Today we’d like to introduce you to Katia C. Lord.
Hi Katia, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Born in Brazil to a loving family, I was raised by my parents, two sisters, and a large extended family. In my teens, I came to the US as an exchange student and developed a wonderful relationship with my “American family.” After returning to Brazil for a little over a year, they invited me to come study higher education here and live with them. My story in the US flourished from here. I met and married for 22 years… We are now amicably divorced and still very much friends. I have a 23-year-old son.
I studied biology and Art and was freelancing as a graphic designer before I graduated. I started as a freelancer and built a small boutique studio serving various industries, the largest being Universities around Atlanta. I also taught part-time in higher education, and that’s where I found out my vocation and developed a deep love for the young adult demographic. It was through my teaching experience that I decided to pivot careers in my second act.
In my career, I have been a visual communicator and brand strategist, university educator, and youth mentor. Teaching has always been a symbiotic exchange to me. Our ability to connect and offer value to one another is one of the most beautiful and fulfilling experiences for me. I found that my most joyful professional moments were while I was mentoring my students and clients, and with this self-realization, I made the decision to pivot into a professional coaching career, specifically in the areas of Self-Empowerment for young adults (18-28), and mature women (35-65) going through Mid-Life Transitions. These two areas are dear to my heart and where I have achieved the most success. It’s during the hardest moments in our lives that we most need our inner strength. I simply shine the light so that you can find your own way/path to navigate change and growth with confidence and grace.
This shift allows me deep personal fulfillment and inner alignment. Although I’ve always enjoyed the creative world, coaching is my calling!
I’m stimulated by new experiences, philosophical and deeper conversations, and the freedom to explore and create. I thrive under structure, collaboration, and daily spiritual practices. These days, I strive to live under my values: Integrity, Respect, Curiosity, Awareness, Faith, Kindness & Gratitude.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I was raised in a Latin culture, and I’m a number 9 in the enneagram. In my opinion, this is a bad recipe for all the negative sides of a “people pleaser.” I lived most of my life doing what was expected of me or what I thought others wanted me to do. In a way, that was fulfilling for me, but for all the wrong reasons. Eventually, I had to change…
Although the change of country in my teens was challenging, I was resilient and had the support I needed to endure the cultural differences and family distance. The biggest hurdles in my life happened in the last 7 years. I’m a life learner and have always been interested in growth. As my marriage was falling apart due to a lack of communication, I was going deeper and deeper into self-development, spirituality, and growth. With all the wisdom, life was quite hard for a little while during a set of major life traditions that came in all-in-one big swoop. I asked for a divorce after 23 years of marriage, my father-in-law passed away within a month of a cancer diagnosis, the pandemic shut down the world, and I lost my business. All within 6 months.
Obviously, I survived… In fact, after the initial shock, I ended up thriving and felt a lot of gratitude for everything, as it made me the person I’m today, a much stronger, resilient, and independent woman who does for others because I want to, not because I feel I have to.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
I’m a Creative Consultant and Owner of Design Mind Studio, a boutique design and brand studio. I focus mostly on Brand Development and Strategies these days. DM Studio was founded in 2001, and we have provided Graphic Design, Marketing, and Creative Consulting in the US, Canada, Latin America, and Europe.
Sunluz Coaching is my new venture, one I plan on focusing on in the next 20 years. I found that my most joyful professional moments were while I was mentoring my students and clients, and with this self-realization, I made the decision to pivot into a professional coaching career, specifically in the areas of Self-Empowerment for young adults (18-28), and mature women (35-65) going through Mid-Life Transitions. These two areas are dear to my heart and where I have achieved the most success. It’s during the hardest moments in our lives that we most need our inner strength. I simply shine the light so that you can find your own way/path to navigate change and growth with confidence and grace.
Aside from Coaching, I also developed a 3-pillar program focused on Regenerative Self-Empowerment for Young adults, covering Self-development, Relationships, and Vocational Purposes.
This shift allows me deep personal fulfillment and inner alignment. Although I’ve always enjoyed the creative world, coaching is my calling!
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Integrity, consistency, curiosity, presence, active listening, and sensing.
Contact Info:
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katialord/
Image Credits
No Greater Love Photography
