Ellen G. Goldman is a National Board Certified Health & Wellbeing Coach and Certified Personal Trainer with over 30 years of experience. She is a nationally known health, fitness, and lifestyle professional, who has inspired, trained, coached, and presented to thousands of individuals throughout the country. She created her company, EllenG Coaching, LLC, to help business professionals who struggle to balance their busy careers and personal lives, health, and well-being. Through her one-on-one coaching, group coaching, seminars, workshops, and motivational talks, she helps clients create programs that fit into their unique life situations, allowing them to thrive personally and professionally.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
I grew up in a loving family of five—my folks, older brother, and older sister. We were an active family; ice skating, sledding, and bowling in the winter; swimming, playing tennis, and handball in the summers. We walked or cycled everywhere we needed to go and spent most of our free hours outdoors. I suppose that is part of what influenced my passion for leading a healthy, active lifestyle. Once I graduated with my physical education and health sciences degrees, I worked in the adult fitness industry. As a young mom, wanting to make my own hours, I started my Personal Training business and worked during the hours my children were in school. As they grew more independent, I increased my working hours. Despite loving personal training, it frustrated me. Too many individuals did not lead lifestyles outside of the gym that would support the work they did during our hours together. Those folks needed a more holistic approach to wellness, and they needed to learn how to change ingrained habits to healthier ones. Coaching taught me the tools to help them do so.
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!”
I was introduced to the coaching industry when it was in its infancy. Intrigued by the field, I felt strongly that this was the missing piece in preventative health care. However, once I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Margaret Moore, the founder, and CEO of Wellcoaches, I knew becoming a certified coach was the next step in my career development. I had been an early adopter in the Personal Training field and watched it grow and flourish, proud to be a part of it. I had no doubt the same would happen in Health Coaching.
Tell us something about your initiative or current role. What is it about, and what impact are you trying to make?
Currently, my work day consists of two roles. Firstly, working with my private coaching clients. They are primarily entrepreneurs, CEOs, upper management, and highly successful business professionals who struggle to keep self-care on their daily “to-do” list. I help them create daily lifestyle habits that increase physical and mental well-being so they can thrive professionally and personally. I also work as an adjunct faculty member for Wellcoaches, the most respected school training healthcare professionals to become Certified Health & Wellbeing Coaches. I mentor trainees, helping them prepare for their oral exam toward certification.
Your journey and your vision are very inspiring, but are there any achievements or accomplishments you would like to mention?
I have had some wonderful accomplishments throughout my career. Amongst the top are being invited to present at the IDEA Personal Training Institute Conference, writing and publishing my book, and creating and selling my online course. However, my most valued achievement is when a client tells me our work together has significantly improved their life for the better.
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 would love to see all individuals recognize that their health is their greatest asset. Without it, we cannot do anything important to us or impact others the way we would like. We need to embrace the view that self-care is not a luxury. It is a necessity, deserving of our time and attention every day. I also hope we one day know that kindness, compassion, respect, and acceptance will make the world better. This begins at home; practice what you preach and know that what you do impacts those around you.
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space right at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women leadership today?
We live in extraordinary times, accomplishing things our grandmothers wouldn’t have dreamed possible. It is exciting to see women reaching the highest rungs on the ladder in medicine, corporate America, and politics.
What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
As you begin your journey towards becoming a leader, in whatever capacity you choose, start by identifying your core values- the things most essential to you. Walk congruently with those values, and you will always know the right actions for you. Do not neglect your needs for those of your career. It takes extraordinary energy to be a leader, and a foundation of excellent health will give you that energy. Do not create a business and then attempt to mold your lifestyle around it; create the business that fits into the lifestyle you love.
