Interview Spotlight With Liz Emelogu

Liz Emelogu is a Clarity and Performance Coach, who helps professional and businesswomen to mentally declutter, gain clarity on who their authentic self, so they can become empowered with confidence and certainty to passionately pursue purpose with impact.

Also known as the Aurora Coach from her love of the northern lights -the Aurora, but more significantly because of the meaning of the Aurora which is ‘the Dawn’, as her coaching journey began because of her own dawning on purpose.

With over 20 years background in client service experience in banking and business development across various sectors, Liz has been able to transit from the corporate world to becoming an entrepreneur, initially running an interior design consultancy before moving on to coaching and mentoring.

Liz is also a founder of a not-for-profit organisation – Touching lives foundation, which helps widows in Nigeria become financially stable and kids from less privileged backgrounds to get an education. She lives in Surrey, Southeast England with her husband and 3 Children. In her downtime, she loves to read, watch sci-fi, documentaries and animated movies.

Thank you for interviewing with us today, can you introduce yourself to us?

I am Liz Emelogu, a Clarity and Performance Coach and I work with professional and businesswomen helping them break away from false perceptions, gain clarity and be restored to their true essence from the inside, so they can live authentically directed by their values, intelligence and genius and be fulfilled.

I am quite creative by orientation and so before going into Coaching, I ran an interior design business, designing and project managing residential spaces and consulting to DIY enthusiasts. I have now reduced my interior design only to design advisory and the sourcing of unique interior design fixtures, fittings and furnishing which I still absolutely love.

I am also the founder of a non-for-Profit called the touching lives foundation in Nigeria, that supports widows become financially empowered through sponsorships to local trades trainings or access to small-scale funding that supports micro-business and sponsors children from less privileged background to get an education, whether formal or informal I am a wife, a mother of 3 amazing people and my hobbies include reading and watching movies, a big Disney fan!

Can you take us through your journey to where you are now?

It has been a journey really to who I am today. My background is in corporate. I have over 20years customer service experience and  business development in various sectors from banking to a  renewable energy. But it came to a point where I was experiencing burnout, I was busy but not fulfilled, and “successful” but not happy, I wanted more or something else. I changed jobs a few times hoping that would help, but it did not. 

And at this time, I sort personal development for myself, while on this journey I discovered that I was also finding more joy and fulfilment helping other women to find themselves and be happy and authentic with who they are and who they have chosen to be. And in this I also found my purpose. 

I have since trained to be a fully certified Coach and an NLP practitioner. They joy of waking up every day to help another woman find meaning and excitement to be the very best version of themselves is wonderful. This I am PASSIONATE about. 

Since starting, have you made any changes to your business model?

Definitely. The first misconception for me was that a business on this nature required just ME. But that is so wrong. I have had to un-learn, learn and re-learn a lot of things around building the business and relationship with my clients in-order to scale and make the kind of impact I would desire. I have since adopted a simple business model that enables me to outsource some processes and makes it possible for me to still be self-employed, but more importantly have the time to do what I love more -talking to clients.

Have you ever had a mentor? If so, how has this benefitted you either personally or professionally?

Yes. I have always believed in mentorship. And the journey to becoming a coach today began with a mentor and I still do have mentors today and I have been greatly impacted by my mentors. 

So, like I said my journey began with a mentor and I am excited that my mentor, who is the ‘GOAT’ Les Brown. 

I was privileged to be a part of a programme where he personally mentored a group of people across the world for 10 weeks and this changed my life. To see the value, he placed on us his mentees, humanity generally and deep desire that everyone can rise to the unique place of their greatness was profound. One lesson I learnt was that I had a voice, and I could use it to change someone’s life. I Imagine a world where everyone found their voice and dared to use it! 

What outlets do use for marketing?

I use social media LinkedIn, Facebook, and a bit if Instagram. I do also like networking online and offline, with the world opening back up we can gather again. 

What or Who has inspired you most recently?

Most Recently I have read the book Becoming by Michelle Obama and I have been inspired by the strength she has shown in understanding who she is, choosing to be her authentic self rather than a narrative that was speculated and desired of her and what she represents today and her purpose in being a strong women influencer.

What is the best piece of business advice you have received to date?

“Do not let your education stand in the way of your learning, for example in school we are told practise makes perfect, in business perfection is a slow burner. Perfectionists are slow-paced when it comes to checking tasks off their to-do lists. As a result, things rarely get past the drawing board. Work keeps piling up and you must deal with higher stress levels. Learning instead has taught me better done than perfect.

How do you create an evenly balanced work and personal life?

I realised quickly in my business journey that to achieve a work-life balance, I needed to learn to be present at every moment and work around my family. This means that I can work while the kids are at school, but while I was working I was present to make sure I was working through my to do list and the time the kids come home I was also conscious to be present with them (giving them my full attention) until they went to bed and not sharing that time with work schedules as much as possible, then I may carry on working after they have gone to bed. And as much as possible daytime weekend are family time.

Name a seminal point in your career so far?

This would have to be the point when I decided to go back and re-train as an interior designer. It took a lot of deliberation. I was willing to break away and try something different, a path not expected of me by family and friends and just trust in myself. Luckily, I had the support of my husband, who has always been my biggest cheer leader. But this gave me the confidence to turn my wheels again to coaching which is my purpose and run with it.

I feel that if I had never taken the step away and done the interior design, I may never have developed the courage to try another new thing, which is coaching.

What gives you ultimate career satisfaction?

Impact. Seeing the transformation in the lives of my clients is gold!When my clients begin to get their aha moments and see their dreams a reality, I cannot put a price on that. This is my satisfaction.

Are there any leading entrepreneurs or SME leaders that you admire and if so, why?

Oh dear, the list is long, but among them is Sara Blakely her story of determination is inspiring, not backing down or giving up despite many rejections really inspires me, Lisa Nichols for her commitment and consistency, coming from a difficult place herself to champion many transformations. Tamara Lowe, Forbes Riley, Karren Brady and Sara Davies.

How do you define your own success?

For me, success has to do with how many people I have been able to transform and pull up as I rise. This will have to be the amount of people I have been able to impact or influence, to change unto a better life or unto the path to purpose. 

Finally, what can we expect from you next?

Currently, most of my operation is online. I would love to move to a more hybrid (online and offline) develop the structure to make ii possible.I am also hoping to start the consulting arm of the business to do client services training and workshops, start my Podcast etc.Frankly speaking, am just grateful for the journey past, present and to come, so stay tuned!

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