Meet Kasi Lacey

 

We were lucky to catch up with Kasi Lacey recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kasi , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

My confidence and self-esteem have come from years of experience, challenging my negative thoughts, learning to validate myself, and leaning on the support of friends and family. I’ve built an incredibly successful career and a life beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I have spent years working on myself, learning, reading, and always staying curious while trying the next thing and learning from each experience. I have also learned that failure is just an opportunity to learn and believe that life happens for you.

When I say I’ve built this life, I truly mean it. I navigated the world with limited resources and, a non-apparent bi-racial identity, moved out on my own at 16, and graduated with my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at 26. I’ve pushed through glass ceilings, fought for, and secured a seat at the table multiple times, and along the way, became a mom to two strong-minded girls who drive me to make the world better for women and everyone who has the pleasure of learning from us.

My story is a testament to the power of grit and resilience – that we can change the cards we’re dealt and achieve greatness. I’ve had the privilege of coaching, leading, and doing life with some amazing clients and women over the years, helping them realize their potential and significantly improve their confidence as moms, executives, supervisors, or partners.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

With over 15 years of experience as a psychologist, C-suite executive, and Vice-President, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to my executive and leadership coaching, keynote speaking, and corporate/business training.

I am determined to help women who feel uncertain in their careers or leadership roles gain unshakable confidence and clarity. Through personalized 1:1 coaching, I guide women to identify and leverage their unique leadership styles, embrace who they are, and lead with unapologetic authenticity. I work with women who feel undervalued in their careers, helping them build the confidence to assert their worth and step into roles that truly reflect their authentic selves and potential. I coach women who are questioning their confidence in their current roles, helping them build the skills needed to thrive where they are and make strategic adjustments that enhance both their careers and personal lives. I support women seeking mentorship to elevate their leadership, develop confidence-building strategies, and set themselves up for continued success.

I know how frustrating it can be to feel stuck, undervalued, or unsure of your next steps because I’ve been there myself, and I’ve helped countless women navigate these same challenges. My approach is unique because I understand the deep-rooted patterns and mindsets that can hold you back. This psychological insight, combined with my executive leadership experience, allows me to offer a coaching approach that goes beyond surface-level advice. I dive deep into the ‘why’ behind your struggles, helping you understand and break free from the internal barriers that have been holding you back. My methods are grounded in proven psychological principles, tailored specifically to women like you. We work on building self-awareness, reshaping limiting beliefs, and developing practical strategies to assert one’s voice and step into their full potential. We’ll focus on actionable steps that align with your values and goals, ensuring that you don’t just achieve success—you do so in a way that feels authentic and sustainable.

In today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving workplace, organizations face unprecedented challenges, from managing diverse teams and navigating remote work to combating burnout and building a positive work culture. I provide corporate and business training designed to address these needs by developing resilient, emotionally intelligent, and authentic leaders. My programs focus on building confidence, enhancing communication skills, and promoting mental health and well-being within teams. These training sessions are essential for any organization looking to thrive by equipping its leaders with the tools to drive success, foster innovation, and maintain a motivated and engaged workforce.

This fall, I will be launching the Unapologetic Confidence Accelerator: Leading with Authenticity course, designed to help women step into their leadership with confidence and authenticity. Imagine transforming your self-doubt into unshakeable confidence, your confusion into clarity, and your stress into a thriving balance between work and life—all in just four weeks. This course is designed specifically for women like you, who are ready to break free from the constraints of imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and feeling undervalued. This program offers unparalleled value, with actionable strategies and tools that would cost you years and far more money in therapy or piecemeal self-help solutions. Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in yourself and your future—transform your leadership and life today!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that were most impactful in my journey have been resilience/confidence, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and confidence.

Resilience & Building Confidence. Resilience has allowed me to push through challenges, overcome setbacks, and keep moving forward despite the obstacles. For anyone early in their journey, my advice is to embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Cultivating resilience requires developing a mindset that sees failure as a stepping stone rather than a barrier. Building confidence has been critical in taking risks, speaking up, and advocating for myself and others. To build confidence, step out of your comfort zone regularly, celebrate your small wins, and focus on your strengths rather than your weaknesses. Confidence grows with practice and by proving to yourself that you can handle whatever comes your way.

Self-awareness has been crucial in understanding my strengths, weaknesses, and the areas where I need to grow. To develop self-awareness, I recommend engaging in regular self-reflection and seeking honest feedback from trusted mentors, peers, or coaches. Being open to feedback and willing to act on it is key to personal and professional growth.

Emotional intelligence has enabled me to connect deeply with others, navigate complex relationships, and lead with empathy. Building emotional intelligence starts with becoming attuned to your own emotions and learning to understand and manage them. Practice active listening, show empathy, and pay attention to how you and others feel in different situations. This will help you build stronger, more meaningful connections in your personal and professional life.

For those early in their journey, focus on developing these qualities through continuous learning, stepping out of your comfort zone, and embracing opportunities for growth. Surround yourself with supportive people, seek out diverse experiences, and trust in your ability to navigate whatever comes your way.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding you Back from your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job, by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith.

At the time I was reading this book, I had a male colleague of mine approach me and ask me to hire him for a job that was under my direct supervision and recently became available. His bold action along with the messages from this book, made me reflect on the ways in which I was unintentionally holding myself back in my career. For example, when referencing projects I completed or grant funds I secured, I would often say “we” did it, rather than taking credit for my success. Additionally, I realized that I was not being as direct with my supervisor and others about my goals and intentions of becoming a Vice-President. I then went to the President at my former job and told him why I wanted the job and why he was going to hire me. This was one of the scariest meetings of my life as it went against everything I was socialized and taught as a woman, but the crazy thing is it worked. I have learned to not hold myself back, sit at the table, be confident but also do it in a way that is authentic to me.

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