Meet Sunni Markowitz

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

Hi Sunni, 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 was one of the lucky ones that found their purpose early. From the age of 10, I knew I wanted to be in education, I just did not know in what capacity. I took a lot of twists and turns to end up where I am today, coaching individuals to live their best lives and be the best, most authentic version of themselves. This began while attending an all girls summer camp in Texas. It was were I grew to be my most authentic self, with confidence and determination. It also planted a dream to someday run a girls summer camp myself. AND I did! Previous to getting achieving my dream, I was an early education teacher, a research assistant, a mother, a Girl Scout Leader, a school board member, a special needs advocate and finally the founder of a camp for girls with the mission of empowering girls and young women. For ten years I owned and ran, Camp Lantern Creek (CLC) for girls, and loved providing experiential education to hundreds of girls and young women to become their most authentic selves, and be confident in who they were. When CLC had to close, due to COVID constraints, I wanted to continue the mission and found coaching provided me the ability to do so. Helping others learn about themselves and tools for living their own best life continues to provide me the ability to pursue my purpose of helping others to learn and grow.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I love to learn how individuals learn. Everyone learns in their own distinct way. It is like a puzzle to be put together. My educational background and my interest of how our brains learn best, helps clients and organizations get results in an effective and productive way. I try to make each session practical and purposeful. I love when a client or group has that “aha” moment and can apply a new perspective on their lives.

There is a misconception that you should not give yourself compliments, but I could not disagree more. I am good at what I do now, and I was good at what I have done in the past. It takes hard work, but that, is what I love. Currently, I work with clients who are typically facing a transition or a choice point in their lives and I help navigate the options, gain more personal insight, and this leads to their own decision of next best steps. It’s all about the power of questions and my job is to ask them, knowing my client has the answers, they just have to find them!

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?

One of my core values is genuineness and authenticity. I share my struggles openly with my clients, friends and family. I think this allows a truly authentic relationship and creates a natural trust.
Early in my career I worked with students who had suffered Traumatic Brain Injuries and advocated for them in the educational system, post injury. This experience introduced me to Neuropsychology and I have maintained my interest in the science of how our brains learn, develop new habits, change behaviors, etc. This knowledge allows me, when coaching clients, to understand how to help, improve, or change how they live their lives so they can reach their full potential.
For individuals early in their professional journey, I would suggest always be curious. Learn to love learning and ask LOTS of questions! No matter the field you are in.

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?

When I was earning my Masters in Education, I read a book titled “Miseducation” by Dr. David Elkind. There is a specific story that Dr. Elkind shared about his 6 year old son asking about sex, but NOT in the way Dr. Elkind thought and instead of asking his son questions, he proceeded to give a lengthy, not so age appropriate, lesson on the “bird and the bees,” when all his son needed to understand was what to circle when it asked him his sex, M or F!
This has stuck with me throughout my life, to NEVER assume you know what a person is thinking and ALWAYS ask questions to gain their perspective.

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