development.

I’m just one person, but the lessons she imparted on me could be turned on to entire departments who need this training. So, we’ve been exploring how to set up a corporate-style program for institutional clients. And that could be very relevant initiative for the corporate world.

Why would you recommend others work with Amy?

If you’re facing difficulties in your personal and professional life but you’re not sure how to fix it, I’d urge anyone to do an initial consultation – just to find out if coaching is what you really need.

Amy is a pro in asking the right questions. Together, you can determine if there’s a fit.

You may find the interaction more enlightening than you expected if the issues of cultures and values arise as well.

At first, I wasn’t certain I wanted to get into this area – but I discovered later that it’s all interrelated.

And it’s not an endless therapy program either. Amy can get it done in a 10-week program of sessions.

If you would like to find out how coaching can help you
schedule your free discovery session now.