Today we’d like to introduce you to Marjorie King.
Marjorie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I wanted to coach people ever since I was 18 years old. Back then, I never mentioned it to people because I assumed they would look at me and say, “She’s too young. What does she know about life?” By that age though, I knew a lot about life and overcoming. I also knew that one of my superpowers was bringing energy and life into dark places. Speaking of dark places, I experienced and thrived through many by 18. I was the child of parents struggling with addictions, and my mom struggled to hold it together. After my mother couldn’t maintain anymore, I was adopted by relatives. Through all of the years of heartache, I was a very resilient young woman and I managed to thrive in every season of life. I carried some heavyweights on my back, but I was determined to live my best life. I realized early on that I owned my happiness and that I had to demand everything I wanted out of life. So by 18, I knew I wanted to help others tap into their resilience, strength, and curiosity.
I made sure that I took that same attitude into my career. After graduating from Howard University, I spent 6 years in a large consulting firm and received a few promotions. In my heart, I knew my projects weren’t aligned with my life’s values so I made the jump to not for profit full-time. This was a pivotal moment because I vowed to only work where I loved the mission. After 2.5 years in my first non-profit role, I was recruited and promoted by another, not for profit, with a mission to advance women leaders. In nearly 10 years, I’ve managed a successful career, started a not-for-profit, became a paid non-profit consultant, and now a coach. My career has been full of intentionally curated moves. I want to help others get clarity and confidence about what’s next, through my coaching practice, The Gifted Life. If you are not experiencing fulfillment at work or personally, I’m a Co-Active trained Career and Personal Development Coach.
Has it been a smooth road?
The journey has not been perfect, but I would be terrified if it was. I’ve learned that good things take work, sacrifice, and courage. One of the biggest obstacles I overcame was taking the leap of faith and making a hefty financial investment into a coaching program. I still believed people would think I was too young. This belief changed after dinner with my mentor one night. I remember sitting with her, I was so nervous to tell her my coaching dreams. Over the years, we talked much about my consulting career, so I thought she wouldn’t take something like coaching seriously. She told me, “I know you and you make everything you do excellent.” That was the affirmation and assurance I needed to be more confident and make the move. After this conversation, I enrolled in and completed a great program and my life’s been transformed because of it. My advice is to get a mentor, get a coach, be courageous, and build daily.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I specialize in helping professionals undergoing or seeking a major career or life transition. I love to ask the powerful questions that help people live each day in alignment with their wildest dreams, personal values, and financial goals. It is my aspiration for each of my clients to transform their lives so they can experience more clarity, confidence, and freedom in their careers and day-to-day. If you or someone you know is looking to change career paths, become a caregiver, start a business, or living a lackluster life reach out to me. I am happy to offer a free 45-minute coaching session focused on life purpose and personal values.
Here’s what one of my clients had to say about me.
“Marjorie is a coach that demands as much from her clients as she has from herself. She knows that dreams and goals are possible within everyone and WILL unlock the power within you to make it happen. She does not hold back and will expect your best, but you will trust her process and know it is from a place that wants you to meet and exceed your potential.” – David N., Sr. Director, U.S. Gov’t – Washington DC
“Going into this I was very unsure of what to expect. I had never seen a life coach, and honestly, I wasn’t 100% clear on what they actually did. I actually had fun in our session! Although it was over the phone it was very interactive, and definitely got me thinking. I enjoy it a lot! After speaking with Marjorie, I gained some real clarity on the next steps that I need to take to really move forward with my career! It was an amazing session, and I got more from it than I had imagined that I would! Marjorie is so great, and I look forward to working with her going forward!” – Shakoyah Brown
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I believe that there are work cultures that lack mentorship models and internal support systems to help women advance. This coupled with a lack of confidence that many women feel, makes it harder to navigate political workplaces. Getting promoted is easier with sponsorship and I am not seeing many environments where women are intentionally being sponsored, mentored maybe. The more we do to invest in ourselves, our learning, and others around us will help to reduce the impact of these barriers. Getting coached helps to build those competencies!
Contact Info:
- Phone: 3137120310
- Email: marjorieaking@gmail.com
- Instagram: @remiking
Image Credit:
@jazellew
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