Kellie Garrett

I’m a recovering executive who never meant to climb the corporate ladder. Sorrow fuelled ambition. I rocketed up the ranks and discovered that I was a good leader who focused on building rock-solid trust and feedback that helped people realize their potential, At one point, employee engagement in my division was 20% higher than the rest of the company. This fuelled arrogance and self-righteousness: I viewed myself as a kick-ass leader so I judged my peers something fierce.

I’ve had more coaches than I can count, and they all helped me to become a better human, which is what it takes to be a great leader. When I received a 360 that said I have a powerful presence and could be dominating and intimidating, I freaked out. It didn't jive with my sense of myself as warm and approachable. Coaches helped me accept and even embrace my "force of nature" way of being, which helped me match my intentions with my impact. I can let my big presence out on stage when I'm delivering a speech. Elsewhere, not so much.

On top of the coaches, a stint at Harvard Business School, a graduate degree in leadership (and a therapist or two) helped me to exponentially improve my leadership. I have a slew of certifications. All of this was to prove I was good enough … to myself.

I’m now an executive coach who helps people get out of their own way so they can shine. My husband Jay is perhaps the best coach I’ve ever had. My wonderful son Connor is happy in his skin and has autism. He's coached me on stress reduction, using techniques he learned to self-soothe. My other wonderful son Max is funny, smart and beyond kind to his brother. He coaches me to let things be when I'm fretting. Coaches are everywhere in life if you know how to notice.

I’ve survived several major depressions, including post-partum (undiagnosed for seven years), I'm intensely grateful that I sought help and learned how to thrive. I'm a passionate mental health advocate.

I'm part of the World Peace Pole project. My mother told me about the Holocaust when I was five years old and I was horrified that people were killing other people. I still am. How tragic that humans are still warring against each other at this point in our history.

I grew up in Montreal in the 1960s and 70s, where my parents were ardent proponents of the Civil Rights movement. I was taught to respect all cultures, colours and ways of being. My Dad revered Indigenous ways and spirituality and unaware of the horror of Canadian residential schools and the systematic policies to "take the Indian out of the child," which I learned about in mid-life. I have always been committed to anti-racism and now am learning as much as possible about Truth and Reconciliation.

I'm passionate about vertical development and expanding consciousness. I have flashes of enlightenment that I wish I could hold onto. I’m finally good at granting grace to others when they make mistakes or hurt others. I’m still not that great at forgiving myself when I screw up.

I’m hedonistic and like wine and cheese – preferably together – a little too much some days.

I have radar that beams into others’ souls. I’m unreasonably delighted by growing flowers. I can grow anything, including you.