Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Herold.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jennifer. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As most stories go, mine had some twists and turns along the way. I was a college athlete and had dreams of being a sports broadcaster. The realities of getting into that field hit me hard when I graduated and I decided to pursue sports marketing……which, by the way, isn’t so easy to get into either, especially without a marketing degree. So, I found my way into a marketing role with Kodak and ended up spending 15 years in business to business marketing at various Fortune 500 organizations. It was a great learning experience and I worked for some wonderful companies.
Throughout my corporate career, leadership development was something that was always important to me. I am the oldest of four kids, have a father that is a business owner and having played sports, leadership was something I admired and knew had an impact on a lot of people. However, my view of it all was very limited. I thought it was a big vision and strategy. It was inspiring speeches and rallying people toward a common goal. While all of that was true, I didn’t really understand the power of how we, as individuals, show up each day and influence those around us. I had a great manager that taught me that leadership is an inside-out job. The rule of thumb is “Work on yourself first. Work on yourself hardest.” Now, that may sound a little selfish, but the truth is, you can’t ask other people to change if you aren’t willing to change yourself.
So, I began the process of working on myself and, as I began leading teams, I learned how hard a leader’s job really is. I really got to practice what I preached! Eventually, I felt like I had reached the end of my marketing career & wanted to explore other opportunities, specifically as it related to developing leaders. At the encouragement of a friend, I took a weekend fundamental coaching course and, at the end of the first day, I left in tears. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was “home”. I had spent so many years working hard in the marketing world and had done the best I could do. Now, it was time to do what I was made to do.
A few months later, I left my corporate job and joined a boutique coaching and consulting organization in North Georgia. They are wonderful women that took a chance on me and taught me more than they will ever know. I had the opportunity to learn, practice and bring my marketing skills to the organization while I got certified as a coach.
In 2015, my husband got a great job in Dallas and we relocated from Atlanta. About a month and a half after we moved, I made the decision to start my own company. I mean, what better time to start your own business than when you are in a new city and know no one except your real estate agent? Right? It has been an amazing journey to be invited in by business leaders to help them on their journey, work with them and their teams to learn, grow and develop. I am about to celebrate 4 years as Vaughan Herold LLC and I feel so blessed that I get to call this my job. And I know the story is still going…
Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road! Unfortunately, that is how I learn, and I think we all do, to some extent. I have faced downsizing and rough job markets. I have had challenging employees and difficult bosses. I have had to confront my own areas of development and struggled to find my voice and confidence as an executive coach. However, every single part of that journey has been valuable. Each struggle gives me more opportunities to connect with my clients and better understand the challenges they are facing. It may have taken me 15+ years to find coaching, but it took every single one of those years to make me a great coach.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Vaughan Herold is a professional coaching and leadership development practice. My emphasis is on developing skills and practices that draw forth courageous leadership and transform teams and cultures. In today’s complex marketplace, leaders are asked to meet increasingly difficult demands, where the speed of change and innovation are paramount. The requirement to meet those demands is the establishment of effective and productive teams. Through the process of challenging mental models to unlock options and build competencies for growth, I enable clients to access and institute sustainable change, live a braver life and elevate organizations.
My tagline is “Coaching for Courageous Leaders”. The process of evolving leadership is not easy and I work with leaders that are committed to doing the hard work of looking at themselves, understanding where they are strong and can leverage those strengths better. I also help them examine the things they are currently doing that could be getting in the way of them being more effective leaders and building stronger teams.
I am proud to be a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator and 3 Vital Questions Facilitator. These are some amazing tools that have the power to transform teams and organizations. I also customize each program to the needs of my clients, so each individual or team gets exactly what they need at their stage of development.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Liked best: The people! I have met some incredible people in Dallas and made some deeply impactful friendships.
Like least: Concrete…..lots and lots of concrete. I miss the trees, rolling hills and beautiful nature of Georgia.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vaughanherold.com
- Phone: 770.329.0841
- Email: jennifer@vaughanherold.com
- Instagram: vaughanherold
- Other: www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-herold
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