Let’s Meet Daisy

Daisy Swan, MA, CPCC, is a career strategist, coach and counselor, Mom and all around fantastic human being. Known for her compassionate and straightforward approach, she has helped hundreds of clients find more rewarding careers and life paths for 20 years.  She’s had her own career private practice for more than 15 of those years working with people from senior executives, engineers, attorneys and IT professionals to writers, producers and actors. During that time she’s counseled hundreds of students at several major universities, bringing her career counseling expertise to students who need help preparing for career transitions and job searches. And she’s been busy always learning new techniques and information that serve her clients to become more of who they hope to be as leaders, and balanced happy people living the lives they strive for. But let’s hear it from Daisy herself:

I have been my client

In my 20’s, I didn’t have much guidance. I heard a lot of ‘no, you can’t’ instead of ‘yes, you can.’ Or, sure, go do it, but figure it out on your own. It’s taken me years to know that trusting my gut is the most important thing to know what’s next. I’ve gotten comfortable knowing that I’m one of those late bloomers. But now I see that in itself is a viable option.

I know from personal experience that a little encouragement and guidance can go a really long way, and is often all that people need to get them moving in the right direction. As life has gotten more and more complex we all need more trusted advisors to mirror back to us what and who we are and how to remain true to ourselves while making a living, having a life, and going the extra mile for ourselves and those we love and value. I also know the complexity of life as it unfolds in ways we don’t want and didn’t plan for. I’ve been through a divorce.  I know what it’s like to try to raise a family while juggling a career. I’ve lived through all of the LifeStages I talk about, and feel I have finally reached my Wisdom stage. I can truly share the wisdom that I’ve gained from traveling my own path and to help people hear and find themselves in their work to live life to the fullest.

I find people’s own personal journeys endlessly fascinating. I’ve always been curious about what people do and how they got to this point in their lives. Which explains how I’ve found my way into this field and why I feel compelled to dig in and help people find their way to their best selves.

I don’t just help you draft a resume, help with a job search, guide you to a new career, although that’s all part of it. Together we listen for who you are and who you are becoming. What in you wants to emerge. What’s your yearning? What really excites me is working with people who are proactive, who have a positive focus and a desire to come to a better place in their lives, personally as well as professionally.

This has been a very personal career journey that I never anticipated.

I’m originally from New York City, started my college career at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA and later received my BA from Loyola University of Chicago in English Literature and Education. I decided to continue to ‘go for it’ and earned my Masters in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago with the aim of doing work that combined business with education. I had aspirations of creating mentoring programs for kids needing assistance getting their lives launched.

Luck is preparation meeting opportunity.

I got the “lucky” break to become the Assistant Director of Career and Placement Service at the University of Chicago. After awhile I heeded the call of the West Coast and moved out and up to become the Director of the Career Resource Center at Pepperdine University’s School of Business, then to Manager of MBA Recruitment for FHP Healthcare in Costa Mesa and later, Associate Director of the Career Resource Center at USC’s Marshall School of Business.

Throughout many of my years at universities I was asked to help others with their career issues. In 1995 I started counseling private clients as an associate of Dr. Katherine Kendall, a college counselor in Beverly Hills. After completing my coach training and certification program with Coaches Training Institute in 2003, and finally opened the doors of my own West LA office in 2003. That was after I was invited to create a mentoring program for college major and career exploration for the prestigious Harker School in San Jose, CA. One of my favorite accomplishments.

I want to teach you to trust yourself.

My goal is to guide you through the sometimes frightening and confusing transition that may have been brewing for you for years, or may have just hit you like a sledge hammer. We all have to start somewhere, and the journey begins with that first step of realizing something’s got to CHANGE. Then we begin the process to clarify your career direction and support you as you find and take the necessary steps to realize your own professional and personal goals.

Daisy has appeared on network TV on NBC’s daytime coaching program, Starting Over as well as ABC’s online ABCNewsNow.com. She has also appeared on Style Network’s Modern Girl’s Guide to Living, and as a guest on the Frank Girls talk radio program. She co-authored and presented an article on “The Impact of Divorce on Career Development” at the 2002 International Career Development Conference and speaks to groups on a variety of business, parenting, career and professional development topics. An expert in the uses of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator for career and communications purposes, Daisy has used the assessment in individual and group training.

She has also served on the Board of the Los Angeles Girl Scout Counsel, LA Team Mentoring, and the Professionals In Human Resources Association. She is currently a member of the Professional Coaches and Mentors Association and the International Coach Federation, Step Up Women’s Network, and the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). She is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach through the Coaches Training Institute and is currently adding to her range as a coach becoming a certified somatic coach through the Strozzi institute in Petaluma, CA to further enhance her offerings to clients.

This is only part of my story. I welcome the opportunity to hear yours. If you’re interested in talking with me or another Daisy Swan & Associates career coach/strategist please contact anna@daisyswan.com to arrange for a phone conversation to see if what we do is what you’re looking for.