My story

🌄 Machu Picchu, May 2025

I stood at the edge of the ancient Incan citadel, the clouds slowly parting to reveal the jagged green peaks beneath the morning sun. My body was still raw from the intensity of the past twelve days. I had just emerged from an Ayahuasca retreat — not just a physical experience, but a spiritual and emotional rebirth.

I was not the same person who arrived in Peru two weeks earlier. And certainly not the same woman who began her career decades ago, chasing success across continents.

So what happened in my life, and how did I get here?

The Cost of Being a ‘Good’ Child

I was born into an ordinary family in 1970s Shanghai, China, but my childhood was far from happy. At just six months old, I was sent to live with relatives. By the age of 13, I was placed in a boarding school.

I became a top student — not out of love for learning, but because I felt I had no choice. It’s a pressure many Asian children know all too well. That ingrained sense of duty followed me into adulthood, eventually leading to burnout and episodes of depression.

Looking back, I see how early emotional disconnection shaped the way I lived, performed, and endured.

Becoming a Corporate High-Flyer

At the age of 22, I left China to pursue higher education in Japan. After earning a master’s degree in international relations, I entered the healthcare industry — almost by coincidence — and began my career as a medical sales representative in Tokyo.

My career took off at jet speed. I was promoted quickly and frequently, and over the years, I held multiple senior leadership roles that took me around the world — to Singapore, the United States, back to Japan, and finally to Switzerland in 2014.

While I was busy building my career, my family was growing too. I became a mother to two beautiful children. After the birth of each child, I took minimal time off and was promoted and relocated internationally for another leadership role in less than a year.

The 'Crack' Began When I hit 40

On the outside, everything looked ideal — a beautiful family, a soaring career, and financial stability. But inside, I felt restless and empty. Years of overworking had taken their toll, leaving me physically and emotionally exhausted.

Shortly before my 40th birthday, an unwelcome guest arrived: illness. I was hospitalized and underwent surgery. As if that weren’t enough, I also found myself at a career crossroads.

Should I continue down the path of being a corporate nomad — relocating every few years to climb the ladder — or should I stay in Switzerland and create stability for myself and my family?

I chose the latter, fully aware that it meant stepping away from the privileged circle known as “Globally Mobile Talent,” and facing the consequences of opting out.

It Hurts — So F*cking Much

After settling into a new role in Switzerland in 2019, my worst nightmare began. I had spent years running at full speed in pursuit of professional success. In doing so, I’d either ignored or intentionally avoided the problems in my personal life. Now, with COVID in full swing and the world standing still, I had nowhere left to run. I had to face it all — and the reality hit me hard.

Frequent arguments. Frightened kids. Anger and anxiety were the dominant emotions in my home.

Work wasn’t offering refuge either. After years of being celebrated as a poster child for “diversity in leadership” — with doors opening seemingly everywhere — the special status faded. Suddenly, I was no longer protected.

For the first time in my career, I experienced unconscious bias — because of my gender, my cultural background, and even my youthful appearance.

Adversity as an Invitation to True Transformation

In 2020, I was enrolled in a coaching training program at work. At first, I assumed it was just another leadership course. But it turned out to be a life-changing experience — one that opened the door to self-discovery, deep reflection, and healing.

Through the Co-Active Coaching model, I was introduced to powerful concepts like the "Leader Within," the "Ally," and the "Saboteur." These ideas gave me an entirely new framework for understanding myself and the challenges I faced. Curious and inspired, I chose to dive deeper. I enrolled in Co-Active Training Institute's (CTI) advanced coaching programs.

It took me four years to complete the full certification journey, finally passing the exam in late 2024. Throughout those years, I applied the Co-Active model across both professional and personal contexts — and the results were remarkable. My leadership impact became stronger and more authentic. Most importantly, I began to build a healthier, more compassionate relationship with myself and my children.

In 2024, during a major company reorganization, I took a leap of faith and hit the pause button on my corporate career — for the first time in 20 years. I invested hundreds of hours into studying and practicing coaching, participating in diverse courses to expand my toolbox. I was like a sponge, absorbing new knowledge and perspectives, driven by a clear mission: to become the best version of myself — in body, mind, and soul.

A Journey Toward Wholeness — and a New Chapter

In 2025, after years of contemplation, therapy, and deep self-reflection, I finally felt ready to explore working with Ayahuasca to heal emotional wounds that had surfaced through my personal growth journey.

I traveled to Peru for a 12-day Ayahuasca retreat — and it turned out to be the best decision I have ever made.

On the final day of the retreat, we were invited to plant a symbolic seed for what we wanted more of in our lives, and to compost what no longer served us.

I planted the seed for Love, Compassion, and Joy.

I composted Grief, Fear, and Despair.

With that, my story came full circle. This is why I chose to start this website — to share my journey, to hold space for others, and to help guide those who are also seeking healing, purpose, and transformation.

🙏 Thank you for reading.

If you feel inspired, I invite you to book a free introductory call with me to explore how we might work together.