In this episode, I’m sitting down with Rui, a growth marketing manager, holistic business strategist, and one of the most resilient clients I’ve had the honor to coach. She’s sharing how she made the leap from the art world into tech, navigated a messy job search, and stepped into leadership with confidence.
This conversation is real, honest, and full of encouragement for anyone who feels stuck between where they are and where they want to be. Rui didn’t take the easy path. She made brave choices, trusted her gut, and kept moving forward even when things felt uncertain.
Listen to the episode here: Client Interview: From Job Seeker to Leader – Rui’s Journey to Career Alignment and Building a Business
Rui’s Journey from Overworked to Aligned Leader
1. Coaching Was About More Than Strategy
When Rui first came to coaching, she was exhausted. Her job wasn’t sustainable, and she knew something had to change. She didn’t just want tactics—she wanted support, accountability, and someone to help her see the bigger picture. Coaching gave her the mix of strategy and space she needed to navigate the emotions that come with career transitions.
2. Saying No Took Courage
At one point, Rui got an offer. On paper, it looked like a lifeline. But in her gut, she knew it wasn’t right. Even though she was desperate to move on, she made the harder choice and turned it down. That moment was powerful. It reminded her (and all of us) that sometimes the bravest move is saying no.
3. Landing the Double Promotion
The payoff came when Rui landed a role that wasn’t just a step forward—it was a double promotion into leadership. Of course, stepping into that new identity wasn’t smooth. She faced doubts, pushback, and the pressure that comes with new responsibility. Coaching helped her sort through the noise, separate feedback from self-worth, and grow into her role with confidence.
4. Leadership Is a Growth Process
What Rui learned is that leadership isn’t about the title. It’s about trust, presence, and perspective. Coaching gave her the tools to quiet her anxiety, trust herself, and lead from a grounded place.
5. Building a Business on the Side
On top of her full-time role, Rui is also building her business as a holistic business strategist for women of color founders. Coaching didn’t just help her career—it gave her the confidence and structure to grow her business in a way that actually feels aligned.
Key Takeaways
Alignment Over Urgency
Don’t take the first offer just to get out. The right fit matters more than speed.
Coaching Is Both Strategy and Support
It’s not just about resumes and interviews. It’s about having accountability and perspective.
Courage Is in Saying No
Walking away from the wrong thing is just as important as saying yes to the right one.
Leadership Confidence Is Built
Criticism doesn’t define you. Leadership is something you grow into.
Your Career Can Hold More Than One Path
You can thrive in your 9–5 and still build a business that lights you up.
Timestamped Overview
00:00 – Introduction and Rui’s career background
02:00 – Pivoting from art to growth marketing
03:00 – Why Rui decided to invest in coaching
04:15 – Turning down a misaligned job offer
05:25 – Landing a double promotion into leadership
06:15 – Working through doubts and criticism
07:05 – Building her business as a holistic strategist
07:50 – Rui’s advice for anyone considering coaching
Want More Support?
Explore additional resources and tips on my website or connect with me on LinkedIn for insights into building your network effectively.
- Website: https://www.danitan.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan
Read the podcast episode transcript below.
Read the full episode transcript
Dani Tan [00:00:00]: Hi, I’m Dani Tan, and if you’re here, you’re in the right place. In today’s episode, I’m very excited because one of my former clients is here to talk about her experience, and I can’t wait to dive into her leadership journey. Before we start, here’s a little about me. I’m a speaker and leadership coach who helps women navigate pivots and promotions. I spent 11 years in corporate, moving across PR, sales, merchandising, and e-commerce, and I received promotion after promotion. Now I help women design the next step in their careers, whether that’s growth in leadership, a pivot, or something in between. I love coaching, so I’m very excited for this conversation. With me today is Rui.
Rui [00:01:02]: Hi, my name is Rui, and I’m currently a Growth Marketing Manager. I also consider myself a holistic business strategist. Before this career pivot, I worked as a contemporary art curator, so it’s been quite a change. I’m both creative and analytical, and I try to align my work with my Human Design as a Projector. Right now, I’m helping grow a pregnancy and period tracker called Stardust. I also freelance, serving women of color founders in creative and spiritual businesses to help them create sustainable growth. Dani Tan [00:02:15]: Amazing. Thank you for sharing, Rui. I’d love for listeners to hear more about your coaching journey. Can you share what led you to seek out coaching in the first place?
Rui [00:02:28]: At the time, I was job searching and felt really lonely. My previous job was demanding and not sustainable. I had coworkers, but I lacked strategy and support. I wanted someone to cheer me on, help with strategy, and prepare me for interviews. Dani Tan [00:03:00]: Yes, I remember that. You were very clear about your goals—wanting to leave your current job, feeling stressed, but also being extremely organized and structured. Coaching gave you accountability, pacing, and space to process all the emotions that came with job searching. Rui [00:03:40]: Exactly. Having that support really helped me stay grounded. Dani Tan [00:03:55]: One moment that stands out to me is when you received a job offer but realized it wasn’t the right fit.
That’s such a tough position to be in when you want to move on but don’t feel aligned with the opportunity. Can you share more about that? Rui [00:04:15]: That was a really hard time. I was desperate to leave my job, and I thought I should take whatever came my way. But through our conversations, you helped me ground myself. You kept asking how I felt and reminded me to check whether it aligned with my values. That gave me the courage to turn it down, even though it was scary. Dani Tan [00:04:50]: I remember that so clearly. Saying no to something that isn’t aligned takes as much courage as saying yes to something that is. I was so proud of you in that moment. Rui [00:05:10]: Thank you. It really helped to have someone in my corner who reminded me to think long term instead of just reacting out of fear.
Dani Tan [00:05:25]: Eventually, you did land a new role—one that was actually a double promotion and included a leadership position. Tell us what that transition was like. Rui [00:05:40]: At first, it was really challenging. I didn’t see myself as a leader, so I had a lot of anxiety and self-doubt. Early on, I met with a consultant who pointed out a lot of issues, and it made me question myself. But you reminded me that their role was to critique—it wasn’t about me personally. That helped me regain my confidence. Dani Tan [00:06:15]: Yes, I remember telling you: their job is to find gaps, not to validate your identity as a leader. Rui [00:06:25]: Exactly. That perspective really helped me ease into the role and trust myself.
Coaching was so important in calming my anxiety and helping me feel grounded as a leader. Dani Tan [00:06:45]: I’ve loved watching that growth in you. Coaching wasn’t just about the job search—it also became about building your leadership presence. And now, you’re also growing your own business. Can you share more about that? Rui [00:07:05]: Yes! Outside of my full-time role, I freelance as a holistic business strategist. I focus on helping women of color founders who run creative and spiritual businesses. My goal is to help them build sustainable, aligned growth. It’s really rewarding work, and I feel like everything I’ve gone through has prepared me to do it. Dani Tan [00:07:35]: I love that.
Coaching is always about more than just one thing—it ripples into every area of life. If someone listening is considering coaching but feels hesitant, what advice would you give them? Rui [00:07:50]: My advice is: just do it. Coaching is an investment in yourself, and it’s worth it. I’ve worked with several coaches, and each one has helped me grow in different ways. With you, Dani, I got the structure, accountability, and grounding I needed, and that was invaluable. Dani Tan [00:08:15]: Thank you for sharing that. It’s been such a joy to work with you, Rui. I know your story will inspire others who are navigating transitions, whether in career, leadership, or life. Rui [00:08:30]: Thank you for having me.
I hope my story encourages others to find the support they need.
