Jess Galica

Author and Executive Coach

www.reclaimyourcareer.co

Signed up in August 2023

I've called Boston home for most of my life. I grew up in Massachusetts and returned to Boston after graduating from college in Washington DC. Back in Boston I built my early career, earned my MBA from MIT Sloan, continued my executive career into a VP position, wrote my first book, and launched my first business as an Executive Coach. Boston is also where I've grown my family and I love being a present mom to my two young kids. I love Boston, and especially Charlestown, which is a small community and wonderful place for young families!

My mission is to redefine for high-performing women what a successful career looks like. Today's generation of women rising into leadership ranks grew up with toxic career narratives telling us to ``lean in`` or ``opt out.`` In reality, women's experiences in the workforce are not so black and white. Through my work at ``Reclaim Your Career`` I help women and other underestimated leaders to develop and accelerate their careers while defining success on their own terms.

The business grew out of my personal journey. A successful corporate leader, I had worked at top organizations like Bain, Apple, and beyond. Yet reaching these ``dream`` career heights left me feeling unfulfilled and empty. When I started talking to other women rising up in leadership I quickly discovered that my story—building a career, doing everything “right”, but waking up lost—is not unique.

In 2020, I turned my attention to why so many high-powered women were failing to thrive within corporate America. Becoming a mom gave me the courage to do something different and launch my research, writing, and coaching outside my corporate career. When I looked at my daughter (and now my son) I wished deeply that she would be comfortable in her own skin and be whoever she wants to be. When I looked in the mirror, and it came to my career, I realized I wasn’t being who I wanted to be.

I used to measure success by the number of rungs I had climbed on a corporate ladder. Today, I define success as the ability to live with intention and define what success is on your own terms. You can reach success when you have the right vision, strategy, and courage to go after your goals. You'll know you are successful when you have clarity on what success looks like (this sounds easy -- but it's not!) and you're creating and experiencing the magic moments that you've dreamed of.

Publishing a book and launching a business has helped me realize that I can learn to do (almost) anything! There are so many reasons for ``why not``, but once you experience pushing through those and get to ``yes,`` then the world really opens up and your possibilities feel endless.

In my corporate career I have always worked in male-dominated industries like Startups, Big Tech, and Sales. I have navigated challenges related to pay discrimination, being underestimated based on my age and gender, and struggling to feel belonging in a homogeneous culture composed mostly of men. All of these experiences are so common for most women. The experiences make up the ``tax`` that women pay for simply existing in corporate structures that were not designed for them. At the same time, I acknowledge that I carry many privileges in business as a White, straight, cisgender, and fully abled person. For Black women, women of color, queer women, and disabled women the tax is dramatically higher. My mission is to help every person build a career in which they can truly thrive.

I aim to give myself grace. When I am having ``one of those days,`` I rebrand the day as an MVP (minimum viable product) Day. That means I ask myself, what is the minimum that I can do today without lighting the roof on fire? Then I rescope the day and redefine ``success`` as getting only those minimum items done.

None of us can operate at 100% all of the time. When I accept that, honor it, and quickly move on I am ultimately more productive long-term!

I love seeing the level of support and the space for vulnerability that BBW provides! Throughout my life, having women in my corner has been my biggest secret weapon. Being surrounded by supportive women is a confidence booster and a source of ongoing learning and inspiration.

I am proud to have launched my book, Leap: Why It's Time to Let Go to Get Ahead In Your Career, with the backing of Fast Company and endorsements from so many incredible leaders who inspire me and I never imagined would be part of my endorsement team! People like Eve Rodsky whose NYT bestselling book Fair Play is part of Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine group, or WSJ bestselling author Gorick Ng, or Lauren McGoodwin who founded Career Contessa the first major women's career resource, or Blessing Adesiyan who is revolutionizing the way we approach work and caregiving today.

I work with women who are ambitious and thoughtful. My clients are high performers and incredibly capable in most aspects of their lives. Typically they have achieved a high level of career success. At the same time they are thinkers and dreamers who ask the ``big questions`` and reflect on what they want out of work, family, and ultimately life.

Often mothers, they cherish their role as a present parent while also holding space for their identity outside of motherhood. They value both their professional aspirations and their broader life goals and dreams.

It's becoming more and more common for women to invest in coaches of all kinds, especially career and leadership coaches, which is truly wonderful. All women benefit from having a skilled, trusted thought partner as they navigate life and career. Clients who apply to work with me, say that I stand out for two reasons:

1) I have walked the corporate walk. As a 15-year corporate leader, I have navigated the same demanding environments and corporate structures that my clients are living in. And I have tackled the same leadership and career development challenges they are facing. Clients value the level of trust that creates and the opportunity to work with a coach who truly ``gets it.`` My professional background also allows me to switch from a pure Coaching role to also play a Mentor and Advisor role with clients, where I offer more direct advice and recommendations.

2) I have spent 3+ years researching how women navigate their career when they reach the crossroads of midcareer maturity, leaps into management/executive roles, and emerging motherhood or caregiver responsibilities. Three years of research has revealed that there are clear and common patterns. There is a reason that so many women get ``stuck`` at this crossroads (you're not crazy!) I integrate into my coaching the research and insights from my book, Leap: Why It's Time to Let Go to Get Ahead in Your Career, to help women better understand why they are questioning their path and then learn what and how they can shift gears toward more success, fulfillment, and ultimately intentional living.

Follow and Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessgalica/