Rachael Gingery is a transformational life and career coach dedicated to helping driven professionals rediscover purpose, confidence, and clarity—especially during moments of transition. With a background in social work and tech recruiting, she has supported both vulnerable families and high-achieving tech talent through life’s toughest shifts. From founding a Burning Man camp and building immersive community events to helping clients craft meaningful, aligned careers, Rachael’s work blends strategic action with deep introspection. Through her coaching practice, Meant for More, she empowers people to break out of toxic patterns, reconnect with their true selves, and design lives that genuinely excite them.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your Entrepreneur journey/venture/initiative.
I grew up in Indiana in a conservative family where stability was the goal. I was taught to play it safe: get good grades, land a steady job, get married, and settle down. I followed that plan… until I just couldn’t anymore.
College gave me my first glimpse outside that bubble. Then my first job out of college was working for Child Protective Services. Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire! The more new experiences I had, the more I realized I wasn’t meant to live a “safe” life.
I slowly started rewriting what I’d been taught was “normal.” First came shaking off religious indoctrination. Then I left my career in social work, sold nearly everything I owned, moved into an RV, and headed west in search of something more.
That journey eventually brought me to San Francisco, where I started life over again (basically from scratch) at age 30. I spent the next decade scaling tech startups and climbing the corporate ladder. I made multiple six figures and considered myself “successful,” but after spending too much time in toxic work environments, I had started to lose myself.
Getting laid off was the nudge I needed to realize that I was done building other people’s dreams and ready to start building my own.
Every industry that is now a large-scale, top-notch business once started as a small idea in the minds of entrepreneurs. What was that idea or motivation that made you start your business /initiative? What motivated you within to say YES, go for it!”
In 2024, I got laid off—and then I almost died. I fell 20 feet, landed on my back, and sustained serious injuries. That terrifying moment became a wake-up call that made one thing painfully clear: life is too short to (literally) break your back building someone else’s dream. So I decided to build my own.
The common thread through every chapter of my career—whether in social work, recruiting, or leadership—has been helping people grow, rise, and take charge of their lives. Today, I do that as a coach—supporting ambitious professionals through big transitions and helping them navigate change, trust themselves, and make bold moves with clarity and intention.
Tell us something about your initiative or current role. What is it about, and what impact are you trying to make?
My work is about helping motivated professionals reclaim their clarity, confidence, and direction—especially when they feel stuck, undervalued, or disconnected from the life they thought they were building.
Staying in a toxic job (or even just the wrong one) can quietly chip away at your confidence and drain your energy. It might not be obvious at first, but over time, you’ll start questioning your worth and your vision for what’s possible will shrink.
I help people break that cycle and start to see what’s actually possible. That doesn’t mean burning everything down and starting over. The first step is reconnecting to who they are and what they truly want. Once they’re clear on where they’re headed, we take a pragmatic yet strategic approach to action—so they can move forward with confidence and build a life and career they’re genuinely excited about.
Your journey and your vision are very inspiring, but are there any achievements or accomplishments you would like to mention?
Beyond my professional background, some of my proudest accomplishments have come from forging unconventional paths and intentionally designing a life rooted in freedom, fulfillment, and creative expression. These experiences have shaped my ability to manage complex projects, lead under pressure, solve problems creatively, and make bold, strategic moves—skills I now help my clients master to build meaningful, aligned careers and lives they love.
One of the most rewarding (and wildest) ventures I’ve taken on is co-leading the expansion of BRC Snow Club, the Burning Man camp I co-founded with my partner, Dylan, in 2022. In 2023, we scaled the camp 5x and built the first portable dry ski slope in the middle of the desert—all in under five months—while I was still working full-time at a startup. It stretched every skill I had in creative direction, team leadership, logistics, and execution.
I’ve also developed a deep understanding of what it takes to build a creative career through my hands-on support of my partner, Dylan (aka Major Trouble), in his rising music and event production career. Together, we’re tackling the challenges of the music industry, building community, and co-producing unique, immersive events that bring people together in safe and supportive spaces.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
I’d love to see more supportive communities where women lift each other up. I truly believe that when women come together with intention and support, magic happens. We can hold space for each other’s growth, share wisdom without judgment, and create networks that open doors. A supportive community fuels resilience, inspires courage, and expands what’s possible.
If we can create a world where collaboration and authentic support are the norm, not the exception, we’ll see more women thriving and building lives they’re genuinely excited about. Because I believe that we can truly accomplish more together.
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. What are your thoughts about women leadership today?
I believe today’s women leaders are reshaping workplaces with resilience, empathy, and authenticity. But the key is for women to focus on going where they’re truly appreciated and their strengths are valued, not just tolerated.
Leadership isn’t about fitting into an existing mold. It’s about owning your unique style and creating spaces where diverse voices thrive. When women lead with confidence and purpose, they not only uplift themselves but pave the way for others to rise alongside them.
What would you want to say to our young leaders/audience reading this?
This is your life, your story, your timeline. Don’t get caught up trying to live up to anyone else’s expectations. Trust yourself, embrace your imperfections, own your journey, and dream big. Then keep taking smart action and you will be unstoppable.
Website & Social Media
🌐 Website: https://www.meantformore.coach/
🔗 LinkedIn: Rachael Gingery
📸 Instagram: @meantformore.coach
