“We must be willing to give up the life we’ve planned,
so we can live the life that’s waiting for us.”–Joseph Campbell
y last day at ICON, the award-winning computer company I started shortly after college, was not about heroics, a pinnacle of success, or the kind of buyout most entrepreneurs dream about. It didn’t arrive through illness, accident, or dismissal, but through sheer self-mutiny. The self I was born to be, decided to hijack the one I had created.
To move through this spontaneous revolt, also known as an awakening, I had to let go of almost everything I thought defined me, trust the inner voice urging me to evolve, and reclaim the part of myself I feared wasn’t valuable.
Once I released what was no longer true, and perhaps never was, major shifts began to unfold. Changes that returned me to my childhood passion for writing, deepened my sense of connection and compassion, and emerging opportunities that led me to start an executive coaching firm helping leaders navigate change, strengthen self-awareness, and lead more authentic lives.
Twenty-five years later, I have raised three children and written three books, including The Messages, a memoir about healing and purpose; The Invitation, an award-winning novel; and Madre: A Modern Parable of Wisdom, Worth and Women Rising. Over the past decade, I have also coached some of the most influential leaders in media and entertainment at companies including NBCUniversal, Lionsgate, Disney, Amazon, Sony Pictures, and Condé Nast.
Today, my greatest joy is weaving together these experiences—entrepreneurship, motherhood, coaching, and writing—to share stories that inspire awareness, healing, and purposeful living.
For coaching inquiries, please contact Dawn@DawnKohler.com