Meet Sabrina Valdez

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

Sabrina, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

For more than a decade, I led large teams in the retail industry, and one of the most fulfilling aspects of my work was developing leaders. I had a deep passion for helping my team members build their leadership skills, watching them grow beyond what they thought was possible. It was always clear to me that leadership development was something I truly loved—I learned just as much from my team as they learned from me. But for years, I never formalized it into a coaching practice outside of my day-to-day role.

That changed when I had the opportunity to work with Career Karma. Unlike most leadership coaches who build their practice one client at a time, I was able to accelerate my coaching experience by working with leaders around the world. But what made this experience even more unique was that I wasn’t just coaching people—I was also helping develop an AI coach that could serve as an extension of my expertise.

I worked closely with the product and engineering teams to train the AI model, ensuring it could answer leadership questions and provide guidance in the same way a human coach would. This allowed Career Karma to offer coaching at scale, giving clients access to leadership development even when I wasn’t available. It was an exciting challenge—combining my passion for coaching with the emerging potential of AI.

The combination of years spent leading teams, the intensity of coaching at scale, and the innovation of building an AI leadership coach validated what I had always known in my heart: my greatest passion is helping others grow into their full leadership potential.

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?

In 2023, I made the difficult decision to step away from my long-standing career in retail—a transition that, while necessary, carried a profound emotional weight. Stepping away from something I had built for decades was both unsettling and unexpected. It forced me to confront uncertainty in a way I never had before.

In that season of change, I leaned into resilience and faith. I had to trust that this shift, though challenging, would lead me toward something even more aligned with my purpose. That mindset opened the door to new opportunities—ones I never would have considered had I stayed in my comfort zone.

That transition led me into leadership coaching, a passion I had held for over 15 years but had never fully pursued. I now work with leaders and businesses to optimize efficiency, helping them uncover solutions they never realized were possible—whether through leadership development, workflow optimization, or AI integration.

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?

Looking back on my journey, three qualities have been the most impactful: resilience, curiosity, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Resilience was essential when I faced an unexpected career change. The shift was not just a professional transition but also an emotional one, filled with uncertainty and moments of doubt. It would have been easy to let the shock of that moment define me, but instead, I leaned into my ability to adapt. I reminded myself that challenges often carry hidden opportunities. Rather than staying stuck in what was lost, I focused on what was possible. That mindset allowed me to embrace the unknown and step into a new path—one that ultimately led me to my purpose.

Curiosity played a huge role in that transition as well. When I was introduced to generative AI in 2023, it was still an emerging field. Most people hadn’t even heard of it, but I was fascinated. I wanted to understand how it worked and how it could be applied in new ways. That curiosity led me to an incredible opportunity—working on an AI leadership coach. Within a month, I was advising a company on AI development, working directly with their product and engineering teams to train a model that could mimic human coaching interactions.

Finally, being a lifelong learner has shaped everything I do. Even now, two years later, I continue to explore new ways AI can simplify and enhance both work and life. I believe that no matter your age or stage in life, there is always something new to discover. If you remain open to learning, you open doors to possibilities you never imagined.

For those early in their journey, my advice is this: Embrace change, even when it’s difficult. Stay curious, even when something feels unfamiliar. And never stop learning, because the next opportunity could be closer than you think.

How would you describe your ideal client?

My ideal client is a business leader or entrepreneur in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, particularly emerging food brands. These companies are navigating rapid growth, scaling challenges, and the complexities of bringing their products to market. Many of them are so focused on operations and product development that they don’t realize how much time they’re spending on manual processes that could be streamlined.

That’s where I come in. Having worked directly with CPG companies, I understand their unique pain points and how AI can revolutionize the way they operate. From optimizing sales data and supply chain management to integrating AI-driven automation that improves efficiency, I help leaders uncover solutions they never knew were possible.

What excites me most is that moment when a client says, “I didn’t even know that was possible.” Those lightbulb moments drive me to continuously push the boundaries of efficiency, innovation, and leadership. The world of CPG is evolving fast, and the brands that adapt will be the ones who thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thenextmoveconsulting.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-e-valdez/