Devoted to women of color in business

Susan Kim Coaching, LLC
Susan Kim – Principal and Owner of Susan Kim Coaching

Susan's daily goal is to laugh, be present and enjoy every moment.

As a coach, Susan partners with women entrepreneurs who want to enhance their lives and grow their businesses.  She supports her clients to reach success by creating clear strategies, reducing stress, accomplishing more and living in balance – they gain balance without compromising their career.

Susan's coaching practice consists of one-on-one coaching (phone coaching), teleclasses (teleconferencing courses), live seminars, workshops, and keynotes and a series of online e-courses and programs.

Susan graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor's Degree in Education and received a Master's Degree in Communication, Computing and Technology in Education from Columbia University's Teachers College.  She received her coach training from Coachville and CoachU, of which she is a graduate. She grew up in New York and moved to San Francisco in 1993 where she started to work for the San Francisco Unified School District as a Program Coordinator.  In 2003, she left her position as Vice President of Operations for a commercial digital photography studio in San Francisco to start Susan Kim Coaching, LLC and move to Maui in April of 2003.

Susan volunteers her time and expertise in many ways.  She has served as Area Governor for Toastmasters International on Maui, working with members of 4 clubs to improve and continue their success.  She is an active member of the Valley Isle Chapter of BNI (Business Network International), a professional networking association.  As a Cornell Alumni Ambassador, she acts as a resource for those interested in Cornell University.  Also, Susan is a business counselor through SCORE and the SBDC (Small Business Development Center) and holds workshops at the Maui County Business Resource Center.  She supports various other community organizations like the Maui Orchid Society, the Maui Humane Society and the Maui Writers Foundation.

Since starting her coaching practice in 2003, she was been honored as a nominee for the Maui County Mayor's Small Business Award.  She was recognized as a member of the Class of 2006 for the Pacific Business News Forty Under 40 Award – an award given to young business leaders of Hawaii. Recently she has been honored by the SBA as Maui County's Home-Based Business Champion of the Year.

Susan enjoys sports of all kinds, particularly surfing and running.  On her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her husband, a cockatiel (Phineas) and a dog (Tia). She also likes graphic design, crafts and photography.  Personally she is committed to life-long learning and is currently experimenting with her garden, sewing and training her little Ridgeback mutt, Tia.

For more information, go to http://www.susankimcoaching.com


1) Where did you get started in your business?
My business "started" during a trip to Lake Tahoe about 6 years ago. This is when I was first introduced to coaching by my friend, "Chris" who was going through a coach training program. Over a bottle of wine, she described the process and her program and I absolutely connected with it almost immediately. When I got back home I did some research, enrolled in Coach U's coach training program and hired a coach. I wrote a business plan and started coaching part time. I started my full time practice when I arrived on Maui in 2003 and have been coaching ever since.

2) What values do you try to live by?
Throughout the coaching process / training I have learned a lot about myself and what helps keep me in integrity with whatever I do - I live by various "mottos" and each day these motto's keeps me focused, centered and living in integrity:

"Stay Present" - the joy in life is always right now.

"No Regrets" - this is a powerful tool in making decisions and doing what is right.

"Live, Laugh, Love" - these three words sum it up, but also brings to the forefront the "Big Rocks" or the important things that really matter in life.


3) Who do you consider to be a role model?
There have been so many wonderful influences in my life - my friends, my family, my clients.  Three main significant figures are:

1 - MY GRANDMOTHER - During my childhood years, she was a strong influence. After her husband was killed in war torn North Korea, she emigrated to South Korea with her five children, created a home and made a life for all of them there. Through her actions, she has show me the value of compassion, love, independence and how to pick your battles.

2 - GANDHI - As an adult, he is one of my greatest influences. Learning about his efforts, his passion, his search for freedom without violence was inspirational to me. He also taught me the importance of self awareness and that if we want to see a change in our life , we must change.

3 - MY DOG, TIA - She is a constant reminder and influence of what it means to be present, to focus on the important things and how ego can get in the way of those important things. She also reminds me how to live, laugh and she helps me love - I can't help but love her.


4) Name one of your biggest  challenges and how you learned from that situation.
One of my biggest challenges was learning how to surf. I was deathly afraid of water, which means that I had never learned how to swim very well and I was petrified of getting lost at sea. I became interested in surfing as a sport and decided to overcome my fear. 11 years ago I mustered the courage to jump into the chilly waters of Pacifica in the Bay Area for the first time with a surfboard. Even though I was scared, I felt exhilarated and I knew I could beat it - I knew I would be a surfer. Time and time again the wave would knock me down, crash over me, take me under, but each time, I would just get back on my board, paddle back out and try again. It took me one whole year to get my balance and actually catch a wave (a REAL wave), but I when I did it, there was no turning back!

Surfing has taught me the value of persistence (try and try again!), courage (overcoming my fears), and patience (sometimes it's a long wait for a wave and longer before a good ride). Overall, however, I've learned to embrace fear and have fun!

5) When was your most successful moment to date?
It's hard to identify my MOST successful moment to date. I'm very proud of many achievements throughout my life, Westinghouse Semi-Finalist in high school, graduating from Cornell and Columbia, starting my own business and being honored as the SBA's Home-Based Business Champion of Maui County. However, when I decided to become a coach and follow my heart's path, I KNEW I had succeeded at that moment. My purpose and passion met with my profession.

 
Susan Kim Coaching
www.susankimcoaching.com