At the beginning of 2025, I was in a leadership position I was quietly struggling in.
I felt unsupported. I lacked usable feedback. I was trying to make the role my own inside a system that felt increasingly toxic. Instead of leaving, I tried to untoxify it—with mindset work, continued education, personal growth, and values-based leadership.
I believed that if I showed up better, things would change.
What I didn’t understand yet was this:
by absorbing the impact and staying quiet, I was allowing the behavior to continue.
Others were promoted.
I took the heat.
And my teams struggled—because I wasn’t okay.
I’ve never been good at hiding my unhappiness, even when I thought I was being “professional.”
The split
Outside of work, I was deeply tending to myself.
I woke up at 4:30 a.m. to do yoga and meditate. I was enrolled in a coaching program and knew—somewhere deep down—that coaching was my future. I built grounding rituals with herbal and medicinal teas. I put my hands in the earth and let it steady me.
I knew who I was in those moments.
Then I would walk into the hospital, put my guard up, and brace myself.
I spoke to my teams about authenticity. About defining and living their values. About leading with heart.
And yet, I was part of a team where I had to be fake just to make the day go by easier.
That disconnect—between who I was becoming and who I had to be at work—became impossible to ignore.
Finding my voice
When I finally gathered the courage to believe in myself—to start building my business and put in my notice—I stopped shrinking.
I started speaking my truth.
And the response I got was this:
“Who is this Angie? Where has she been the whole time?”
My answer surprised even me:
She’s the one who isn’t scared of getting fired anymore.
That fear had shaped the environment. It determined what could be said, what couldn’t be challenged, and who was allowed to take up space.
Once the fear was gone, so was my silence.
What Genuine Growth became
I started Genuine Growth LLC without really knowing what it would be.
What I know now is this:
I am a multi-passionate, multi-hyphenate business owner.
I love coaching people who know there is more to life than the labels their job puts on them.
I want to help dismantle the toxic, paternalistic, profit-driven healthcare system in the U.S.
I am a baker. I love making food.
I care deeply about reducing waste and reusing what we already have.
I believe medicine comes from the earth first—and pharmaceutical companies second.
I believe healing should start with prevention, education, and real human connection before we reach for Western medicine.
Am I making a lot of money yet? No.
But I’ve learned something far more important:
I trust myself to figure it out.
What this year gave me
This year, I:
Completed a rigorous coaching program and earned my ICF ACC credential
Stepped away from a financially lucrative job to bet on myself
Built deeper relationships with my family than I ever had time for before
Invested in my healing, confidence, and purpose
Began healing trauma from years spent in unhealthy systems
Learned what true friendship and support actually look like
Built community through 1 Million Cups, KU SBDC, mentors, coaches, Empath Craft, and local gardening groups
Helped 10 people reconnect with their why, rebuild confidence, and bring heart back into healthcare
Learned how to build an IT platform, grow a social presence, and—kind of—use QuickBooks
It came with tears.
With self-doubt.
With fear.
And with growth I wouldn’t trade.
Stepping out
My word for 2025 was Step Out.
And I did.
I stepped out of my comfort zone.
Out of fear.
Out of the belief that my worth was tied to a title or role.
To prove—to myself—that I am more than the labels others place on me.
I am.
As I look toward 2026, my word is Brave.
Brave enough to listen to my intuition.
Brave enough to trust myself.
Brave enough to stay aligned with courage, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Because I’ve learned that this—
this quiet, steady choosing of self—
is what being brave really is.
A note of gratitude
If you’ve supported me this year—by sharing my work, buying cookies or tea, sending encouragement, showing up to events, or simply being present—please know that this journey has been held by community.
I see you.
And I’m deeply grateful.
What’s next?
In future posts, I’ll be sharing more about brave leadership, culture change, and the coaching work I’m building—especially for those who want to bring heart back into healthcare without abandoning themselves in the process.
Thank you for being here.
— Angie