I passed the test. ✅ But that’s not the whole story.
One week ago, I woke up around sunrise to take an exam I’d been equal parts avoiding and dreading for the past year.
I made some Trader Joe’s chicken sausages, added a little extra lavender syrup to my cold brew, and took some deep breaths in the car on the way to the testing center.
The test was for my Professional Coaching Certification (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation.
Just reaching that step of taking the test required years of preparation—over 125 hours of coach-specific training (thank you, CTI!), mentor coaching with an accredited coach, and providing more than 500 hours of professional coaching to my clients.
The exam itself? A 3-hour situational judgment test where you choose the best and worst responses to coaching scenarios, grounded in the ICF’s Core Competencies and Ethics. It was harder than I thought. Especially when you're trying to tune out both internal doubt and actual external noise (!).
But I did it. I passed.
I added those three little letters—PCC—after my name on LinkedIn, and I feel proud.
Here's the little badge I got…
And also…that tiny acronym barely scratches the surface of what this journey has meant.
Because while the certification is meaningful, the real story lives in the coaching hours themselves. In those 500+ hours, I’ve had the deep honor of sitting with:
Ambitious women brave enough to walk away from praise and stability to follow the quiet yearning in their hearts
Vibrant creatives committed to living their art and values—even when fear whispered they weren’t ready
Big-hearted entrepreneurs navigating deep grief while still showing up to lead their businesses
Powerful executives who wanted to infuse more heart, courage, and authenticity into their leadership
Sensitive changemakers whose care was bigger than their capacity—and who longed to make a difference without burning out
Moms rediscovering their own needs and wants after years of giving everything to their work, kids, and everyone else
Brave rebels at heart whose souls were being crushed in jobs they hated who decided to make the courageous shift towards entrepreneurship
Founders craving balance after building their identities around doing it all
New managers who couldn’t yet see how powerfully they were already leading
Humans like you and me—resilient, thoughtful, longing to make a meaningful impact without losing themselves along the way
My clients span races, genders, life stages, income levels, locations, and industries. But they do share one thing:
They want to make a meaningful contribution without leaving themselves behind.
And the truth is—I’ve been on that same journey, too.
In the past six years of coaching, I’ve also…
Lived in 3 states and 7 homes (soon to be 8!)
Became a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach
Navigated a global pandemic and two presidential election cycles
Started a podcast (71 episodes and counting, and I just did a new interview yesterday, stay tuned!)
Faced two pregnancy losses and one major breakup
Completed a local leadership program I loved
Partnered with brilliant collaborators like The RoundTable Institute and The Firefly Group
Lost two dear friends and two beloved grandparents
Facilitated workshops, retreats, trainings, and circles around the world
Danced in two San Francisco Carnaval parades and two local dance shows
Enjoyed lots of travel adventures and live music
Had more courageous conversations than I can count
All of that happened while I was working toward this certification.
Because that’s how life works—we build, we break, we keep showing up.
So now I’m wondering:
What have you weathered in the past six years, while also showing up for your people, your work, and your community?
What are you weathering right now?
And… what are you longing for?
If you or someone you love could use support in navigating those questions, I have 3 coaching spots open right now. I offer sliding-scale, equity-based pricing, and a 3-session minimum commitment. You can book a free chemistry session [here] to explore what you’re longing for.
There’s a lot of pain and heartbreak in the world right now.
And, as Robin Wall Kimmerer wrote in Braiding Sweetgrass:
“Even a wounded world is feeding us.
Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy.
I choose joy over despair.
Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.”
Wherever this finds you—I’m sending love.
And if you’re still here, still growing, still showing up in spite of everything else? I see you. 💜
With heart,
Stacy
Photo by Chase Brantley.
