Meet Connie Rawson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Connie Rawson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Connie, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I’ve always believed that some of the greatest leaps in our lives aren’t chosen—they are thrust upon us. That was certainly the case for me about ten years ago when I unexpectedly became the leader of my team. My manager (who was the head of our department) resigned, leaving a hole that I was suddenly asked to fill. Overnight, my responsibilities ballooned from one function and ten people to four functions and thirty-five people, three of which I had no prior experience in.
This seismic shift included a new, daunting task: presenting to the company’s Board of Directors. At my first Board meeting, my nerves became my biggest obstacle. The presentation was not a disaster, but my stumbling, hesitant delivery was a clear sign of my inner turmoil.

Afterward, the Chief Operating Officer called me. He generously offered to help me prepare for the next Board meeting—an offer that felt both like a lifeline and a public acknowledgement of my struggle. We spent forty-five minutes rehearsing. He coached me on the mechanics of a strong presentation, but his most impactful advice was on mindset. He reminded me that while the Board members were impressive, I was the expert in the room on this particular topic. He put my presence there in perspective, reminding me that everyone shared the same objective: to act in the best interest of the company.

That simple reframing of my role and my audience was the key. The second Board meeting went a hundred times better. It was a defining moment where I learned that confidence isn’t about being fearless; it’s about understanding your value, accepting a helping hand, and trusting that when you focus on a shared goal, you’ll find your footing.

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 leadership coach focused on helping senior and emerging executives grow their careers, drive strategic impact, and build trusting, resilient teams—especially when navigating significant change.

Strong leadership is fundamental to the success of any business, yet so many breakdowns come from misaligned expectations and poor communication. I’m passionate about helping leaders uncover their blind spots and overcome these obstacles, leveraging my leadership experience, to enhance their skills and unlock their full potential. The most rewarding part is witnessing the incredible impact this has on both team engagement and business results when everything comes together.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

These are the qualities that were most impactful for me in my career progression, particularly when working for a disruptive technology market leader during a time of hyper-growth.

The first was a mindset of curiosity and openness. Instead of waiting for opportunities to be handed to me, I actively sought out new challenges and was willing to take on projects that others often avoided. My advice for someone early in their career is to seek out projects that stretch their knowledge and will impact the company in a meaningful way, even if they are less glamorous. They are where you’ll gain valuable, hands-on experience and get noticed by senior leaders who value initiative.

The second was investing in a broad network of relationships. It wasn’t just about connecting with my direct managers and team. I focused on building genuine relationships across the company. I learned that people who will champion you for new roles and opportunities are often found in completely different departments. My advice is to be intentional about getting to know people outside of your immediate circle.

Finally, the most critical quality was the courage to own my mistakes. For me, it was always about quickly acknowledging a misstep, figuring out what I would do differently next time, and applying that learning going forward. The advice I’d give to anyone is to view mistakes as the fastest way to learn. Instead of hiding from them, own them, document your key takeaways, and share what you’ve learned. This builds trust and positions you as a valued employee who is committed to continuous improvement.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is a talented and ambitious leader who wants to grow their career but feels frustrated with where they are today, not just personally, but also in building and leading their team. They might have a group of highly skilled individuals, but the team itself isn’t operating at its full potential. Maybe they’ve worked with mentors, other coaches, or utilized internal talent programs, and still aren’t where they want to be. They’re looking for a partner who has been in their shoes and can help them get to the root cause of what’s holding them and their team back.

Beyond their professional situation, my most successful clients all share three core qualities:
Humility: They’re open to honest feedback and are willing to acknowledge their blind spots.
Courage: They’re ready to have difficult conversations and step outside their comfort zone to make real change.
Discipline: They’re committed to doing the work required to achieve lasting growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://connierawsoncoaching.com/
• Instagram: connierawson_coaching
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connierawsoncoaching/