Meet Brittany Leary

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brittany Leary. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Brittany , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

To get straight to the point, I went on a self discovery journey that not only allowed me to find myself but also revealed that once my vision was clear, that my purpose here was to serve others in the same way that my journey is serving me. After so much intentional work, I discovered that my purpose was always with me, I just didn’t know it yet. I didn’t see it clearly in a world where I wasn’t taking care of myself.

As a young girl, I consistently found joy in serving others. Being the eldest daughter and the first granddaughter made me the family’s manager. I grew up in an environment where community service was paramount, and qualities such as leadership, compassion, and empathy came naturally to me. My inquisitive nature led me to question everything, and my curiosity fueled my research. Through simple observation, I developed a keen understanding of human behavior.

Experiencing a different perspective than nearly everyone around you can feel quite isolating. It often leads to self-doubt, which can undermine your confidence. For some time, I grappled with finding a balance between being inquisitive about how and why others think as they do, while also maintaining confidence in my own contrasting views. It often felt like I was speaking over people’s heads, though to me, my thoughts were entirely logical. This mindset fostered a sense of defensiveness that hindered my ability to cultivate those skills for my own purpose; instead, I primarily applied them to my job and fulfilling others’ needs.

From the age of 12 until now, I have dedicated my career to helping and serving others. For nearly 20 years, I have worked as a counselor in various fields, including public health, infectious diseases, and currently, mental health and substance abuse. Adopting a mindset focused on assisting others before myself led to significant burnout. I found myself mentally and emotionally drained, neglecting my own happiness in the process. Despite my substantial output, I wasn’t receiving enough input. At around 33, I began to realize that I was missing the core of what truly mattered. While I was doing excellent work for others, I felt an emptiness inside. This question plagued my thoughts, especially at night, marking the true beginning of my journey.

With my deep curiosity about human behavior, I embarked on a journey to learn more about neuroscience and the workings of the brain, all to gain insight into how we think, feel, and act. This time, however, my focus was on understanding myself. I exclusively consumed materials that aligned with my ultimate goal: to cultivate self-awareness, enhance my innate abilities to care for both others and myself, and elevate my emotional intelligence. I stepped away from direct patient care to prioritize self-discovery and minimize outside distractions, such as news and certain media influences, retreating into a secluded space. I transformed my mind into a sanctuary by reprogramming my subconscious, practicing mindfulness and gratitude, and breaking free from the numerous agreements I had made with myself and others over the past 30+ years that had kept me stagnant.

Only then did I gain the mental clarity needed to progress. I began to ask myself, “Now that I understand who I am, who do I aspire to become?” This journey was not without its share of challenges, loss, grief, disappointment, and pain. However, my determination to keep moving forward, despite these obstacles, signaled that the work I had done in my quiet moments was paying off. Resilience emerged as one of my core values. Embracing authenticity was essential for me to serve others while nurturing my own growth, and the pursuit of knowledge became my path forward.

After recognizing the burnout in my beloved career, I began to assess the aspects I felt connected to, those I was detached from, and how to make sense of it all while pursuing my own fulfillment. This journey led me to life coaching, where I could apply the skills I had developed both professionally and personally, all on my own terms. It has allowed me to fulfill my purpose of service without causing burnout. I don’t need to adopt a different persona to perform my job; however, I must practice what I preach, which keeps me accountable.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a life coach and podcast host, and this intersection of my journey feels remarkably effortless. My podcast, Your Access Has Been GRNTD, has become a powerful platform for reaching many people. As a life coach, there comes a point when you reach your capacity, especially while also prioritizing your own needs and desires. The podcast enables me to create episodes and share them with the world, trusting that my good intentions and authentic self will attract the right audience.

10/22/25 marks my one-year anniversary in the studio, a milestone that fills me with pride. I wear many hats: executive director, creative director, graphic designer, and investor. All of this is possible because of my passion for what I do. My mantra as a life coach has always been “where passion meets impact,” and the podcast’s theme of self-discovery aligns perfectly with my brand.

SZN Two of the podcast will launch on 9/31/25. I am eager to connect with new listeners with each episode and am actively seeking sponsors to help expand my reach.

As a life coach, I walk alongside my clients rather than in front of or behind them. I once came across an analogy that illustrated this perfectly: the client is riding the bike while I support them from the side. A lot like our parents did when they took the training wheels off. I find great joy in helping my clients gain clarity about who they are, envision the individuals they aspire to become, and create an effective plan to reach their goals. Witnessing the transformations my clients achieve within 8 to 12 months is what drives my passion. Seeing them flourish in areas that once felt unfamiliar, all because we embarked on a journey of self-discovery together, makes my world come alive.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

There are several skills, qualities, and areas of knowledge that have brought me to this point, but I would highlight three key elements. First, self-management has been crucial, as I initially struggled with it on emotional intelligence on my journey. Second, resilience is essential; setbacks are inevitable, but the ability to pick yourself up and put forth your best effort moving forward is a sign of growth. Lastly, knowledge plays a significant role. After years as a counselor, I couldn’t pinpoint what was causing my burnout. Choosing to pursue life coaching led me to realize that I needed formal training to distinguish between counseling and coaching. Once I made that decision, everything fell into place. My passion for helping others and my purpose to serve converged perfectly in the midst of my own journey toward fulfillment, and it all made sense.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

This question always fascinates me due to its subjective nature. Based on my experience and understanding of people’s mindsets, I firmly believe in the importance of balance. We should not only concentrate on leveraging our strengths; when it comes to problem-solving, conflict resolution, decision-making, communication, and relationships, struggles often arise from our weaknesses. If we solely focus on our strengths, do we truly develop? A genuinely fulfilled individual is rooted in their core, not merely on the surface where others perceive them.

In my complimentary discovery calls, my aim is to uncover the “problem” that leads the client to feel there is an issue and why they consider coaching as a potential solution. By the time clients reach out to me, they have typically experienced therapy, excelled in their careers, and accomplished much, yet they still sense that something is amiss. All of my clients are intelligent leaders, many of whom are dedicated to serving others, but like myself, they find it challenging to pinpoint what is lacking.
During our initial session, we conduct a personality test, and by the fourth session, we identify their strengths, weaknesses, core values, and the goals they aspire to achieve through this journey. Evaluating weaknesses not only benefits my clients but also provides valuable insights for me as their life coach.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

James Pierre

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byjamesp?igsh=MWV3dndqajRqMXhudA==

for the outdoor photos with jeans and white shirts

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