Brittany Canaski tells us that “I’m a Life & Leadership Coach and Trainer at my own company, Hello Velocity. I began my coaching journey in 2019 when I had my quarter-life crisis while working in Corporate America. I felt like I was checking all the boxes that I had set out to when I first graduated college in 2012, but was feeling unfulfilled and didn’t want to continue down that path for the rest of my career. So I worked with a life coach to help me understand what was missing, what I wanted, and how to bring it to life. I saw so much transformation in my life and career in just a few months that I was blown away. I quickly realized that if I could help just one person the way my coach helped me, it would be more fulfilling than anything I could do in Corporate America in the next 30-40 years. So I decided to take a year-long intensive coach and leadership training program and it snowballed from there.”
What were your early years like? Could you share a bit about your life before you began your coaching journey?
Before I began my coaching journey I was working in marketing at a large consulting company. Looking back, I’ve realized that I spent the majority of my personal and professional life before coaching being a perfectionist and people-pleaser. I would spend so much time trying to do everything perfectly and what I thought others wanted of me, that I had lost sight of what I wanted and who I was at my core. This is what made coaching so powerful to me: finding my voice, my values, and ultimately my confidence.
Was there any turning point in your life that changed your journey? If so, what was it? Please tell us the backstory behind it.
The turning point for me that changed my journey was my quarter-life crisis. It was a really daunting feeling realizing that I had achieved everything professionally I had wanted to by 27, but didn’t feel fulfilled or happy on a day-to-day basis. I was great at my job, getting promoted regularly, being paid well, and working remotely. But there was something missing that I couldn’t figure out on my own. Instead of continuing to just live on auto-pilot and accept the status quo, I decided to take action. That’s when I hired my first coach and everything changed.
Everyone faces unique challenges when starting an entrepreneurial journey. The most valuable lessons often come from understanding how these challenges are managed. Could you share the difficulties you’ve encountered and the strategies you’ve used to cope with them?
There are so many challenges when starting a business on your own, and a lot are universal but there are also a lot that tend to be unique to the individual depending on your experience, work habits, and motivation. One of my biggest hurdles that I didn’t expect is that I am constantly coming up with new ideas that I get so excited about, but it’s not realistic to pursue all of them. It’s been challenging to know what to focus on, and how long to commit to an idea, before adjusting or trying something new. I think it’s something that may be different for each person and business so it can be a long-term learning curve.
What impact do you feel you have been able to create with your work so far and how would you want to grow in the next few years?
I’ve seen a huge impact with my work over the last five years. I still get texts and emails from previous clients from years ago who share on-going accomplishments or realizations they’re having based on the work we did together. It truly is life-changing for them because these skills you learn help you forever.
In the next few years, I want to expand my impact with more leaders and companies. This is where I see the largest impact because it truly is a ripple effect starting with a leader, out to their team, and their greater organization. I want to use my proprietary coaching framework to help these leaders and teams to work more effectively and collaboratively in order to achieve their goals quicker.
Would you like to share with our aspiring young women entrepreneurs the changes you would like to see in the world if given the opportunity?
The changes I’d like to see in the world are more equal opportunities for women and minorities in leadership positions at companies of all sizes.
Women are increasingly becoming a powerful presence in workplaces worldwide, breaking through glass ceilings and reaching top leadership positions. What are your thoughts on women’s leadership today?
There’s still so much work to do for women in leadership. Just last year (in 2023) there was an eye-opening benchmark that showed that women chief executive officers finally outnumber CEOs with the first name John among S&P 500 companies in the US.
I consistently coach women in leadership positions and one of the most common topics that comes up is confidence. It can be hard for women to be naturally confident at work when (1) they don’t see many people that look like them at the top of these companies, (2) they are still dealing with daily microaggressions and biases, and (3) they aren’t receiving support within their company.
Your grit and determination are making a significant impact, serving as an inspiration for many aspiring entrepreneurs. What message would you like to share with our young women leaders and audience reading this?
Listen to your gut, follow your values, and use your voice. The world needs to hear what you have to say. Your path and timeline is going to look very different from those around you and that’s okay. Your uniqueness is the value you bring to the world.
