Eric Mahleb is a behaviour and mental health practitioner and life and health coach with 25 years of experience working as a consultant, coach and trainer.
He specializes in stress, burnout, resilience, in developing a positive flexible mindset and in improving emotional intelligence.
He tells us that, “I am a certified life and health coach, emotional intelligence, neuroscience and mindfulness coach and trainer, and positive neuroplasticity, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy practitioner. And an agile leadership coach.”
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your professional journey and what inspired you to choose this career.
I grew up in France, in the Paris suburbs. Life was ok, but I remember feeling bored and not wanting a ‘standard’ profession. I was grateful when my family moved to the USA when I was 16. I found a lot of things that made sense to me there and I became very engaged and motivated. I received a bachelor with honours, then became a graduate assistant and received an MBA. I continued with a Masters in Technology but dropped out a semester before the end to start working. At that time, I was still a long way away from coaching. My career would take me in many different directions before finally settling on coaching. Many years later, I would also end up with an MA in Film History…
Was there any turning point in your life that changed your journey? If so, what was it? Please tell us the backstory behind it.
Moving to the USA certainly was a turning point. But there were many others afterwards. I was always very curious and for good or for bad, I always felt the need to try new things. Perhaps it all belonged to my journey of finding myself. So I moved a lot, jobs and countries. I got a job offer in California (after studying in Ohio) and I took it, even though the job was nothing that I would have ever thought I would do. Then around 1999, I had an opportunity to change careers and to move to the internet industry in San Francisco. So I did that. Then I moved to Australia. And then to London. And then to Germany. And each time, I would be doing something different. But perhaps the biggest turning point came 10 years ago when I had a burnout. This is when I realized that I need to change something deep inside of me. I would say this the moment that truly led to me getting into coaching,
Tell us about your goals, interests, and role models.
For me, goals have changed a lot throughout my life. My goals 20 years ago were totally different from the goals that I have today. Today, my goals are to help people who are struggling with mental and physical health, to be the best father that I can be, and to enjoy life. My interests are many, as indicated by my life journey. From ancient history to social justice and spirituality to cinema and psychology…and many more! I never truly had a role model, at least not one clear person. My role models were always more abstract figures with values of kindness, patience, serenity and wisdom.
Everyone has their own set of challenges when starting an entrepreneurial journey. Still, the most essential part for others to learn is how you deal with those. Would you like to share with us your challenges and your coping mechanisms?
15 years ago, I started a small digital agency for social/environmental change here in Berlin, Germany. I ran it for seven years and found it rewarding but also extremely tough. It is in fact what led me to my Burnout. When I started my coaching practice, I knew it would be difficult as well. So I prepared myself better: 1. Make sure you have enough savings and that you do not expect quick success 2. Don’t expect clients to just come knocking: marketing, sales, networking… 3. Spend money to make money 4. Practice gratefulness, patience and mindfulness 5. Stay true to your vision but be open to pivot on some of your positioning and offering after testing your offering with your market 6. Do everything in a professional and respectful manner….and many more…
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 used to have dreams to change the world (when I had my company 15 years ago). Today, if I help one person with their mental health, then I am happy. If I am able to give my clients tools and resources and insights into themselves that help them to find a happier path in their lives, then I have achieved my objective. I have no desire to grow beyond being able to have enough clients and patients each week.
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?
As mentioned already, I have been trying to find a way to make the world a better place for the past 15 years (this desire actually started even earlier when I worked for an NGO). Today, I measure the change I want to see on a person per person basis. But my dream would be a world where every human being is treated with respect, fairness and dignity and where each person has the tools and resources to find their peace, health and happiness.
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’s leadership today?
My life journey has been too colourful to fully explain in such short answers. But I will say that as part of my NGO work 20 years ago and then with my own company 17 years ago, I was working extensively on human rights topics. Gender issues were part of this work. It used to drive me mad (it contributed to my burnout actually) how some people can look down on others because of gender or race or some other bias-induced criteria. Today, I am older and calmer and more hopeful that the world is going in the right direction. In the end, this is not just about women. It is about diversity, equality and fairness for all human beings. There should be no room for discrimination, period. And anyone with the right skills (leadership or others) should have access to the same opportunities.
With your grit and determination, you are making a considerable impact, breaking through, and serving as role models for many budding entrepreneurs. What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
Know your values. Stay true to them, even when the weather is stormy and you feel that the stars are not aligned. You will fall down from time to time so don’t be surprised or discouraged. Pick yourself up, look to your values and purpose as your compass and you will find your way and succeed.