Personal collage of Carmen and some of her favorite places and foods, featuring the phrases ‘My happy place’ and ‘Open doors, change lives, build legacy.’

About

My Personal Journey

I was a customer service lead sitting in a job that did not fit. Every morning felt wrong. One day I prayed out loud to God:

“Lord, I know I wasn’t born to do this.”

That prayer changed the entire trajectory of my life.

What followed was a journey I never could have mapped — mortgage lending, a career in public service with the federal government, and a move to Washington, D.C. Life was good. The work was meaningful. I found purpose in protecting consumers and creating resources that helped people make informed financial decisions.

But somewhere in the middle of a full and rewarding career, I created a vision board. Tucked into one corner—almost like a whisper — I wrote a single word:

Coach.

Carmen Cruz at NYU
My vision board in 2016.

I didn’t act on it right away. I told myself my federal career was enough. But purpose is patient. It doesn’t give up on you.

When the ground beneath my career began to shift, I didn’t panic. I looked back at that vision board and realized it had been quietly pointing me in this direction all along.

I had known for years that I wanted to coach, but I also knew I wasn’t interested in offering generic advice or becoming just another life coach. I prayed again — this time for clarity. I asked God to show me my niche, a methodology, and a way to truly help people answer the questions that matter most

Then something unexpected happened.

I’m not a podcast person. But one day I felt an unmistakable nudge to press play on an episode hosted by a television personality I had followed for years. The guest was Professor Suzy Welch discussing her book, Becoming You. As someone who has always loved books, I was immediately intrigued.

Within minutes, I knew.

This was what I had been praying for.

Professor Welch wasn’t talking about quick fixes or personality labels. She was talking about values, aptitudes, interests, and the courage to build a life aligned with who you truly are. It gave language to questions I had been asking my entire life — and the very questions I wanted to help others answer.

I bought the book immediately. Before I had even finished reading it, I discovered the opportunity to train as a Becoming You Practitioner. It felt less like finding a certification and more like recognizing something that had been waiting for me all along.

Looking back, I can see that every chapter of my life — from banking to public service to consumer protection — was preparing me for this work. The prayer, the vision board, the unexpected podcast, and decades of experience weren’t separate moments.

They were all leading here.

Carmen Cruz at NYU
Me, living life by design.

Today, I am a Becoming You Certified Practitioner, trained in the Becoming You® methodology created by Professor Suzy Welch and delivered through Becoming You Labs. I’m also a certified conflict coach, a Florida real estate professional, and a federal leader with more than two decades of experience helping people navigate complex decisions.

But those are just the roles I’ve held.

What matters most is that I’ve walked the road from uncertainty to clarity. I’ve wrestled with questions about purpose, identity, and what’s next. I’ve learned that the most meaningful decisions aren’t made by following someone else’s definition of success — they’re made by understanding who you truly are.

That’s why I do this work.

Because everyone deserves the opportunity to build a life that reflects their values, their gifts, and the person God created them to be.

If you’re standing at a crossroads, feeling restless, questioning what’s next, or simply longing for a life that feels more aligned, I’d be honored to walk that journey with you.

Together, we’ll uncover what has always been true about you — so you can stop living by default and start living by design.

READY TO GET STARTED?

Let's find the path that's right for you.