Katherine Lazaruk has dedicated her career to transforming how leaders navigate their roles, emphasizing authenticity, self-expression, and connection. A professional presence expert and executive coach, Katherine’s journey spans arts, education, and corporate training. Her unique path equips her to help leaders humanize their workspaces and align their inner selves with their outward actions. Her story is an inspiring testament to resilience, reinvention, and the power of being unapologetically oneself.
Childhood Roots and the Power of Emotional Awareness
Growing up in Prince George, British Columbia, Katherine’s upbringing was filled with academic and extracurricular rigor. Her father, a traveling welder, and her mother, a teacher, instilled grit, humor, and an emphasis on education in Katherine and her brother. Despite this supportive foundation, her family struggled to navigate emotions, leaving Katherine to explore and manage her own expansive emotional range later in life.
Katherine found solace and self-expression in music. Joining a competitive choir at age 10 sparked her passion for the arts. This foundation led to a university degree in opera and a brief professional singing career, blending her creativity with discipline.
Transition to Education and Lessons in Adaptability
Katherine later pursued a degree in education, influenced by societal expectations to secure a “real job.” Her teaching career spanned 12 years, focusing on elementary music education. Despite her success, Katherine often challenged traditional systems, favoring practical skills and individualized teaching over rigid curricula.
While Katherine’s work positively impacted her students, she found the constraints of the education system stifling. Her dissatisfaction grew to the point where she wished for an escape. A health scare—a lung tumor—served as the wake-up call she needed to make a significant change. Through visualization, self-care, and a belief in the mind-body connection, Katherine overcame her health challenge, marking the beginning of her journey toward a more fulfilling career.
Reinvention Through Coaching and Consulting
After leaving teaching, Katherine embraced corporate training at PricewaterhouseCoopers, which aligned with her need for structure and autonomy. This experience revealed her passion for empowering others and laid the groundwork for her next venture: image consulting.
Initially focused on aligning individuals’ personal and professional presence, Katherine quickly expanded her scope. Recognizing that clients often needed deeper transformation, she pivoted toward executive coaching, specializing in professional presence and leadership development. Her work now integrates image consulting, coaching, and organizational training to help leaders show up authentically and lead with impact.
Professional Presence and Authentic Leadership
Katherine’s coaching philosophy centers on the “Three C’s”:
- Character: Understanding one’s values and core identity.
- Congruence: Aligning internal beliefs with external actions to create a cohesive personal brand.
- Choice: Empowering leaders to challenge traditional norms and redefine success on their terms.
Her book, Executive Being: Humanizing Business One Leader at a Time, challenges conventional notions of leadership by emphasizing authenticity over rigid expectations. Katherine advocates for creating environments where individuals feel safe to express their true selves, fostering innovation and stronger connections.
Key Takeaways
- Authenticity Matters: Aligning inner values with outward actions creates stronger, more impactful leaders.
- Reinvention is Possible at Any Age: Katherine’s journey shows that it’s never too late to pursue a fulfilling career.
- Leadership is Personal: Humanizing leadership involves creating spaces where people feel valued and understood.
- Mind-Body Connection is Powerful: Visualization and self-awareness can lead to transformative health and career outcomes.
- Challenge the Status Quo: Growth comes from questioning traditional norms and embracing individuality.
Katherine Lazaruk’s journey from educator to executive coach highlights the importance of aligning passion with purpose. By helping leaders embrace their authentic selves, she empowers them to foster meaningful change in their organizations and communities. To explore Katherine’s insights and resources, visit LZRKConsulting.com or check out her book Executive Being on Amazon.
