Kealy Spring is a leadership coach and licensed therapist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, helping founders and emerging leaders step into their roles with confidence, authenticity, and emotional intelligence. With a unique blend of corporate experience, psychology expertise, and coaching insight, she bridges the gap between personal growth and professional excellence. Humans of Fuzia is featuring Kealy to inspire our global community of 5 million changemakers—women and allies—who believe in the power of “He for She” and “She for She.” Her journey reflects resilience, self-awareness, and a commitment to creating ripple effects of positive change.
Q: What inspired you to start your own venture, Spring Ahead Coaching?
Kealy: This is actually my second career. I started with a master’s degree in communication and worked in Australia, Asia, and later corporate America. I didn’t enjoy the corporate environment, so I went back to school and earned a second master’s in counseling psychology. In 2016, I opened my own therapy practice with the goal of helping people in corporate America. Then, in 2017, I began coaching with a startup called BetterUp, which eventually inspired me to start my own coaching company. Due to licensing rules, I keep therapy and coaching separate, but the two complement each other deeply.
Q: Who is your primary audience?
Kealy: I often work with founders who are new to leadership, typically in their mid-20s to mid-30s, as well as new and emerging leaders who are ready to grow into management roles and refine their leadership skills.
Q: What kind of feedback do you receive from your clients?
Kealy: Because I bring a psychology lens to my work, many clients say the benefits extend beyond their professional lives into their personal relationships. We work on the subtle, often intangible aspects of leadership that create meaningful changes in all areas of life.
Q: Imposter syndrome is something many leaders struggle with. What’s your perspective?
Kealy: Imposter syndrome is one of my niches—partly because I’ve experienced it myself. It often affects high-achieving people with strong credentials. My advice? Talk about it. Whether with a coach or a trusted colleague, sharing helps break the cycle. Treat yourself like you would a friend, and reframe your self-talk in a way that’s useful and empowering.
Q: Looking back, what would you have done differently as an entrepreneur?
Kealy: I wish I had sought advice from people who truly understood entrepreneurship. Early on, I got guidance from people with good intentions but little real-world experience in running a business. Speaking to other entrepreneurs earlier would have given me a clearer picture of both the opportunities and the challenges.
Q: What kind of legacy do you hope to leave?
Kealy: I hope to create a ripple effect—helping leaders grow into more wholehearted versions of themselves so they can positively impact their teams, families, and communities. If my work helps leave the world a little better than I found it, I’ll be happy.
Q: What challenges do you face in your coaching work?
Kealy: Change is uncomfortable. While coaching clients are usually motivated, there’s often resistance to deeper, values-driven work. Many want a quick fix, but the real transformation happens when they engage with the process fully—even when it feels “softer” or less tangible.
Q: How do you define success?
Kealy: Personally, I already feel successful—I like my life and feel content. Professionally, success means making my work clearer to others, especially in explaining how my therapy and coaching intersect. I want people to understand the overlap without me having to constantly explain it.
Q: Are there any current projects you’re excited about?
Kealy: Yes! I’ve launched a free three-part mini-course on imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and cognitive distortions to help people reframe unhelpful thoughts. I also host a podcast where I interview therapists across the U.S. about their work and the value of the profession. It’s something I’m passionate about, especially as AI changes the landscape of mental health.
Q: What message would you like to share with women entrepreneurs?
Kealy: You’re not alone. Imposter syndrome is common, especially among successful women, even if research sometimes suggests otherwise. Seek support—you don’t have to do it all by yourself.
“As leaders grow, their impact ripples out to everyone around them—colleagues, teams, and loved ones. My hope is to leave the world just a little better than I found it.” — Kealy Spring
Connect with Kealy Spring:
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kealyspring/
Website- https://www.kealyspring.com/
Free Mini Course on Perfectionism and Imposter Syndrome: https://courses.springaheadcoaching.com/overcoming-barriers-mini-course
YouTube Channel/Podcast where I interview fellow clinicians on the work they do: https://youtube.com/@therapeuticallyaligned?si=A8vt68icmOIDZIv3
Also on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2acu5Pd0znMUr29R2HxOFP?si=37486f4ce510446a
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If you’d like to be featured in the Humans of Fuzia series, email us at fuziatalent@fuzia.com
