Antonia O’Sullivan is a leadership coach, consultant, and former education leader who has spent years supporting individuals at the helm of schools and organizations. Through her work at C-Change Coaching & Consulting, she empowers leaders—especially those in education and nonprofits—to prioritize well-being, navigate burnout, and embrace authentic leadership grounded in identity, compassion, and growth. Her journey is one of courage, reflection, and purpose, inspiring our global community to support and uplift one another as we continue building a world of He-for-She and She-for-She allyship.
Q&A
Q: What inspired you to start C-Change Coaching & Consulting?
Antonia: I began coaching while still working full-time in education, and I realized the part of the work I loved most was supporting leaders one-on-one. Leadership is powerful but isolating, especially in education. Coaching allows leaders to feel supported, reflect deeply, and sustain themselves so they can better support their teams.
Q: Who do you primarily work with and what impact have you seen?
Antonia: Most of my work has been with school leaders—principals, assistant principals, and district leaders. Recently, I’ve also begun working with nonprofit leaders globally. Coaching often addresses burnout and wellness first because many leaders neglect themselves. When they begin prioritizing their own well-being, everything around them improves—their leadership, their teams, and their impact.
Q: Identity seems to be an important theme in your work. Why?
Antonia: Identity shapes how we lead, connect, and build teams. I help leaders explore who they are, where they come from, and how that influences their relationships and decisions. When leaders know themselves deeply, they can lead across cultures with empathy, awareness, and confidence—and that transforms organizations.
Q: Have you ever struggled with imposter syndrome?
Antonia: Absolutely. Being a woman of color in leadership, I often felt like I didn’t belong or needed to be “perfect” to deserve my place. I’ve learned that being open about vulnerability normalizes it for others. When leaders show up as their true selves, they free others to do the same—and that’s when incredible things happen.
Q: Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
Antonia: I wish I had always been as inclusive and compassionate as I strive to be now. Earlier in my leadership journey, I was more perfection-driven and less comfortable with mistakes. Over time, I learned that environments where people feel safe to fail are the environments where real growth happens.
Q: What challenges do leaders face most today?
Antonia: Almost everyone feels rushed, overwhelmed, and pressured to constantly perform. Many say they “don’t have time” to slow down—but slowing down is where clarity, sustainability, and better decisions come from. We all need to pause, reflect, learn, and move forward more intentionally.
Q: What does success look like for you?
Antonia: Personally, it means the continued health and happiness of my family. Professionally, it means growing my work to impact more leaders who truly want to care for themselves, their teams, and their communities—leaders who value reflection and meaningful change over speed.
Q: What legacy do you hope to leave?
Antonia: Love, compassion, and humanity in leadership. Progress and growth over perfection. And a future where leaders move thoughtfully and sustainably, instead of rushing through life and work.
Q: What message would you like to share with our community?
Antonia: We are often too hard on ourselves and constantly thinking about where we “should” be. If we let go of the shoulds, we create space for dreaming, acceptance, and growth. You are where you are for a reason—embrace it, and move forward with intention.
“Slow down. Take care of yourself. When leaders feel whole, they build stronger, kinder, more powerful communities.”
Call to Action
Connect with Antonia O’Sullivan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniaosully/
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