Empowerment Voices #4 -Dream Big, Build Confidence, and Take Action: The Formula for a Successful Career Shift

In this episode of Empowerment Voices, we sit down with Geraldine Gautier, a Master Certified Coach and founder of Go Master Coach, as she takes us through her bold transition from finance to coaching. From triathlons to mindset shifts, Geraldine shares the powerful steps she took to align her life and career with her true passion. If you’ve ever felt trapped in your career, unsure of your next move, this episode will inspire you to dream big, build confidence, and take action. Join us as we explore the path to personal fulfillment and career transformation. Tune in—your breakthrough moment might be just one listen away!

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Empowerment Voices Interview: Julie Landau with Geraldine Gautier

Julie:

Hello, I’m Julie Landau, your host. I believe that you are surrounded by Superwomen who can inspire you to ignite your ambition, remove self-beliefs, and make a positive impact on your life. This series is your journey to find female role models who will inspire you to take action to change your own situation for the better. I believe that you have 100% of the capabilities to become the leader you aspire to be and live a fulfilled life. Leading is not a position—it’s a choice. Welcome to Empowerment Voices.

Okay. Hi Geraldine, welcome to Empowerment Voices. How are you today?

Geraldine:

I’m very good. Hi Julie, thank you for having me today.

Julie:

Yeah, it’s great to have you. I’m super excited. So maybe for our audience, you can give us a short intro about yourself.

Geraldine:

Yes, absolutely. So my name is Geraldine Gautier, I’m based in Singapore, I’m the founder of Go Master Coach, a coaching school. I’m also a Master Certified Coach. I have three kids, and I’ve been in Singapore for 10 years. I’m originally from France.

Julie:

Great! We are both from France, as you can tell by our accent. Eight years ago, you made a significant career shift from finance to coaching. What was the turning point that made you realize it was time for a change? Was it gradual awareness, or was there a particular event that catalyzed your decision to leave finance for coaching?

Geraldine:

Thank you, Julie. Actually, there was a series of events, I would say. So when I landed in Singapore 10 years ago, I was working for a financial broker. It was a good job, but I was not fulfilled anymore, and I was feeling empty, trapped in this career. I felt I was not using my full potential, and it was really frustrating. That’s when I decided to do two things: hire a career coach and challenge myself physically by registering for a triathlon.

One year later, after lots of training, reflecting, and working with my coach, I did the triathlon. During the race, I had this breakthrough moment: I realized what I wanted to do—I wanted to help people be mentally, emotionally, and physically aligned. This aha moment was the result of a long process. And winning the triathlon in my category gave me the confidence to take the leap and say, ‘Okay, let’s build my mental game, become a professional coach and personal trainer, and do what I truly want to do.’

Julie:

Thank you for sharing. I love the buzzwords you use, but they are so true, like ‘muscle of confidence.’ Confidence is a muscle—it’s not something we’re born with, and we need to practice it. And realizing you weren’t using your full potential without knowing yet what that was is something many women ask themselves: What do I want? It’s a process of discovery.

So, transitioning from a well-established career in finance to the coaching world must have come with its challenges. Beyond the practicalities of switching industries, were there personal or internal challenges, like mindset shifts, that you had to overcome during this transition?

Geraldine:

Oh, yes, absolutely. There were three major challenges. The first was confidence. I was doubting my abilities to be an entrepreneur and coach. I had limiting beliefs like, I’m not enough, I’m not good enough, I’m not smart enough to succeed. I had to work on that with my coach and by doing—getting results, failing a bit, learning along the way. I was my worst enemy.

The second challenge was being okay with failure. When you start, you get a lot of NOs. You have to accept rejection and persist. Accepting that NOs are not the end is key. You get used to it, and eventually, you enjoy the process, not just the outcomes.

The third challenge was social perception. Coaching doesn’t always have the best reputation. When I told people I was becoming a coach, they’d say, ‘Oh, another coach.’ It wasn’t easy to overcome. You start to convince yourself that maybe it’s just a part-time job, while also juggling being a mother and wife. I had to fight this perception because I wanted more. I wanted to scale my business and succeed.

Julie:

So you were fulfilled by ambition, and that helped you overcome your challenges—shifting from thinking to doing, accepting failure as a learning experience, and rejecting social perceptions. Your drive was strong, and it all came down to confidence.

Geraldine:

Yes. I was really convinced by my mission—something bigger than me. My ambition was strong, but I also believed coaching was a powerful way to change how people behave in the workplace and, ultimately, to change societies. When the why is clear, the how becomes easier.

Julie:

And you’ve experienced the power of coaching for yourself. That’s the best way to believe in the mission.

Geraldine:

Absolutely!

Julie:

So, looking back at your journey, what do you believe are the essential steps for anyone considering a career shift, especially when moving into a completely different industry?

Geraldine:

I think there are six steps:

1. Dream big—have a vision. It doesn’t need to be clear at first, but dream as if there were no constraints.

2. Build confidence—identify your strengths and skills. Know what makes you unique.

3. Face your blockers—identify your limiting beliefs and fears.

4. Clarify your values—know what motivates you, whether it’s freedom, financial stability, or belonging.

5. Find your Ikigai—what you’re good at, what you love, and what the world needs.

6. Build your personal brand—learn how to communicate your value to the world.

This is a process you can do with help. One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to do it alone. You need to do three things: think, share, and do. Many people stop at thinking, or maybe they share, but the real magic happens when you take action. Start small, take a course, shadow someone—just do something. You won’t feel confident about a career shift unless you think, share, and do.

Julie:

And so now, eight years later, you’ve made your career shift and reached the highest level of accreditation as an MCC Coach. How did your past experience in finance shape the way you coach clients today?

Geraldine:

I’m still the same person I used to be—just with fewer limiting beliefs and more confidence. My strengths and values haven’t changed. I’ve always loved fast-paced environments, managing people, and entrepreneurship. I now coach founders and leaders under pressure, which I love because of their mindset, drive, and impact on others. I’m still using everything I learned from my past career.

Julie:

So you’ve leveraged your strengths and flow from your previous career to continue growing in your new one. Now that you’ve built a coaching school that empowers others to make bold career changes, can you share an example of a client who took a bold step and how they navigated the uncertainties?

Geraldine:

Yes, of course. One successful story is Nour. She transitioned from insurance to become a coach specializing in ADHD. She’s now helping professionals and parents navigate ADHD and is a strong advocate for neurodivergence. She’s doing incredibly well. We also have founders and coaches working with startup founders. It’s great to see the startup ecosystem embracing coaching, especially with the high levels of burnout. One of our alumni is thriving in this space, working with VCs and founders to help them perform better.

Julie:

You’ve supported successful people transitioning careers, and as a former student of your school, I’ve seen how diverse their backgrounds are. It’s proof that with a goal and clear objectives, anything is possible.

Geraldine:

Absolutely. We’ve had lawyers become coaches, people from education sectors coaching students, and HR professionals going independent. The variety of industries our students come from shows that when you have a goal and the right approach, career shifts are achievable.

Julie:

Yes, more people are seeking support when going through career shifts. There’s no miracle, but with effort, time, and practice, dreams can be achieved.

Geraldine:

Totally.

Julie:

Thank you so much, Geraldine, for your interview. I really loved hearing about the steps in your approach—it’s great food for thought for anyone thinking about a career shift.

Geraldine:

My pleasure. Just a final word: it might seem daunting or overwhelming, but it’s not. When you have a path to follow and a program, it becomes much easier. Find the right people to help you along the way.

We know amazing coaches like you, ready to help people transition to new roles and careers.

Julie: Thank you again, Geraldine! I hope today’s conversation with Geraldine spoke to you. If you’re ready to step into the next phase of your career with confidence, I invite you to explore our Women in Leadership Programs, uniquely designed to help you discover your uniqueness and strength and move forward with clarity. Visit www.iquestforher.com to learn more, and don’t forget to subscribe to Empowerment Voices to get the next podcast. Let’s keep this journey of empowerment going!

Born in France but driven by curiosity, Geraldine Gauthier lived in the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore, thriving in Finance but always feeling something was missing. A career coach and a triathlon changed everything. Mid-race, she realized her true passion was helping others unlock their full potential.

She took a leap, left her job, and became an executive coach and personal trainer. Today, as founder of GoMasterCoach, she’s coached over 50 top executives, helped 300 coaches earn ICF certifications, and trained 1,000+ leaders in well-being and leadership.

Her mission? To help others break their limits and redefine what's possible.