Kindly brief us about the outset story of your career.

I spent 15 years in marketing and advertising, handling local and multinational brands. Admittedly, working in a cutthroat industry resulted in having very high stress levels, ridiculous expectations and lost sense of self as my work became my life per se. But as fate would have had it, after finding myself at the lowest point in my life way back in 2014 after being betrayed by a friend who left me almost bankrupt and with so much debt and being in a physically abusive relationship then, I made that life changing choice to explore. I then found myself gravitating towards life coaching while I was in the process of healing through my daily postings about my personal learnings on Facebook then using #bestmeever. 10 years after and now as a multi-awarded Global Master Coach named as one of the top 30 Global Gurus in Coaching for 2024, #bestmeever has become my coaching platform across multimedia, the title of my international best-selling book series and the anchor of all my talks and workshops given all over the world so that everyone can discover and become their own authentic, unapologetic, grandest version of themselves.

As a successful leader, which three personal qualities do you believe contributed most to your success?

I have always kept these 3 core values close to my heart. Authenticity, credibility and integrity.

Allow me to explain why.

Authenticity – As I continuously advocate for inclusivity and diversity, I always believed that everyone deserves to take up space as he/she is. I have always remembered that my goal when I decided to enter the coaching industry was to become the first ever Myke Celis the world ever had, and not be a replica of anyone else, to be able to inspire people to embrace their uniqueness and find their own space and voice amidst a sea of people.

Credibility – I totally believe that before you can help others work on themselves, you must first work on yourself and secure the necessary steps to become a legit expert in whatever it is that you do. In my case, before becoming a coach myself, I got myself a coach, got certified by a reputable coaching institution accredited by the International Coaching Federation, and did my required trainings, apprenticeship and coaching hours, abiding by the highest coaching standards so I could maximize my practice and come up with a portfolio of clients whose testimonials can speak of my work. It’s all about being able to walk the talk.

Integrity – I don’t really subscribe to the notion of “fake it till you make it” as I have always been an advocate of honesty in one’s practice. At the end of the day, only real results stemming from genuine intentions and hard work can make one feel truly happy, complete and fulfilled. Plus, as they say, the truth will always come out, so it’s important to just embrace it from the very beginning to spare yourself from future hassles.

What are the aims and ideals that guide you as an individual and a professional?

I have always embraced my purpose of speaking to inspire. So I make sure that each time I speak (or write as an author), I come from a space of genuine intention to help people overcome limiting beliefs, spark hope and allow them to embrace their own authentic, unapologetic, grandest version of themselves: their own #bestmeever.

By doing this, hopefully I can help create a world where everyone is allowed to take up space and no one gets left behind.

What have been the toughest obstacles you faced in your career?

Before, it was starting from scratch. Having no background in coaching at all, I had to study, work my way up and build my own portfolio to showcase my work so that people would take notice. It was quite a humbling experience having people turn me down because I was a newbie and admittedly there were times I wanted to give up but still I held on to my purpose. However, things changed when I was able to show them and let them experience themselves the results I could deliver as I grew in my practice.

Now, I think one of the challenges I face is maintaining the integrity of the coaching practice for everyone in general. Nowadays, a lot of people call themselves as coaches, banking on certifications they got online for as low as $10 USD, without really taking time to practice and follow international coaching standards. While I totally respect that people will only go for what they can afford as of the moment, my prayer is to be able to regulate the practice and align it with global coaching standards since handling mental health and personal/professional growth issues is not something to take lightly as one can create havoc on a person’s life via wrong processing. I do my part though by writing articles for Coaching World, the official blog of the International Coaching Federation, about coaching tips and tricks to help aspiring coaches with their own practice.

Do you have a mantra that you live by?

Always do (and be) what truly makes you happy, complete and fulfilled. You can never go wrong with that, in my opinion. And yes, that always worked for me, especially when making life changing decisions.

Who in your life inspires you the most?

Apart from my loved ones, friends, followers, readers and viewers who all make my heart overflow with gratitude as they shower me continuously with love and support, I am inspired by my younger self.

Growing up from a dysfunctional family and having been bullied as a kid, I always strive now to make my younger self proud and be the person I have always wanted to be, and in the process, inspire others to not be defined by whatever happened to them in the past and just keep going and growing.

What would be your future endeavours and where do you see yourself in the near future?

I really want to put up my own coaching retreat house by the beach: a 12-room Bed and Breakfast place, where people can embark on their self-discovery journey while feeling loved and very much safe. I am looking at putting it in one of the best beaches in the world: Boracay in the Philippines, a personal favorite of mine.

Another thing that I am considering after co-hosting on radio for 6 years now, would love to have my own TV-Radio program that focuses on good vibes, positivity and live coaching on-air. Would also want to be part of an LGBTQIA+ TV show like Queer Eye so I can continue to champion for inclusivity and diversity while using my coaching practice to help others. Putting it here in case someone will be interested in getting me. Haha!

Your journey has been inspiring, and it sets a great example for aspiring leaders. What advice do you have for them?

Whatever you’ve been through, whatever you’re going through as of the moment and whatever still awaits you, just keep going. Keep growing. You’re on your way to your own #bestmeever.