S1 | E4 Melissa Ford - Executive Coach

I was guided to Melissa by a friend all the way back in 2012, as I struggled mightily in the aftermath of divorce, foreclosure and bankruptcy. I had several one-off appointments until completing the Landmark Forum, where it became very clear I needed EXACTLY what she had to offer. I spent 13 months meeting with her regularly for guidance and the occasional kick in the ass. I'm glad I did. She helped build the solid foundation that carried me through years of transformation. Melissa Ford is master coach, author, and unapologetic truth-teller. Tune in for a conversation that cuts right to the core. Melissa and I explore what it really means to lead from love, not people-pleasing, and how most of us have been trained to abandon ourselves in the name of "service." She shares her journey from corporate performer to soulful coach, and how choosing truth over comfort led to the most honest, powerful work of her life. We unpack what fierce love actually looks like in practice: saying the hard thing, standing for someone else’s greatness, and being willing to risk their discomfort for their transformation. Melissa talks about why conflict is often sacred, how real leadership begins with integrity to self, and why approval is a poor substitute for real connection. This episode is an invitation to stop performing, stop rescuing, and start leading from a place of radical honesty and love that includes you. Melissa's Bio I’m a business and life coach who works with entrepreneurs, executives, career changers, artists, you name it. Clients seek me out to address leadership and productivity challenges, role transitions, growth and profitability concerns, and other issues that have them feeling unfulfilled or stuck in their professional lives. In my 20+ years of coaching, I’ve developed a holistic approach to helping my clients. While they are initially focused on a single “problem” or “project,” I help them take a step back and examine the thought patterns that get in the way of crafting creative solutions and approaches to move forward in their work. A bit about me: I’m a certified PCI Coach and graduate of ACS. I have an English degree from the University of Illinois and a law degree from DePaul University. My legal training has made me an analytical coach with a bullseye focus, pinpointing exactly what will propel clients forward. When I’m not coaching, I can be found “vacationing” at professional development events, visiting my grown daughter in NYC, working out with my personal trainer (aka, my son), and enjoying the love and friendship of my husband. Website https://melissafordcoaching.comSpecial Guest: Melissa Ford.