Meet Natalie Micale

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

Natalie, 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?
Developing confidence and self-esteem has been a journey deeply intertwined with my personal and professional life story, marked by struggles with ADHD, academic challenges, and significant health issues. My confidence began to take root when I was diagnosed with ADHD during college. This diagnosis was a turning point—it didn’t just explain the difficulties I had faced; it showed me the path forward. Understanding that my brain worked differently allowed me to see my perceived weaknesses as potential strengths.

Initially, medication helped me harness my focus and drive, propelling me toward academic and later professional success in healthcare leadership. However, it wasn’t until a severe health crisis 15 years later that I truly began to understand the depth of resilience, confidence, and self-awareness required to navigate life’s unpredictabilities. This crisis forced me to reevaluate how I managed both my career and my personal well-being.

In response, I delved into research and experimented with various strategies to improve my focus and organizational skills. I developed robust, chaos-proof habits and leaned heavily on the support of mentors. Each strategy was a step towards not only managing my symptoms but excelling despite them. By embracing my unique perspective and turning it into a tool for problem-solving and strategic planning, I began to see real changes not just in my career but in how I viewed myself.

My climb up the ranks in healthcare was not just a professional achievement but also a personal triumph over the internal and external limitations imposed by ADHD and societal expectations. Every challenge I faced and overcame reinforced my belief in my abilities and the value of my distinctive insights.

Today, my confidence is built on a foundation of resilience and self-empowerment. I stand as an example of how embracing your authentic self, with all its quirks and challenges, can lead to profound personal and professional fulfillment. I am committed to using my experiences and insights to empower other women, helping them to recognize their potential and encouraging them to redefine their narratives with courage and self-assurance.

Through my journey, I’ve learned that self-esteem comes from facing your challenges head-on, leveraging your unique traits, and constantly pushing towards personal growth and understanding. This is the message I bring into my role as an Executive Coach, where I guide others to tap into their inherent resilience and transform their lives.

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?
As the CEO and principal consultant of Natalie Micale Coaching and Consulting, I have the privilege of guiding women in healthcare and Fortune 500 companies to discover and refine their leadership styles. With over two decades of experience across academic, private, and government sectors—including impactful roles at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, The University of Maryland Medical Center, Aramark Healthcare, and the Department of Veterans Affairs—I bring a broad and informed perspective to my coaching.

My career began in nutrition and dietetics, but a personal journey with ADHD and a significant health scare broadened my focus towards self-management and leadership resilience. These experiences not only shaped my approach to leadership but also fueled my commitment to empowering other women leaders.

What excites me the most about my work is seeing the tangible changes in my clients and their teams. Whether it’s through enhancing strategic thinking, improving team dynamics, or mastering confident communication, the growth and success of those I work with are incredibly rewarding.

Aside from one-on-one coaching, I co-founded the Empowerment Collective AVL—an event series in Asheville, NC that celebrates the professional and personal journeys of accomplished women. These events are crafted to be more than networking; they are inspirational gatherings that connect women at all stages of their careers, facilitating meaningful exchanges and fostering a community of support and empowerment.

We are thrilled to announce that the Empowerment Collective will be expanding its reach this year, with plans to host additional events and launch new initiatives aimed at further supporting women in their leadership paths. Our goal is to create spaces where women can share, learn, and grow together, turning individual stories of adversity into collective narratives of triumph. And to have fun! That’s also a big part of who we are.

Living in Asheville with my husband, Matt, our daughter Chloe, and our two rescue dogs, Violet and Oliver, I am deeply embedded in the community here. This connection to my local environment plays a crucial role in how I shape the programs and initiatives I lead, ensuring they are not only impactful but also heartfelt.

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?
Looking back on my journey, three key qualities stand out as fundamentally impactful: resilience, strategic thinking, and authentic communication.

Resilience has been crucial. My career and personal life have been filled with challenges, from managing ADHD to overcoming a severe health crisis. These experiences taught me the importance of bouncing back and adapting, traits that are essential in any leadership role. For those early in their careers, my advice is to view each setback as an opportunity to learn and grow. Cultivate resilience by stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing the discomfort that comes with growth.

Strategic thinking has allowed me to navigate complex situations in healthcare and coaching. It involves not just planning, but also anticipating potential challenges and being proactive rather than reactive. For anyone looking to develop this skill, I recommend starting with clear, measurable goals. Break these down into actionable steps and regularly reflect on your progress and the lessons learned along the way.

Authentic communication has been key in building trust and fostering strong relationships. It’s about being clear, honest, and true to your values, all while respecting and valuing the perspectives of others. To improve in this area, practice active listening and consider the impact of your words before you speak. Strive to understand others deeply and express yourself with clarity and conviction.

For those at the beginning of their journey, my biggest piece of advice is to embrace trial and error as a fundamental part of the learning process. It’s not just about succeeding; it’s about learning from each experience, refining your methods, and understanding that each mistake brings you closer to mastery. Be patient with yourself and stay committed to continuous improvement. This mindset will not only propel your career forward but will also enrich your personal growth.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Well, I’m a huge book worm, so even narrowing it down to two books was hard. The two books have been particularly influential in my journey: “Presence” by Amy Cuddy and “Women Who Run With the Wolves” by Clarissa Pinkola Estés.

“Presence” by Amy Cuddy had a profound impact on me with its science-based exploration of how our body language shapes who we are. It introduced me to the concept of ‘power poses’ and how physical posture can influence our psychological and physiological state, boosting confidence and impacting our chances of success. This was particularly enlightening as it offered practical, actionable strategies that helped me embrace my own power in personal and professional settings.

On the other hand, “Women Who Run With the Wolves” by Clarissa Pinkola Estés provided a deep, mythopoetic insight into the female psyche through stories and myths that have been handed down through generations. This book showed me the importance of reconnecting with the instinctual, wild woman archetype inside. It encouraged me to embrace my creativity and resilience, and to trust in the wisdom that comes from life’s cycles of growth and change. The narratives within this book have been a constant source of inspiration and empowerment, reminding me that every woman holds the power to author her own story.

Both books have shaped my understanding of personal presence and the intrinsic power of authenticity and instinct. They’ve reinforced my approach to coaching and leading, underlining the importance of being true to ourselves and harnessing our innate strengths to navigate and overcome challenges.

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Image Credits
Images by Nicole McConville, Julieta Fumberg, Ariel Shumaker, Sarah Johnston

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