Leading Through Life Transitions: How Vulnerability and Change Make You a Stronger Leader
Beatriz De La Poza reveals how embracing change and emotional courage transforms leadership.
Introduction: Leadership in the Midst of Change
How do you lead when everything is changing?
This question sits at the heart of the latest episode of the The Soul Career® Podcast, where CEO Lisandra Rickards sits down with Beatriz De La Poza, Soul Career’s Chief Operating Officer and Lead Executive Coach. In a deeply honest conversation, Beatriz shares her journey of leaving the Caribbean after eight transformative years, stepping into the unknown, and finding new meaning in her work, life, and leadership.
For anyone exploring career transition coaching, navigating uncertainty, or leading teams through change, this episode is more than a conversation, it’s a masterclass in authentic leadership.
From Corporate Executive to Executive Coach: Beatriz’s Turning Point
Beatriz didn’t plan on becoming a coach. After a successful career at top global companies like Amazon and Avery Dennison, her move to Barbados (as a diplomat’s spouse without a work permit) forced a pause. That pause became a pivot.
“I started studying coaching just to stay occupied,” she shares. “I had no idea I’d find my purpose.”
Her story is a powerful example of how career coaching isn't always about finding a new job, it’s about finding yourself. Through that transformation, Beatriz discovered a deeper passion for helping others lead with clarity, intention, and authenticity.
Coaching Through Transitions: The Emotional Side of Leadership
What sets Beatriz apart as a coach isn’t just her corporate experience. It’s her ability to blend executive coaching with human empathy. She believes real leadership emerges not in moments of control, but in moments of vulnerability.
In the episode, she talks about:
- Leaving the familiar: Moving from the Caribbean to Luxembourg with no set plan for her next career chapter.
- Facing uncertainty: Holding space for a blank page in her life story and choosing to embrace possibility instead of fear.
- Emotional courage: Leading herself through discomfort, rather than avoiding it.
Her advice? “Reframing is everything. How you tell the story of your transition, whether it’s loss, change, or growth—shapes your experience.”
Why Soul Career®'s Approach to Leadership Training and Coaching Works
At Soul Career®, we believe that leadership training and coaching must blend real-world strategy with inner purpose. Beatriz embodies this ethos. Her unique combination of operational expertise and soulful coaching has helped hundreds of clients—from the Caribbean to Europe—navigate leadership challenges with integrity.
As the first ICF-certified coach at Soul Career, she helped formalize our one-on-one coaching methods and brought a personalized, transformational layer to our programs. She also supported our bilingual and international clients, coaching fluently in both English and Spanish.
The Power of Global, Culturally-Aware Coaching
One of the standout lessons from the episode is the importance of coaching across cultures. Beatriz shares how she had to truly listen and learn about Caribbean culture to effectively support clients in Jamaica, Barbados, and beyond.
Her secret? Curiosity, humility, and respect.
This approach is what makes career coaching at Soul Career so unique: it’s not one-size-fits-all. We tailor every experience to fit the person, the culture, and the journey.
Embracing What’s Next: A Blank Page and a Vision Board
As Beatriz transitions to her new home in Luxembourg, she’s intentionally holding space for the unknown. Her “blank page” metaphor is something many people facing career transitions can relate to.
Rather than rushing to fill the page, she’s taking time to reflect, create a vision board, and listen to what’s next.
“Creativity doesn’t always come when you want it,” she says, “but if you’re open to surprise, it will find you.”
Advice for Anyone in Career or Life Transition
If you’re currently navigating change, Beatriz offers two key tools:
- Reframing: Focus on what the transition can offer you, not just what it’s taking away.
- Journaling: Writing helps clarify your thoughts, your identity, and your direction.
Whether you’re moving countries, leaving a job, or stepping into a leadership role, these tools are at the core of what we teach in our career transition coaching programs.
Leadership in Transition: A Soul Career® Signature Series
This episode is part of Soul Career®’s Leadership in Transition podcast series—created for leaders and professionals at the crossroads of change.
These are not just life shifts. They are leadership shifts. And we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Listen to the Full Episode
🎧 Spotify: Listen here
📺 YouTube: Watch here
🍎 Apple Podcasts: Listen here
Ready for Your Own Career Transformation?
If Beatriz’s story resonated with you, and you're standing on the edge of your own next chapter, we invite you to book a free coaching consultation with Soul Career®.
Whether you’re looking for career coaching, executive coaching, or leadership training and coaching, our programs are designed to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and soul.
