From Finance to Life and Relationship Coaching: Molly Godfrey
Entrepreneurship is in Molly’s blood. Coming from a family who owns a financial services firm, being in the same field seemed to be the obvious choice, which she did for most of her twenties. But she left her career in corporate finance to do something less coventional but has more personal impact. Now as a trained desire, intimacy, and integrated mental health coach, she helps women get to know themselves in a real and honest way to have the fulfilling connections & relationships they’ve been wanting.
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Q: Tell us about your current work roles.
I am a life and relationship coach based in New York City. I work with women on helping them to develop their backbone and strengthen their boundaries in relationships. Return to their feminine nature, and create a deep and meaningful relationship with themselves and others. I also write. I have a staff position contributing to a mindful lifestyle blog and my personal writing is often featured in various online publications involving women’s issues and sex/intimacy topics.
Q: What led you to that career?
I became a coach because I saw a lot of disharmony in the dating world. I believe women and men have a hard time understanding each other and each other’s needs. I wanted to make it easier for women to speak up and go after what they really want and desire for themselves and within their relationships. I like to think I serve as a source of permission. That it’s ok to be powerful and vulnerable and not settle. That you CAN have it all.
Q: What is your educational background?
Professionally I have a Bachelor of Science in Finance. After I left the corporate finance world I began training in the realm of desire, intimacy and began deeply studying the dynamics of the masculine and feminine. As a result, I’m a trained desire & intimacy coach as well as an integrated mental health coach.
Q: Did you have any life-changing experiences that led you to what you’re doing today?
Yes. I struggled a lot in my own romantic relationships. I deeply craved connection and love but I was going about it all the wrong ways. I had a successful career, close friends, and lots of nice things however I didn’t really know who I was or what I wanted. I knew I wanted a partner but I kept dating the wrong people, chasing the wrong things, and making the same mistakes. When I actually got the proper tools and education after working with coaches and teachers myself I developed more self-awareness and love. After that, I was more available and able to pursue the deep love and connection I was craving and now I coach women through that process for themselves too.
Q: How has your family and upbringing influenced your career choices?
I went to business school and studied finance because my mother is a successful entrepreneur herself. She runs a registered investment firm in Upstate NY and dreamed of me joining her firm. I wanted to make her happy. I wanted to give back to my family but ultimately when I got honest, it was her dream for me and it wasn’t mine. It was very difficult to walk away from an incredible opportunity that would have brought my family a lot of pride, but I knew that to abandon my own path and dream of creating something for myself would have repercussions. Watching my mom start and grow her own successful business inspired me to do the same but in a completely different field. We share the same love for women and have the same heart of service. She is a women-owned and operated enterprise as am I. We just chose different ways to channel our skills and passions.
It was very difficult to walk away from an incredible opportunity that would have brought my family a lot of pride, but I knew that to abandon my own path and dream of creating something for myself would have repercussions.
Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing?
I am most proud of making the leap to start my business. At first, I just had a few clients here and there but making the decision to commit full time was absolutely terrifying. I had gotten a few interesting job offers and opportunities in the women’s health industry even after I left my career in finance and to turn them down felt so risky but I knew I needed to continue to trust and build my business. It hasn’t been easy. Being an entrepreneur will teach you so much about yourself and requires a lot in the beginning but I couldn’t be more proud of my choice.
Q: What would you say motivates you most to do what you do?
I am motivated by the impact my work has on others. Seeing clients transform before my eyes continues to motivate me to get more visibility, offer more services, be more out in the world. And it’s not even about me really. I’m just the witness, the guide, to the unfolding process and growth, it’s really the client who does all the hard work. I don’t think there are enough spaces and communities that exist for women. There’s more being created every day but we need more of each other, to hear more stories, hear more voices. Experience fully embodied women who speak up and share themselves. I meet so many women who are still hiding, avoiding the best parts of themselves. I feel motivated to make sure they get seen and heard too and told it’s ok to be yourself, we need you.
On Making a Career Shift
Q: How did you find the courage to leap from one field to another?
It was hard. Everyone told me I was crazy for walking away from such a successful career and a lucrative industry. At the time I had just gotten offered equity in my firm that would have been a huge payout had I instead stayed. I just knew I couldn’t do it. There was this gnawing feeling inside that I had to keep searching. The answer didn’t appear immediately, I just knew I needed something new and then I found myself in the coaching community not too shortly after. Something spoke to me, it’s hard to put into words. Even though it felt terrifying and unknown, there was something that said I’d still be taken care of, and I just had to trust, make the leap and the net indeed appeared. It still has with every tough choice I make.
Even though it felt terrifying and unknown, there was something that said I’d still be taken care of, and I just had to trust, make the leap and the net indeed appeared.
Q: What has been the greatest challenge for you when it comes to switching careers?
I think the biggest challenge has been trusting in myself and continuing to believe I’m on the right path. My old coworkers and own family have doubted and questioned me at many times and turns. I’ve had to stop looking to other people for approval, for the assurance I’m doing the right thing. I’ve had to develop an internal compass, build a new community, be willing to put myself out there and ask for help, advice, mentorship. Hire new coaches, continue to invest in my business and me. Sacrifice other things. It’s been lonely at times. I’ve wanted to quit a bunch but every time I do, a new resource or person seems to magically appear to remind me I’m doing the right thing.
Q: What advice do you have for others who want to switch careers?
Be patient. Nothing ever happens as fast as you want it to, or within the timeline you want, or looks the way you think it will. The path is not at all linear but you owe it to yourself to search, to look within, to explore, to do trial and error. If one door closes, I promise another will open. Ask for help sooner than you think you need to. Listen as much as you can. Ask questions, interview people. Be willing to get quiet. To really hear. But ultimately trust. Every single person has a unique gift to give the world. Your job is to get free so that you can offer it. At the bare minimum just start to invest in yourself. Do self-work. Heal your trauma, pain, beliefs and I can guarantee more will be revealed.
The path is not at all linear but you owe it to yourself to search, to look within, to explore, to do trial and error.
Q: What’s next for you, what are you looking forward to?
I am working on a memoir. I’ve been writing it piece by piece but I’m hoping to have a draft done by the end of the year. I’d like to travel more and teach at retreats, offer courses online so I can work with more women, have more of an extended reach. I am looking forward to more learning and growing personally. I have a wonderful partner and I’m hoping to spend more time together, travel, and write.
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Learn more about and connect with Molly at:
Website: mollygodfrey.com
Instagram: @askformolly
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-godfrey/