I know what it’s like to leave a successful career and discover that building your own business asks something completely different of you.
Hi, I’m Vera.
I left my corporate job in 2023 with zero clients. The decision was scary, but once I gave my notice I felt excited, optimistic, and ready to take on the world.
On the first day of my new “job”, I felt elated. Nobody was telling me what to do, when to do it, what to write about, when to eat lunch - it was glorious. The day stretched out ahead of me like a beautiful expanse of white sand beach in the tropics.
The hours ticked by and slowly the reality dawned on me. I had no training on how to run a business. No reference point. No policy manual. No guidebook. Nobody to report to. And most alarming, no clients.
I literally thought that I would ‘hang out my shingle’, post an announcement on LinkedIn and have a line up of clients eagerly waiting to sign up with me.
I was so naive!
There were so many days after that first day that I felt alone and a tad bit crazy talking to my dog, Ellie, about my ideas.
I had spent decades knowing how to work hard, solve problems, and get things done. But I quickly realized I needed something different now. I needed people who understood entrepreneurship, someone I could talk things through with, and support figuring out what mattered when there was no longer a boss, team or established roadmap around me.
It’s an ongoing process of looking honestly at yourself, noticing the patterns that keep showing up, facing the parts you’d rather avoid, drawing on strength you didn’t know you had, and choosing again and again to keep going.
It makes me so grateful for my earlier life challenges, including a divorce and then getting fired, which left me feeling stuck, overwhelmed, like a failure, and completely unsure of what to do next.
But, it was the start of me developing tools, resources and practices that helped me get unstuck, stop feeling like a failure, and find purpose in my work. It led me to hire a coach which ultimately led me to become a coach myself. My journey has led me to today, helping women solopreneurs build businesses that feel purposeful, sustainable, and true to who they are.
That experience shaped the way I coach today.
I know that building a business isn’t only about figuring out the strategy. Sometimes the thing getting in the way is fear. Perfectionism. Overthinking. A belief you’ve carried for years. Or simply not trusting yourself enough to take the next step.
My work is about helping you understand what’s really going on, decide what matters, and move forward in a way that strengthens your ability to trust and lead yourself.
Because the goal isn’t to become someone else. It’s to become more fully the woman you already are.
Something I wasn’t expecting about entrepreneurship was how much inner work it would ask of me.
My other passions include personal development, spirituality, physical activity, and health and wellness.
I live in Calgary, Alberta and my soul gets revived in the nearby Rocky Mountains. I love hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, walking, and mountain biking. I also love travelling, camping, reading, spending time with friends, and taking walks with my partner, Kevin, and our dog, Ellie. My happy places include our mountain condo in Invermere and the tropical beaches of Belize.
I’m so glad you found your way here. I believe the right people and resources show up when we’re ready for them.
I look forward to connecting.
Credentials:
Associate Certified Coach (ACC) - International Coach Federation
Certified Career Coach - LHH
Certified Yoga Nidra Teacher - Yoga Alliance
MBA - University of Calgary
Bachelor of Commerce - University of Calgary
