Aug. 27, 2025 - From “No One Like Me” to Future Me: My Journey Without a Role Model

How imagining my Future Self - and taking one small step at a time - turned “I can’t” into “I am.”

I didn’t have a role model who looked like me, worked like me, or dreamed like me.

And yet, here I am - still on the path, still moving toward my vision of being a thought leader who empowers mid-level professionals (especially introverts, and those without strong networks) to grow on their own terms.

It hasn’t been a straight road. It’s been a mix of curiosity, experiments, small steps, and more than a few moments of doubt!

But it all started with one important realization:

If I couldn’t find a role model, I’d have to imagine the version of me who had already reached my dream — and then start acting like her!

Imagining Future Me

I pictured Future Me - confident, creative, making a real difference. She wasn’t waiting for permission. She was helping others step forward without having to fit a mold.

I listed her traits:

  • Courage to share her voice
  • Skills and credibility to be taken seriously
  • A network of trusted peers and collaborators
  • A clear, simple way to help busy professionals take action

Then I asked myself:

“If Future Me has these traits, could Present Me already have them - just not fully activated?”

That’s when I started looking for ways to bring those traits to life.

Which led me to my first big action.

Building My Foundation Through Coaching Education

I knew I wanted to be a thought leader, but in my mind, that also meant I needed solid expertise to back it up. And for me, coaching was the tool that could help people lead themselves forward.

So, I decided I needed formal coaching education from a recognized professional body. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is one of the main professional associations for coaches worldwide, setting high standards for training and ethics. That’s where I started.

✨ Your Reflection Moment

If you imagined your own “Future You,” what skill or qualification would give you the credibility you’d need?

📌 My First Small Step?

I researched ICF-approved programs.

That research gave me an immediate boost - the clarity that coaching was the right vehicle for my vision.

Eventually, I qualified as a professional life coach, created my own framework, and began building my services.

Finding My Voice Through Writing

Once I had the foundation, I needed to share my voice. Writing had always been part of me, but now I wanted to combine my life experience and my coaching knowledge - and bring it to the people I wanted to help most.

📌 My First Small Step?

I decided LinkedIn articles would be my testing ground. Nervous? Definitely. But that first coaching-related article helped me see I could translate my ideas into something others found useful.

✨ Your Reflection Moment

What’s one way you could start sharing your perspective - even in a small, low-pressure format?

Growing My Network with Intention

I’d been in networking groups before, but they hadn’t been the right fit.

📌 My First Small Step?

This time, I looked for an international women’s network that matched my audience and my values. Joining Ellevate Network gave me access to peers, collaborators, and inspiration.

✨ Your Reflection Moment

If your current environment isn’t helping you grow, where else could you connect with like-minded people?

Creating My Own Opportunities

I also realized not everyone had the time or desire for long-term coaching. So I decided to create Coaching-Infused Conversations - short, guided, topic-focused events designed for busy professionals who might not see themselves as “senior leader material” yet, but still wanted to take meaningful steps forward.

📌 My First Small Step?

Well, the very first step was about the technology…

But the most important “first” here was my first session, which felt both scary and exciting! But the feedback confirmed this was a format people valued - and it became a cornerstone of my work.

✨ Your Reflection Moment

If the opportunities you want don’t exist, how could you create a small, simple version yourself?

Reaching Further

Now, I’m focusing on expanding my workshops to reach larger audiences.

I’ve already facilitated events for Ellevate Network and a Lean In Circle, and I’m identifying more organizations where my style could make an impact.

📌 My Next “First” Steps?

Outreach, asking for introductions, and putting myself forward more boldly!

But It’s Not All Forward Motion!

Along the way, I’ve had (and still have) moments of doubt:

  • Should I get more formal qualifications? (but Future Me wouldn’t prioritize that right now.)
  • Do I really have what it takes to write compelling articles? (well, Future Me does!)
  • Am I ready for bigger events without more public speaking training? (Future Me tries out, experiments, and then decides what she really needs to improve on next)

Sometimes these doubts last minutes; sometimes they linger for days. But they’re part of the process. The key is to remember Future Me - and take the next step, even if it’s tiny!

Where I Am Now - and Still Going

I’ve done many “first small steps” and made real progress:

And I keep going, one step at a time, toward my vision of being a thought leader who empowers mid-level professionals to see, and use, their own power to grow.

✨ Your Reflection Moment

What’s one small step you could take today toward your own “Future You”?

Closing

Self-leadership starts with reflection.

Perspective shows you possibilities.

And one small step can change your trajectory.

If you want to keep exploring this way of thinking and acting:

🌱 Easiest option: Subscribe to my weekly newsletter

🎯 More involved: Join an upcoming event

💬 Deepest option: Schedule a call with me

 

I’m Christelle Soto-Suarez, founder of Pistachio-Cassis Coaching, where I help mid-level professionals build the clarity, confidence, and momentum to lead their own way.