Lit Up and Liberated with Yvette Mayer, Wellbeing Coach
“A leader is someone who sees possibility and supports others in their quest to collectively achieve it.”
Yvette Mayer is a Coach & Consultant customising coaching and wellbeing experiences for organisations, and their leaders, to deliver better business outcomes.
Yvette's corporate career spanned 30 years globally (Sydney, London and NYC), culminating in the role of Managing Director of the single largest media agency in Australia - OMD Sydney.
With a reputation for building exceptional culture, high employee engagement, retention and strong client satisfaction, Yvette is a natural storyteller, who inspires, engages and educates others with a beautiful combination of confidence and vulnerability.
Yvette’s enormous experience base and breadth of skills, combined with her coaching in leadership and health, yoga and mindfulness, arm her with the expertise to help corporate teams and individuals feel supported in their whole self and wellbeing.
What’s one of your greatest accomplishments to date and what impact did it have on you, others, society or the world?
Exiting out of a multiple 6 figure, high profile corporate job to pursue my passion for wellness was one of the bravest things I’ve ever done - and for that, it comes in as my greatest accomplishment. It’s turned my life upside down, but it’s shown me that it’s possible to have a second chance at a second act.
As for my accomplishments, it’s hard to narrow it down as there are many..
My first break at 17 having not finished high school and landing a glamorous (not) job in the tear sheeting department of an advertising agency (literally tearing out ads the agency had booked in the media).
Rising to the role of Business Director at aged 24 with big name clients like Burleigh (Pacific Dunlop) & NutriMetics was a big accomplishment; then stepping into an ever bigger role a couple of years later on the Qantas business
Rising from account management with the help of a coach and a dream to move into digital I landed the role of Digital Director - a lateral move to lead a digital team that turned out to be the bravest and smartest decision of my career - and within 18 months I was promoted to Chief Digital Officer
In 2010 I transferred to New York where, complete with a corner office I landed the role of Senior Vice President, Global Digital and 5 years later rose to Executive Vice President. Another career defining move ended when I was head-hunted back to Australia to do the largest role of my career - Managing Director of a 300 person media agency (OMD Sydney)
What’s one of the biggest challenges you’ve experienced and/or overcame in your journey as a leader?
Being diagnosed with breast cancer at a time when my career was gaining momentum, definitely threw a spanner in the works.
Initially, my response was very private, that changed as I processed my new reality. I had major surgery and my prognosis actually got worse a few weeks after the initial diagnosis. This meant chemotherapy was necessary. As was being open about my situation.
At which point, I pivotes, recognising I had a role to play, in how I led myself through the next 12 months. I chose to return to my role and worked through much of my treatment. I didn’t want my illness to define me and I knew the business ‘needed’ me. On reflection, while it was a good distraction, I could have been kinder to myself.
During this time, I came to realise I’d been living my life on auto-pilot pre breast cancer. It turned out to be the wake up call I needed, to help me see I was out of alignment with my greater purpose. Although, I wasn’t clear on what that was.
So, I transferred to the New York office, continuing to build on my credentials, while also giving myself permission to start exploring what next (in my career).
It turned out to be helping others wake up from an auto-pilot type reality, by reconnecting with their inner truth and prioritising their fulfilment. Always uncovering greater wellbeing, passion and purpose in the process.
Who do you turn to for guidance, advice or support?
I have a coach and wouldn’t be without one. This began in corporate where, over the years and to this day, I had many. I recall my very first coach - who was briefed to help me find more balance and steady my emotions as a leader. Working with her I soon realised that as passionate as I was, without valuing my wellbeing, my influence was lower.
It was absolutely a career defining moment for me. I was soon elevated from leading a team to running a department. As my seniority increased, so did my love of coaches!
What does 2020 hold for you?
I’m still deeply passionate about supporting the advertising industry, so my focus this year is to make a positive impact with wellbeing programs in an industry, and with people, that served me well my entire career. For me that means being of service and harnessing my skills and experience to coach others.
In addition, I’m bringing more focus to the professional female 40+ group, developing new programs and content to support them in leading themselves effectively. I offer 1:1 coaching as well as group and courses.
In fact, I’ve recently launched two new programs to help scale my impact - Planit Happy, the love yourself help course, and The Lit Up & Liberated Biz Academy, for early stage entrepreneurs (and side hustlers)