Podcast Summary: Chief Change Officer Episode #350 – Lucy Garner: Redefining Confidence—No Quotes, No Apologies
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Introduction
In Episode #350 of the Chief Change Officer podcast, host Vince Chan welcomes Lucy Garner, a dynamic figure transitioning from a successful career in biotechnology to empowering women leaders through executive coaching. This episode delves deep into Lucy's inspiring journey, her unique approach to leadership coaching, practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, and her perspectives on the evolving role of AI in coaching.
1. Lucy Garner's Journey: From Biotechnology to Leadership Coaching
Lucy Garner introduced herself as a triple certified, multi-award-winning executive coach who specializes in supporting women in leadership roles. With a solid foundation in biotechnology and over two decades in the pharmaceutical industry, Lucy led the microbiology department at a sterile manufacturing site in American multinationals. Despite her technical success, Lucy felt a persistent desire to empower and inspire people, a passion that ultimately led her to transition into entrepreneurship.
Notable Quote:
"I always wanted to help other people... to empower and support other people." — Lucy Garner [03:21]
2. Transformation and Starting the Business
The turning point in Lucy's career came in July 2020, following the unexpected passing of her father-in-law. This personal loss prompted a profound realization about the importance of pursuing one's dreams and not living solely to please others. Despite familial responsibilities and uncertainty about the future, Lucy embarked on her entrepreneurial journey.
Notable Quote:
"You only have one life and you only get one shot to follow your dreams." — Lucy Garner [08:03]
Lucy began her coaching business as a side hustle in September 2020, dedicating evenings and weekends to validate her market and develop her offerings. By January 2022, with sufficient social proof and testimonials, she transitioned to running her business full-time, achieving remarkable success, including multiple award nominations and wins.
3. Practical Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
When asked about practical steps for those dreaming of starting their own business while managing family commitments, Lucy emphasized the importance of being highly driven and resilient. She advocated for starting small, testing the waters, and continuously upskilling through courses and mentorship.
Notable Quote:
"Smart people hire other people who are where they want to be to show them the fastest, easiest, quickest way to get there possible." — Lucy Garner [12:42]
Key pieces of advice include:
- Start as a Side Hustle: Gradually build your business while maintaining financial stability.
- Invest in Yourself: Prioritize spending on coaches, mentors, and educational resources to accelerate growth.
- Develop a Strategy: Have a clear vision and mission that drive your entrepreneurial efforts.
4. The Role of Coaching in Lucy's Life and Business
Lucy shared how being coached herself transformed her both personally and professionally. Through various coaching programs and mastermind groups, she overcame limiting beliefs and enhanced her emotional intelligence and leadership skills. These experiences not only empowered her but also equipped her with the tools to effectively coach her clients.
Notable Quote:
"Without my coaches, there's no way I'd be where I am today." — Lucy Garner [17:56]
5. Defining Confidence
Addressing the overuse of the term "confidence," Lucy provided a nuanced definition that goes beyond mere self-assurance. For her, confidence involves certainty in oneself and one's ideas, coupled with the ability to articulate them with positive energy.
Notable Quote:
"Confidence is about having certainty in yourself and your ideas and being able to articulate that with a strong, positive energy to your audience." — Lucy Garner [20:06]
She emphasized that true confidence stems from inner certainty and the intent to add value to others, rather than seeking external validation.
6. Executive Presence Blueprint: Creation and Principles
Lucy introduced her signature program, the Executive Presence Blueprint, designed to address the evolving demands of leadership in today's dynamic environment. Drawing insights from a Harvard Business Review study, Lucy identified that the traditional pillars of executive presence—gravitas, communication, and appearance—have expanded to include authenticity, vision, and inclusion.
Key Principles of the Program:
- Gravitas: Building authority and confidence in decision-making.
- Communication: Mastering effective and authentic communication styles.
- Appearance: Aligning personal presentation with leadership roles.
- Authenticity: Encouraging genuine expression and relational transparency.
- Vision: Crafting and articulating a compelling vision for leadership.
- Inclusion: Fostering inclusive environments and emotional intelligence.
Notable Quote:
"The top two traits of executive presence are confidence and decisiveness." — Lucy Garner [22:19]
The program focuses on enhancing these areas through modules on personal branding, conflict management, emotional intelligence, and more, receiving positive feedback particularly for boosting confidence and decision-making skills.
7. Client Experiences and Learning
Early in her coaching career, Lucy encountered clients who were not fully committed to taking action, leading to suboptimal outcomes. This experience taught her to define and target her ideal clients—ambitious, driven women ready to invest effort into their personal and professional growth.
Notable Quote:
"Unless you're willing to take action, nothing is going to change." — Lucy Garner [26:10]
She now focuses on clients who are proactive and dedicated, ensuring more effective and rewarding coaching engagements.
8. The Ideal Client Profile
Lucy's ideal clients are women in senior corporate leadership roles or female founders scaling their businesses. These individuals are typically:
- Position: Director, Senior Director, Vice President, Senior Vice President, or C-level executives.
- Ambitions: Highly driven with significant career advancement goals.
- Challenges: Struggling with confidence, conflict avoidance, emotional intelligence, and balancing work-life harmony.
- Goals: Seeking to lead more effectively, make impactful decisions, and enhance their executive presence.
Notable Quote:
"I want to help women who are ambitious, who are driven, who are ready to put in the work for themselves." — Lucy Garner [27:40]
9. The Future of Coaching: AI and Human Partnership
In discussing the rise of AI in coaching, Lucy expressed optimism about the integration of AI tools to enhance coaching services. She believes that while AI can assist in creating content and frameworks, the human element of relationships and emotional connections remains irreplaceable.
Notable Quote:
"AI will never replace a human relationship, which is why I think coaches don't need to worry." — Lucy Garner [29:56]
She highlighted that AI can support coaches by streamlining content creation and improving service delivery, but the quality of human interaction and relationship building will continue to be the cornerstone of effective coaching.
Conclusion
Lucy Garner's journey from biotechnology to executive coaching exemplifies the transformative power of pursuing one's passion and supporting others in their leadership journeys. Her emphasis on authentic confidence, strategic entrepreneurship, and the synergistic use of AI in coaching offers valuable insights for aspiring leaders and coaches alike. Through her Executive Presence Blueprint and dedicated mentorship, Lucy continues to empower women to outgrow themselves and achieve remarkable professional success.
Join the Community
If you're inspired by Lucy's story and eager to embark on your own journey of transformation, consider subscribing to the Chief Change Officer podcast. Follow Vince Chan and Lucy Garner on LinkedIn, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube @chiefchangeofficer to stay updated with more conversations that blend logic and love, art and science, and hindsight and foresight.