Like most people, I had no leadership training when I started to lead.
I was a high school English teacher when, in 2005, I set out to disrupt the plastic bag industry by starting a company to sell reusable grocery bags. I had no leadership training and no business experience—just a purpose and determination.
My first year in business while I was still teaching, I sold a quarter-million reusable bags. In year two, I quit teaching and sold 2 million bags. In year three, I sold 8 million bags. Over the next 12 years, I remained a top supplier and led a team of 200+. Then I sold the company, published a book, and gave a TEDx Talk.
The real advantage wasn’t luck—it was a set of practical leadership skills: building trust and respect, leading with confidence and humility, aligning people clearly, and making decisions with self-awareness to get buy-in from the whole team. That’s what researchers call emotional intelligence. Now, as a leadership coach, I help leaders apply the same skills to raise performance.

Leaders in the top 25% in emotional self-awareness make up to about 70% of high performers (Korn Ferry).
Nearly 90% of leadership effectiveness comes not from technical skills, but from a leader’s awareness of their impact on other people and their ability to manage themselves accordingly. These skills are what reseachers call, emotional intelligence. (Harvard Professional Development)
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