ABOUT ME
Vanessa P. Kuljis
Strengths Coach
Authenticity Advocate
Lawyer
I empower professionals like you to succeed by being yourself --
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to own your strengths, get clear on what authentic success means to you, then take action to make it real and make an impact.
​Speaker Bio
The highlights
Strengths Coach, Authenticity Advocate, and Lawyer, Vanessa helps individuals and teams seeking clarity about their next big endeavor to maximize their potential, own their worth, and set and achieve authentic growth goals.
Her coaching process is grounded in authenticity because it is an essential component of success, well-being, and sustainable growth.
Vanessa received her JD from the University of Chicago and contributes a unique perspective as a coach by leveraging her diverse experience in: corporate litigation practice at two AmLaw 100 firms in Miami, a secondment to the in-house legal department of a multinational bank in London, coaching and project management at a nonprofit diversity organization in New York City, and building programs as a higher education Director at a law school focusing on professional coaching and leadership development.
Now, Vanessa works with high-potential people and companies to strategically and authentically evolve. As a GALLUP Certified Strengths Coach and founder of BloomRise, Vanessa uses the CliftonStrengths assessment which measures natural talents -- the way individuals are "wired" to think, feel, and behave at the beginning of each coaching journey.
Also certified in mindfulness and yoga, Vanessa’s coaching process is as much about professional development as it is about self-care. The more you thrive, the more you inspire and serve.
Vanessa is especially passionate about working with individuals and groups who want to succeed professionally and use their success to serve a bigger vision for impact. As a Latina and first-generation lawyer, she is also committed to elevating opportunities for professionals from underrepresented groups. Developing cultural competency and working with global teams has been a feature of her team leadership and coaching experience. She founded her coaching company, BloomRise on the idea that: "when you bloom, we all rise."
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Qualifications
University of Chicago, JD
University of Miami, BA in English & Psychology
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Certifications
GALLUP Certified Strengths Coach
MINDFRESH Corporate Mindfulness
200-hr. Yoga Teacher, Sonic Yoga, NYC
Florida Bar License
I am based in Miami, Florida (USA) but work virtually with clients worldwide.
If you want to know whether I can be available for an in-person event, please send me a message.
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Read on for a more detailed story of my professional path told through 6 lessons I've learned so far.
6 lessons I've learned along my professional journey (so far)
The details
1. You’ll need courage if you’re going to live a big life. Courage is rooted in self-trust. It’s about developing the tenacity to own your story with your whole heart and do what you feel you must even if it scares you.
I’ve made several career changes that felt like big leaps as they were happening: from law firm to nonprofit to higher education to entrepreneurship. I’m proud of the intentional choices and risks I took at each stage.
As a coach, I contribute a unique perspective by leveraging my diverse experience in:
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corporate litigation practice at two AmLaw 100 firms in Miami,
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a secondment to the in-house legal department of a multinational bank in London,
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coaching and project management at a nonprofit diversity organization in New York City, and
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building programs as a higher education Director at a law school focusing on professional coaching and leadership development.
Now, as a GALLUP-certified Strengths Coach and entrepreneur, I work with high-potential people and companies to strategically and authentically evolve.
2. You are powerful, not in spite of your differences but because you are different. Others may have a similar job or mission to yours, but no one will do it like you. No one is you. That is your superpower.
I became a GALLUP-certified Strengths coach because after taking lots of other assessments over the years my CliftonStrengths results finally convinced me that that I could succeed by being myself.
My CliftonStrengths provided evidence, in black-and-white, that my natural abilities aren’t just a random collection of character traits, they are guideposts for my personal brand of success. Learning my CliftonStrengths gave me language to explain my natural talents and validated what I’d known for years about the kind of work that did and didn’t motivate me. This was instrumental in encouraging me to advocate for myself at work, then to finally do what I had wanted to do for a long time – start my entrepreneurial journey.
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I now start each coaching journey with the CliftonStrengths assessment which measures natural talents -- the way individuals are "wired" to think, feel, and behave.
I know from experience that your brilliance is probably your blindspot, too. We become so accustomed to, and maybe even insecure about, what makes us different. We forget that our unique brand of genius is also what makes us uniquely suited to succeed in the way only we can.
3. Authenticity is generous. Becoming your best self blazes the trail for others. It makes you a force for change, for good, and for a more beautiful world. The more you shine, the more you serve.
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Authentic success has a profound ripple effect on the world around us. I founded my coaching company, BloomRise on the idea that: "when you bloom, we all rise." I am especially passionate about working with individuals and teams who want to use their success to serve a bigger vision for impact.
Developing cultural competency and working with global teams has been a feature of my team leadership and coaching experience. As a Latina and first-generation lawyer, I am committed to creating cultures of belonging and elevating opportunities for professionals from underrepresented groups.
Another important objective of strengths-based coaching is to generate clarity about the diversity of strengths and workstyles on a team, which is but one of many important facets of diversity. We cannot succeed alone. We need each other and the unique perspectives and strengths that each person brings.
4. You don’t just want a better work situation, you want more life in your life – more joy, connection, peace, flow, health and vitality.
I am often told by others that I provide a sense of calm to their chaos and that my coaching sessions feel restorative.
As a certified mindfulness and yoga teacher, my coaching process is as much about professional development as it is about self-care which is the opposite of selfish, just like authenticity. The more you thrive the more you can inspire and impact.
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I earned my yoga-teacher certification in New York City while recovering from the slow burn of disconnection that often happens while steeped in the hustle of corporate culture. Many of my coaching practices are inspired by mindfulness and mindset practices I've learned over the years.
My coaching philosophy is based on the foundational beliefs that: authenticity is an asset, freedom is a choice, and a beautiful life is our birthright. When we’re stuck we feel just the opposite – that being ourselves is a liability, that freedom is an unattainable ideal, and that we're going to be trapped forever in an awful situation. An important part of strengths coaching is learning to see yourself with new eyes so you can become mindful of the possibilities that have been hiding all around you in plain sight. It's a constant practice for me, too.
5. When you begin to think it’s too crazy to make a big change, you learn that it’s even crazier to stay in a situation that is diminishing the quality of your relationships. There are certain things no amount of money can buy like time, presence, health, and connection. Maximizing these is true wealth.
My dedication to professional success is outmatched by my determination to be present for the people I love and to enjoy the life I've worked hard to build.
One of my favorite ways to do this has been on travel adventures with my family to over 32 countries and counting. I started traveling in 2010 and have made it a priority ever since (yes, even during my BigLaw years and during the pandemic). Traveling has been an integral part of my becoming. It continues to be an investment in uninterrupted quality time with my husband of 13 years and now, our toddler.
While I am endlessly energized by exploring cities, of all the places we've been, some of the most inspiring to date have been multi-day hikes in Torres del Paine, Chile and the Annapurna region of Nepal.
6. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Connection is a source of courage. Rekindle your spark by plugging in, not tapping out.
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Many teachers, coaches, mentors, and friends have helped light a path forward for me and still do.
If you'd like to work with me, I'll give you some insight into my coaching style by sharing my top 5 CliftonStrengths: Strategic, Adaptability, Intellection, Input, and Individualization. If you don’t know what these are, that’s okay. I’ll explain in practical terms.
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You’ll come to know me as a grounded, inspiring, generous, and thoughtful trail-blazer.
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I'm often told that my grounded energy brings calm in times of change.
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I see and seize possibilities where others might see obstacles or feel stuck.
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As a naturally present and thoughtful listener, I’ll make you feel supported and deeply seen – because you are. I seek to understand and to reflect your greatness back to you.
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My non-judgmental style of coaching allows you the space and freedom to speak authentically.
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Adept at asking thought-provoking questions to get to the heart of a matter, I come to a non-superficial understanding of you and/or your team's background, strengths, and preferences and apply those insights in real time to push you forward.​
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I love going above-and-beyond for you, sending you follow-up notes and often recommending other resources and ideas to help you grow.
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My advantage as a coach is my natural ability to identify your unique potential, bring clarity to chaos, and empower you to take tangible steps toward goals that are authentically your own.
If you want to know how I unpacked all of that using my CliftonStrengths, I'd love to empower you to define your unique brand of brilliance, too. If you're ready to connect, scroll down to schedule a discovery call.
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To read more about why past clients have called coaching with me "life-changing" and "transformative" see the testimonials.