Today we’d like to introduce you to Aska Naito, PCC.
Hi Aska, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I think back on my love affair with professional coaching, my memory takes me back to when I was 13 years old, my first job as an English tutor back in Japan. Although my student was only two years younger than me, I took the job very seriously. I continued teaching and tutoring into my adult years because of my joy in content creation and watching my students grow and become empowered.
When I started teaching Salsa dancing in early 2000, it suddenly hit me that I was more than just a dance teacher. I valued my interactions and engagements with my students, not just the steps I showed or how to swing their hips. I started seeing my role as to find the common threads amongst my diverse students and to create a safe space for them to learn, grow, and enjoy a newly discovered skill.
Simultaneously, I had also been mentoring quite many younger women by then and found myself wondering how to better guide and serve them without involving my own experience or perspective. I intuitively knew that if there were a way to remove myself from the conversation, I would truly empower them on what they wanted, making it a much more effective and authentic outcome.
I eventually decided to come back to the US again, and fast-forward to 2016 in Los Angeles when I was in a severe car accident as a pedestrian. My world came crumbling down with prolonged toxicity from my corporate job, and knowing that I needed help, I reached out to a therapist. I also had the opportunity to work with a coach for a three-month engagement. Although I had known about life coaching for many years, I was utterly blown away at how much it helped me move forward, not just in my professional struggles but also in the overall way I was showing up in my life. From that moment, I was determined to go to coaching school and get certified as a professional coach and build this as my lifework.
Today, I coach executives, leaders, and professionals across the globe remotely from North America, the EU, and Asia and coach bilingually in English and Japanese. Every day, I feel blessed to exchange such powerful, meaningful conversations with my clients and witness their growth and transformation, just like I did with my first student many years ago.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are always struggles along the way with any new learning, as we realign ourselves with wisdom that comes with time and experience. Coaching for me wasn’t an exception either. When I look back at where I was and who I was when I first launched my private coaching practice, I chuckle. If only I knew then what I know now, which I’m sure is what most business owners think when looking back at their humble beginnings.
Pursuing to become a masterful coach and building a thriving coaching practice are two completely different things. Like any business, the business building is much administrative work, the same with whatever service you provide to the world. Most of us would approach our personal or professional network first when transitioning to a new business.
As I had no family, history, or connection in Los Angeles or the US, I knew I had to build my network first and fast. I joined networking groups, went to meetings and events, joined the chamber of commerce, and learned how to put myself out there to become more visible in the small business world. I met some incredible professionals that I am now proud to call my friends; however, I quickly realized coaching is a bit of a different game. Clients need to experience your coaching to become your client first and foremost, and without that, it becomes very challenging.
With the pandemic, burn-out and mental health topics have taken a front seat these days, spotlighting the importance of therapy and coaching. I believe everyone and anyone can benefit from coaching. But I also know that not everyone is ready to take the plunge financially or face the most profound, darkest truth to make the life-altering transformation possible. In other words, we coaches have to patiently wait for the stars to align with the right clients who are ready.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I run my private coaching practice as a certified executive leadership and mindset coach and emphasize “whole-person” coaching first and foremost. I believe how we show up anywhere is how we show up everywhere, so even if our coaching engagement starts from a business issue or concern, the personal life is always addressed and explored eventually. From my experience, we can never separate the person, even if there may be differences in how we think we engage with different people or situations.
As human beings, we all have blind spots and struggle with the “not enough” self-stories, so my role is to patiently and kindly hold space while the client journeys to uncover these stories. Too often, we have glossed over many misalignments in life, and sometimes the slight change in perspective is all it takes to realign and course correct to relaunch our lives most authentically. I’m constantly amazed at how brilliant all my clients are and their strength and desire for these transformations to occur.
Because of my multicultural background, I coach people of dual or multicultural backgrounds who live and work in the modern workplace. I often work with professionals who are keen to integrate their traditional cultural core values into their authentic leadership style. As an expert in cross-cultural communication and dynamics, Japanese subsidiary companies tend to bring me in to help integrate their staff culture as well.
As much as I love and enjoy working 1:1 with my private clients, I equally enjoy running group coaching programs, where I mix the benefits of the group, individuals, and peer-to-peer interaction to maximize the touchpoint of my clients.
Clients usually find me through referrals and word-to-mouth and start by booking an introductory call with me, where we meet to explore if we’re a good match before engaging in a coaching relationship. Some have been with me for years, some short-term or for a deep-dive session where we run a mindset assessment called the Energy Leadership™ Index Assessment to figure out the energies that show up daily and create awareness from there.
In sum, I feel coaching is a forever evolving platform, where I manifest all of my creativity, ideas, and heart to serve my clients’ growth and empowerment to bring more alignment, authenticity, and confidence into living life with joy and ease.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
The people who really helped me in the last couple of years have been the small business professionals I’ve had the fortune to meet and befriend along the way. We have an affinity for each other, cheer on, and share compassionately the challenges and celebrations we go through. I’m so lucky to have them in my corner, wherever in the world they may be, and I appreciate them day in and day out.
The other people I would like to give huge shoutouts are my amazing clients. My practice wouldn’t exist without them, so I am forever grateful to them for entrusting me as their coach.
Last but not least, I have to thank my partner, who continues to believe in me and support my work. Without him, I’m not sure if I’d be able to serve the world in the way I do, so I’m grateful for the unconditional springboard he is to me. Thank you!
Contact Info:
- Email: aska@askanaito.com
- Website: https://www.askanaito.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askanaito/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AskAskaNow/
