My Bio, Background, and Biz
If you want to shine in the hot seat every time, you are in the right place!
I am the creator of the Upgrade My Interview™ method, UMI Fitness Workouts, and holistic products to help you shine in the hot seat every time. My favorite part of what I do is strengthening how you prepare and engage with others about your professional value in interviews and teaching you how to leave them wanting more.
Seasonally, I also provide coaching programs that include:
✔️practice interviews that feel close to the real ones you are preparing for with actionable feedback
✔️one hour online coaching sessions to strengthen your professional presence
✔️reflective activities, powerful assessments, and inspiring products that make interview prep more enjoyable
✔️insider tips based on years of helping employers find top candidates and being a self-employed, spiritually guided woman
Imagine how limitless your future at work will be because you chose to upgrade your interview skills.
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My clients and audiences benefit from my experience as a hiring manager, certified career development professional, accomplished heart-centered entrepreneur, and advocate of the mind, body, and spirit connection.
Why I Do This Work
Interviews used to make me cringe and zap all of my energy. I decided I wanted to stop playing small and get out of my own way. I then spent many years learning and practicing natural, powerful ways to get more comfortable presenting my professional value, especially when the stakes are high. I also studied meditation and mindfulness alongside some of the most incredible leaders in the professional development industry and other dynamic teachers (ask me sometime what it's like to live with monks for a week).
I now teach the practical tools and spiritual practices that upgraded my interview skills to other women. The Upgrade My Interview Method eases interview stress and boosts confidence so you can represent your best, authentic self in the hot seat.
I now teach the practical tools and spiritual practices that upgraded my interview skills to other women. The Upgrade My Interview Method eases interview stress and boosts confidence so you can represent your best, authentic self in the hot seat.
As a Communications major in undergrad and later a Masters in Counseling graduate student, I have taken deep dives into the best ways that people use to get their message across effectively.
Long before starting my own business, I served in AmeriCorps after college and worked for other non-profits. I then dedicated almost fifteen years of my career as a leader and manager in public service coaching jobseekers, career changers, and small business owners while working closely to help employers find their best hires.
But I noticed over and over again that traditional methods of obtaining professional opportunities were often slow, frustrating, and full of dead ends. This discovery led me to combining my lessons as a career development professional with my training in spiritual practices, including yoga, Reiki, and meditation, into my interview coaching. I also create and share stress-reducing tools to help interview prep be more enjoyable and successful.
Today, it is my passion to help you be at ease, engaging, and confident when talking to others about your professional value.
My work has been published in several publications and I have been awarded by workforce development boards for my impact on the future workforce.
It's no secret to my family and friends that I love what I do to help others upgrade their interview. I am also a proud Mom who enjoys anything that keeps things #funatwork (Lip Sync Battles and celebrating everything from National Chocolate Day to Star Wars Day), watching General Hospital (since I was ten☺️), and eating all types of chips and salsa (A LOT!).
Long before starting my own business, I served in AmeriCorps after college and worked for other non-profits. I then dedicated almost fifteen years of my career as a leader and manager in public service coaching jobseekers, career changers, and small business owners while working closely to help employers find their best hires.
But I noticed over and over again that traditional methods of obtaining professional opportunities were often slow, frustrating, and full of dead ends. This discovery led me to combining my lessons as a career development professional with my training in spiritual practices, including yoga, Reiki, and meditation, into my interview coaching. I also create and share stress-reducing tools to help interview prep be more enjoyable and successful.
Today, it is my passion to help you be at ease, engaging, and confident when talking to others about your professional value.
My work has been published in several publications and I have been awarded by workforce development boards for my impact on the future workforce.
It's no secret to my family and friends that I love what I do to help others upgrade their interview. I am also a proud Mom who enjoys anything that keeps things #funatwork (Lip Sync Battles and celebrating everything from National Chocolate Day to Star Wars Day), watching General Hospital (since I was ten☺️), and eating all types of chips and salsa (A LOT!).
Why Choose Me To Help You?
While rising up in management in the local government at employment centers for over 10 years, my favorite part was coaching jobseekers, career changers, and small business owners on interviewing. Our work together lead them from feeling stuck to instead being empowered and doing work that they enjoy.
The work I did at employment and small business centers taught me things I'll never forget. The number one lesson being: Now is the time to prevent damage to your lifetime earnings, career happiness, or future business. I could have kept rising up the management ladder and further away from direct service with clients. But as the environment at where I worked started to become toxic, I felt I needed to push past my own comfort zone.
Although it was challenging and scary to walk away from the "security" of a government job and all of its benefits, I made one of the best decisions of my life. Starting my own coaching business makes me feel more alive and satisfied than I even dreamed.
The work I did at employment and small business centers taught me things I'll never forget. The number one lesson being: Now is the time to prevent damage to your lifetime earnings, career happiness, or future business. I could have kept rising up the management ladder and further away from direct service with clients. But as the environment at where I worked started to become toxic, I felt I needed to push past my own comfort zone.
Although it was challenging and scary to walk away from the "security" of a government job and all of its benefits, I made one of the best decisions of my life. Starting my own coaching business makes me feel more alive and satisfied than I even dreamed.
I love seeing my clients transform from under-representing their value and stressed about interviews to actually enjoying being in the hot seat.
Imagine the opportunities that will open for you when you learn how to showcase your unique talents, value, and strengths in a way that attracts your desired career goals.
Imagine the opportunities that will open for you when you learn how to showcase your unique talents, value, and strengths in a way that attracts your desired career goals.
Bottom Line: You Want A Qualified, Experienced Interview Coach
To attract more career momentum, you need to be selective with who you partner with. It's a big decision to hire a coach. It's key that you look for:
*several years of experience (you don't want to be someone's 1st rodeo, right?)
*specialized training and education in helping professions (look for degrees, certifications, and genuine success stories)
*strong reputation both with clients and with their personal brand (dive into their social media!)
*results-oriented as well as supportive (someone that only makes you feel good but doesn't keep you accountable for making real change isn't going to be effective in getting you to your career goal)
*confirm that their coaching style aligns with how you work best (meet and ask them questions before you send any payments!)
Let me share with you how I meet this criteria:
I am a proud alumni of George Mason University two times over. (I loved that school so much I even named my first born son Mason-not even kidding!)
I earned my Bachelor's in Communications (while working three jobs to pay for it). A few years later, while working full-time in public service, I discovered I wanted to dig deeper into how I could help coach and inspire others to align with work they enjoy. I went back for my Masters degree at GMU and was accepted into their highly acclaimed (and challenging) Counseling and Human Development program.
After graduation, I dedicated a full year to serving in AmeriCorps which helped me hear even louder the call to help others shine. I later worked for non-profits and corporate jobs, but once I started working in employment centers my passion for career coaching really caught on fire. I was soon promoted to develop employment programs and train staff to help others gain meaningful work.
For over a decade, while rising up in leadership and management positions (see details in my LinkedIn profile), I coached thousands of jobseekers. I also trained my staff that I hired to thrive at coaching others on how to interview, impress employers, and find their next best career step.
I have also worked with small business owners to makeover their pitch, gain confidence and build traction with marketing their message. Plus, I was often on the other side of the hot seat as a hiring manager for many years and observed the ins and outs of competitive recruiting and human resource systems.
I have seen so many epic interview fails and pitches by hundreds of candidates and entrepreneurs who were well-educated, motivated, and had the right qualifications.
Melting in the hot seat can happen to anyone, but with the right support it doesn't have to happen to you.
*several years of experience (you don't want to be someone's 1st rodeo, right?)
*specialized training and education in helping professions (look for degrees, certifications, and genuine success stories)
*strong reputation both with clients and with their personal brand (dive into their social media!)
*results-oriented as well as supportive (someone that only makes you feel good but doesn't keep you accountable for making real change isn't going to be effective in getting you to your career goal)
*confirm that their coaching style aligns with how you work best (meet and ask them questions before you send any payments!)
Let me share with you how I meet this criteria:
I am a proud alumni of George Mason University two times over. (I loved that school so much I even named my first born son Mason-not even kidding!)
I earned my Bachelor's in Communications (while working three jobs to pay for it). A few years later, while working full-time in public service, I discovered I wanted to dig deeper into how I could help coach and inspire others to align with work they enjoy. I went back for my Masters degree at GMU and was accepted into their highly acclaimed (and challenging) Counseling and Human Development program.
After graduation, I dedicated a full year to serving in AmeriCorps which helped me hear even louder the call to help others shine. I later worked for non-profits and corporate jobs, but once I started working in employment centers my passion for career coaching really caught on fire. I was soon promoted to develop employment programs and train staff to help others gain meaningful work.
For over a decade, while rising up in leadership and management positions (see details in my LinkedIn profile), I coached thousands of jobseekers. I also trained my staff that I hired to thrive at coaching others on how to interview, impress employers, and find their next best career step.
I have also worked with small business owners to makeover their pitch, gain confidence and build traction with marketing their message. Plus, I was often on the other side of the hot seat as a hiring manager for many years and observed the ins and outs of competitive recruiting and human resource systems.
I have seen so many epic interview fails and pitches by hundreds of candidates and entrepreneurs who were well-educated, motivated, and had the right qualifications.
Melting in the hot seat can happen to anyone, but with the right support it doesn't have to happen to you.
Your Future In The Hot Seat Will Thank You
I want to see your future self at work doing a happy dance as much as you do. It's my intention that your Upgrade My Interview™ journey be something you look back very proudly on.
I make it a point to pack in the fun while focusing on results in my coaching packages, webinars, and other resources that I create.
But, because you are a smart consumer, here's more about how I keep my own skills relevant and my finger on the pulse of what helps others shine in the hot seat:
I have been a long standing member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Female Entrepreneur's Association (FEA), and other professional organizations.
I am also a certified Reiki Practictioner (energy worker) and extensively trained in mindfulness, EFT (tapping), and other stress reduction techniques that help others shine in the hot seat and gain more career satisfaction. I am excited to be writing for several publications that focus on career happiness tips, anxiety relief, youth advocacy, and how to connect to soul-fulfilling work.
My strengths-based, holistic approach to coaching others is based on methods that are useful for becoming a better interviewer, gaining career satisfaction, and enjoying more happiness in life. Many of my clients appreciate that after working with me for interview coaching and career support, they gain other bonuses that boost their life.
By practicing how to share your value best when under pressure with me, you are also upgrading your skills on how to handle the many challenges that will happen as your career journey unfolds.
I make it a point to pack in the fun while focusing on results in my coaching packages, webinars, and other resources that I create.
But, because you are a smart consumer, here's more about how I keep my own skills relevant and my finger on the pulse of what helps others shine in the hot seat:
I have been a long standing member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Female Entrepreneur's Association (FEA), and other professional organizations.
I am also a certified Reiki Practictioner (energy worker) and extensively trained in mindfulness, EFT (tapping), and other stress reduction techniques that help others shine in the hot seat and gain more career satisfaction. I am excited to be writing for several publications that focus on career happiness tips, anxiety relief, youth advocacy, and how to connect to soul-fulfilling work.
My strengths-based, holistic approach to coaching others is based on methods that are useful for becoming a better interviewer, gaining career satisfaction, and enjoying more happiness in life. Many of my clients appreciate that after working with me for interview coaching and career support, they gain other bonuses that boost their life.
By practicing how to share your value best when under pressure with me, you are also upgrading your skills on how to handle the many challenges that will happen as your career journey unfolds.
Let's Stay Connected
Your brighter future at work is waiting for you. I want to help you get there faster.
Join many others in the UMI Tribe who are benefiting from signing up to receive free, monthly #upgrademyinterview tips from me. Subscribing allows me to send you the monthly edition of Shine In The Hot Seat With Shea Ki . To welcome you, I will send you a go-to resource that includes several popular holistic tools to help you interview with clarity, calm, and confidence.
Join many others in the UMI Tribe who are benefiting from signing up to receive free, monthly #upgrademyinterview tips from me. Subscribing allows me to send you the monthly edition of Shine In The Hot Seat With Shea Ki . To welcome you, I will send you a go-to resource that includes several popular holistic tools to help you interview with clarity, calm, and confidence.
