KAYLA AKEM COACHING
About
More About Kayla Akem Coaching
Trusted Mentor & Coach
My name is Kayla Akem
If you're new here, welcome! I hope we get to connect soon.
I'm extremely passionate about sharing knowledge and helping others become the best version of themselves. I have always taken on the role of a coach naturally throughout my life and career, so my coaching certification feels like a formality. What I really love and why I've stepped into Career and Professional Development Coaching is helping someone feel comfortable enough reveal their true passion in live, and then help them go make that happen.
I'm Kayla and I help professionals get to the next level in their careers through focused skill development and self-discovery. Let's chat about how we can get you to that next level on a free consultation call today.
Professional Development & Career Coaching
As you may have gathered, I'm eager to dive in when it comes to coaching because I know what's on the other side. That said, I'm also a certified and experienced change management specialist so I recognize you are likely not as convinced (yet!). I offer two primary types of coaching, depending on where you're at in your life journey and career. Click the links below to learn more and set up your free consultation to get your burning questions answered.
A Typical Coaching Session With Kayla
There will be homework.
Sorry, I know that's not what you wanted to hear, but we might as well rip the bandage off and be honest. The professionals I work with WANT to be coached and they have goals that they are trying to achieve QUICKLY. That means time and effort is required outside of our weekly 1-hour sessions to maintain forward progress.
Our sessions will be productive and timeboxed, first starting with a check-in since the last time we met to see if there have been any updates or developments. Then we will get into the focus for that week, based on your goals we established in the first session. Discussions, exercises, and focal points include things like:
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Goal alignment with actions
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Understanding previous feedback and what to do next
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Navigating the corporate world and hierarchy
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Learning how to 'coach up'
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Communication styles and tools based on context
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Personality assessment or quiz
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Facing fears that may be preventing you from moving forward
When we wrap up our session, each of us will summarize what we took away from our time together. Then we will align and agree on next steps (yes, homework).
Driven by Purpose and Connection
For as long as I can remember, I've always ended up leading and coaching others. From playing 'teacher' in elementary school and being captain of several sports teams to consulting and running projects at Fortune 500 companies. Even if I wasn't intended to lead, I naturally ended up gravitating to a position where I was steering the ship in some way and the team gravitated towards my leadership style and advice.
I noticed this trend continue throughout my career as if it were a calling to coach on a larger scale. But I continued on my technology and transformation consulting path because I didn't believe full-time coaches were a real thing. Did that many people really even need or want coaching? It wasn't until I was promoted to the manager level that I realized how much demand there was and still is for dedicated coaches and mentors. Even in my own role as a manager, I didn't have enough time to build and grow my direct reports the way I wanted to.
This is when I decided to finally expand my mentorship and guidance as a Career and Professional Development Coach. I've seen in my past roles and in the experiences of my peers that there's a ton of expectation from management to figure things out and grow, but there isn't much support from within the company. You may have a weekly 1-on-1 with your manager and an occasional touch base with another leader in your organization, if you're lucky. Besides that, you're on your own. Management is spread too thin and has too much on their plates to give you the care and feeding you really need to succeed.
I've been there myself, and that's why I'm so passionate about coaching. Regardless of our start in life, we should all get the opportunity to be successful and flourish in our careers. None of us get there without guidance and advice from experienced mentors and coaches who have done it before us.
A Little More About Kayla That You May (Or May Not) Want to Know
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I’m an avid salsa dancer and can’t sit still when I hear music in general.
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I bake to relax, especially when it’s experimental baking (evil scientist laugh).
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As an extroverted introvert, I live for building community and connecting with others, but love a good day of running errands alone.
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I used to compete in the hammer throw in college, a.k.a. the event Miss Trunchbull from Matilda did.
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I have an extreme weakness for donuts, especially a classic chocolate donut with sprinkles.
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I watch ASMR videos to relax and especially love cranial nerve exam roleplay (don't worry if it's not your thing; I get it).
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I have a certification as a Transformation Coach, a PROSCI Change Management Practitioner, and a Scrum Master (for all of my fellow nerds out there).