We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ellie Tabibian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ellie, 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?
I started my career as a school psychologist. At that time, I just knew I like to help people. I did not know why I became quiet and felt a knot in my stomach when I labled students with disabilities. I was fixated on what’s right with students, not what’s wrong with them. There was an unrelenting look of boredom, even on “gifted” students. Concerned about how students would prepare for the world of work, with limited self awareness and little enthusiasm for school, I pursued a graduate degree in Career Education and Counseling. It was then that my purpose and calling became crystal clear. I took the Strengths Finder assessment and saw that my #1 talent was Maximizer and #2 was Connectedness. I had filtered everything through the lens of Strengths and needed to connect individuals’ Strengths towards their highest calling in life.
These talents are also what helped me on a personal level as I went through a painful divorce. I gravitated towards leaders who had overcome profound hardships and contributed good for humanity in a remarkable way.
Mindful of the value talents (from StrengthsFinder unveils), I’ve become laser-focused to help leaders discover their calling and make their mark in the world. I believe we were given a ranked order of talents/strengths for a reason; to make our mark with our highest potential, not someone else’s.
To help make up for the disengaged experiences in K-12, I use StrengthsFinder and Gallup’s Q-12 to create thriving careers and workplace cultures. I consult with leaders needing tools and methods to help them build high performing teams, improve communication, and create a best place to work culture. With rapid change resulting in ambiguity and high stress, I use my expertise to quickly build bridges between existing talent and critical business needs.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am an Iranian American who left Iran at age 7, right before the Islamic Revolution. With limited English as a refugee, my first friends were from Japan, China, and students of color. Somehow I naturally bonded with them, unaware of cultural or physical differences between us. My “Connectedness” strength may have been with me as a child and the reason I could form genuine bonds with people from all walks of life.
My first career started as a School Psychologist when I became burnout out on the requirement to fix what’s broken about students. I then pursued Career Development and Counseling and have been a graduate level instructor at Pepperdine University.
In my role as a Gallup Certified CliftonStrengths coach, I’ve been on a mission to help individuals make their mark in the world, regardless of their history or attained success. This includes helping a former convicted felon who was a gang member in LA to recover his passion and purpose in life and do good for others. I’ve helped mid-level career changers receive job offers for new roles consistent with their new calling, even when they had no relevant educational degrees.
I’ve also enjoyed helping graduating dental students to discover their leadership style, their staff’s, and how to create a positive experience for their patients.
I’m currently coaching government employees in CA Department of Public Health. Two webinars I’ve recently developed and delivered are “Overcome Imposter Syndrome with Emotional Intelligence” and “Master Crucial Conversations with CliftonStrengths.” My next training will be on “Gen Z and Millennial Needs in the Workplace since Covid-19.”
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?
My top 3 Strengths were the most impactful. Maximizer: Influence others to make their mark in the world with their highest potential for success. Connectedness: Be a bridge between individuals, teams, resources, etc. to facilitate more good and success in the world of work. Relator: Genuinely and authentically show up in all interactions.
The most important advice is for folks to recognize that they are not meant to be well-rounded; they are more like stars with peaks and edges of talent. And excellence is rarely achieved by maximizing weakness; it is more likely to be achieved by maximizing strengths.
Second, I highly encourage everyone to take the CliftonStrengths assessment. Recognize and name how your top 5 Strengths show up in your day to day life. Appreciate how they’ve created “wins,” no matter how large or small, even if no one has noticed them. Thirdly, leverage your Strengths to make your mark in the world. A Gallup Certified CliftonStrengths coach can help map out your journey with clarity and successful.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Health is my number one challenge. Most of the day, I am managing chronic nerve and muscle pains. I have not been able to overcome it, but I have been able to manage it so it does not get in the way of my wellbeing.
The love I have for my work increases my tolerance for pain. When I make a difference in others’ lives, no pain can compete with the rush of dopamine I experience from joy.
Intentional gratitude, no matter how small, increases the frequency of wellness. It might show up as awe for the beauty of a fall leaf. Or when my teenage daughter thanks me unexpectedly.
I also love making strangers smile. A genuine compliment or a funny remark breaks the tension I feel in the air and in my body. No matter what our circumstances, we can outpace any discomfort with how we direct our emotions and thoughts. Our heart and brain are far more powerful than we might ever know.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ellietabibian.com
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/ellietabibian
