Next in our Rule Breakers series is Elizabeth Pearson. She is an executive coach who helps women in leadership positions feel more confident and in control of their careers while thriving in male-dominated fields. A former sales executive turned entrepreneur, coach, and author of Career Confinement, she provides quick, easy-to-follow action steps that will guide you into living a spiritually fulfilling life that aligns with your higher purpose. Elizabeth teaches you how to shift your mindset, unshackle yourself from the limiting beliefs that confine you, and unapologetically claim your power. Women are powerful. It’s time to reconnect with that power and use it to manifest the life you truly want.
1. Can you tell us a little about what you do?
I work with women who feel stuck in life professionally, personally, or physically. Sometimes women can’t meet the expectations that the younger version of them had for themselves, so they come out and evaluate what they want for the rest of their lives. They start seeking what’s next for them and how they can expand or find joy and fulfillment in life. Most of the time, they want to earn more money. They feel they have been undervalued in their past corporations, and that’s where I come in. I work with them to find what their mindset blocks and where their soul is trying to nudge them towards, and then we take massive tactical actions in that direction.
We increase their professional networks to help them know they are valued in the industry and help them make some career jumps. Sometimes it is more spiritually and emotionally driven. Under those scenarios, we do a lot of soul searching.
2. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
I would have held men in my industry and company to a higher standard. For a long time, I just got along to get along, and I did things that I wasn’t necessarily interested in or comfortable with just to be one of the guys. If I could go back, I would hold men more accountable and hold them to higher standards because I believe that ultimately when you do that, men rise to meet you there and actually act better.
3. If you had a magic stick, which are the three things you would change in the world?
First, I would give women equal rights. The second thing I would do is instill maternal instincts in men. Thirdly, I would have a woman US president.
4. What is the part of your life experience you would alter if you had the chance to?
I would take more risks at a younger age. I brought into this idea that your 20s and 30s are your earning years, whereas now I realize that the optimal earning years are between 40 and 60.
Because of that mindset, I gave up many opportunities to travel and do things I like. If I could go back, I would change that and find comfort in the fact that the money will come in later stages of life as well.
5. If you were to write a book about yourself, how would you name it?
I actually already have a memoir written, and the title is ‘Manifesting through the mess.’ I think that life is very messy, and as long as you still hold onto your belief system and lean into your ancestors and guides you can manifest what you want even through the messiest life situation you are in.
6. In your experience, why do you think women are underpaid for the same roles their male counterparts are paid abundantly?
My humble opinion is that there are some deeply ingrained biases in many industries, but specifically, some industries like tech and medicine have been male-dominated. But now, women are holding their employers accountable to pay them equally, and the reason they are not is that there isn’t transparency in what men are making. Just like with politicians and CEOs of private companies, there should be transparency in terms of compensation, and then women will have a point of leverage to be paid equally.
7. What key activities would you recommend high-achieving women to invest their time in?
The first one is what their professional brand is. Your brand is your LinkedIn profile and your website. A lot of women ignore their LinkedIn and resume. They don’t post on social media outside of Instagram, and sometimes Instagram can do the opposite of what you want it to do in a professional sense. So take baby steps with your social media and make sure that it is curated to represent the brand that you are going for.
By optimizing your social media, you start recognizing your achievements because your LinkedIn and resume force you to acknowledge the role you played and your achievements in the industry. By getting more active on LinkedIn, you become the thought leader in your industry, and when you do that recruiters and potential future employers notice. This gives you the opportunity to negotiate your salary accordingly.
8. Your new book- Career Confinement what it is about., can we get the synopsis of it?
‘Career Confinement‘ is for women who feel stuck and restless. The title came from the idea that many times there are proverbial cages that either we back into or have created around ourselves that make you feel stuck in your industry. The book goes through 13 different client stories where they came to me with specific cages that outline them, and the book focuses on how we managed to break them free from those cages. The motive of the book is for women to go through these client stories and connect the dots with where they feel stuck. The book was designed for women to feel like they are getting a private coaching session from me without having to come to Zoom every week and without the price tag.
9. Lastly, where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
I have let go of having the plans. I think it’s good to have loose goals, but at the end of the day, I am connected with wherever my soul and universe want me to go. I am trying to live in the present because this is all we have and all that we can control.
