S.O.S I Need A Coach!

I hit a wall

Back in 2019, I vividly recall feeling overwhelmed and for the first time in my career, helpless at work. I was building one of the first casual studios at Voodoo. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to succeed, prove myself, and build the Dream Team that would take us to the moon. Then, Covid-19 hit, and nothing was going according to plan. Still, management expected us to deliver our first title within 24 months. The clock was ticking.

Before receiving coaching or therapy, I believed I didn’t need any help. I prided myself on strength and self-reliance—if I had a problem, I would solve it on my own. Therapy and coaching were only for “others”. But deep down, this overconfidence masked a fear of confronting my weaknesses and blind spots. I was reluctant to admit that there might be something I needed to examine.

The turning point when I surrendered to get support came when I began losing sleep, waking up in the middle of the night to work and write plans. My stress levels were through the roof, and I found myself crying regularly for no apparent reason, utterly depleted of energy.

It became clear that if I continued on this path, I wouldn’t just jeopardize my health—I would also fail in my mission with the Voodoo studio. That’s when I finally admitted I needed help and reached out to a leadership coach and therapist at the same time. (See my previous article about coaches vs therapists)

In hindsight, did I need to wait until I was that overwhelmed to seek help? No. But more on that later…

Working with a coach during that critical phase of my life was a transformative experience. It equipped me with the tools to emotionally regulate myself as a leader, maintain clarity, and keep the team focused.

With this new built-in resilience, I could become the captain the team needed to steer our ship through the tumultuous times of Covid and the challenges of the mobile gaming industry. (More on How to lead your team as a Stoic)

Working with a coach is a business hygiene

Throughout my leadership journey, I’ve worked with an executive coach three times, each at pivotal moments in my career.

In 2019, I hired Holly, a leadership coach, while building that first studio from scratch during Covid. The main mindset shift she facilitated was transitioning from a “manager” mentality to a “leader” one. Luckily, I knew her from my time working at Wooga, I trusted her approach so it was a no-brainer to choose to work with her again.

In 2022, I hit another wall and hired an Executive Coach, Songya (recommended by my network), to accompany me during a significant management shift at Voodoo. My team had to pivot within 3 months. Recognizing the stress and paralysis I felt, I sought assistance again.

Now, I’m going through the biggest shift of my career—leaving corporate life to build my own business. My old rules and playbooks no longer apply, and I need to create a new playbook for this entrepreneurial journey. The stakes are higher—no safety net, no salary. Every day, that question haunts me “How will I make a living while doing what I love?”. I feel overwhelmed and mentally loaded again.

That’s why I decided to work with Matteo, my new business coach and myth-maker! In that case, I didn’t know him before, but his personal story highly resonated with me, and I knew I wanted to develop in the direction he’s at, to build a more distinct and unique brand with Rise and Play, and in the future Olivya.

There’s a fallacy that “saving money” and not investing in yourself is a good strategic decision. However, this mindset limits growth in the long term. Investing in yourself is essential to creating future value creating a virtuous cycle of growth and wealth.

Whenever I face a major shift in my life, I know it’s time for a coach. And every time, the investment has paid off.

However, finding the right coach is essential. So, where do you begin?

How do you find your career coach? 

The coaches I worked with were people I trusted or were recommended by someone I trusted. Trust is fundamental in coaching—more important than skills. The key question you want to clarify before you choose a coach:

Finding a career coach can be challenging. Google searches, networking, or trial and error are time-consuming and often frustrating. Also, coaching is a significant investment (expect to spend at least €1,000), so you want to be sure before committing.

Massive coaching platforms like BetterUp face a similar challenge of balancing price and quality. Sure, you can find a coach within 24 hours, but this doesn’t cut time in building trust with the right coach for you.

And what about the professionals with a limited network or budget? Right now the market is designed to offer coaching mostly for executives and leaders.

However personal growth is not reserved for wealthy individuals only. 

That’s why my co-founder Marko and I created Olivya, a self-coaching app designed to bridge the gap for those who can’t access traditional coaching.

No one should feel stuck forever. We believe every human deserves a path to personal and professional growth.

We are launching our BETA version now. Sign up to have access, we have a few spots left.

Take care ✨

Sophie