Meet Gina Gardiner, a leadership expert, spiritual mentor, author, and speaker whose journey is nothing short of inspiring. A powerhouse of resilience, Gina led a highly successful school for over two decades—much of it from a wheelchair—before venturing into leadership coaching and personal empowerment. Her unwavering determination and belief in turning adversity into strength have guided countless individuals and organizations towards impactful leadership. Humans of Fuzia is honored to feature Gina’s story to inspire our global community of over 5 million changemakers working toward the mission of women’s empowerment. At Fuzia, we believe in He for She and She for She, and Gina’s life work beautifully embodies both.
Gina, can you share how your journey into leadership began?
From a young age, leadership found me. I was head girl in school and later entered the field of teaching, where I was quickly promoted. I became a deputy headteacher at 28 and a year later, after a serious ski accident, I became the head of the school—mostly managing from a wheelchair. Despite the challenges, I developed a leadership approach centered on personal accountability and shared team responsibility. That approach helped our school achieve national recognition and accolades.
What inspired you to start your own coaching business?
When I stepped down from headship in 2004 due to health reasons, I wasn’t ready to retire. After conducting a research project, I started a business focused on helping individuals feel empowered and lead their own lives. I wanted to extend those principles of enlightened leadership—compassion, integrity, and courage—to a wider audience beyond schools.
Do you work alone or with a team?
The core delivery—whether coaching or creating content—is done by me. But I do have a small team of virtual assistants who help with administrative work and social media tasks. They enable me to focus more on impactful engagement.
How do you define success for yourself?
Success is very personal. For me, it’s about making a positive difference, living in alignment with my values, maintaining health, enjoying time with family and friends, and continually growing. Happiness is a choice—and I believe in choosing it every day despite life’s challenges.
What challenges have you faced in reaching clients and building your business?
My first business thrived on word-of-mouth. I never had to advertise. But when I launched my online platform, Genuinely You, I had no digital presence or marketing know-how. I had to build everything from scratch, which was overwhelming. That’s when I brought in virtual assistants to support the growing demands of the online world.
Are there any programs or offerings you’d like people to know about?
Yes! I offer a free Spiritual Leadership Blueprint to help people access my leadership principles. I also run a mastermind for conscious leaders. Plus, I have several ongoing online programs covering leadership, relationships, confidence, and emotional wellbeing. These are accessible at any time to those looking to grow.
What are your current goals and plans for the future?
I’m focusing on expanding my public speaking opportunities, especially paid speaking engagements—virtually or in person. It allows me to connect with and inspire larger audiences. I’m also dedicating time to Fatima’s UK Campaign, a charity I support as vice chair, to help reform the care system in the UK.
Do you have any life advice for our readers, especially women navigating tough challenges?
Absolutely. It’s not your challenges that define you—it’s what you do with them. I’ve learned to walk twice as an adult after failed surgeries, and yet I’ve flown around the world, run successful businesses, and empowered others. The only person limiting you is you. Believe in the impossible, take that leap, and don’t let self-doubt stop you. The sky is the limit when you decide to rise.
“If you believe it’s possible and you’re ready to step out of your comfort zone, the impossible becomes possible.” — Gina Gardiner
Connect with Gina Gardiner:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginagardinerassociates/
Website: https://genuinely-you.com
Want to be featured?
If you’d like to be featured in the Humans of Fuzia series, email us at fuziatalent@fuzia.com.
