As an executive coach in Silicon Valley, I’ve learned that leaders work harder than most people. They have clarity about where they want to go and they put in the hours to get there. But when it comes time to talk about themselves and their impact, many hesitate. They stumble. They blurt.

If this sounds like you, you’re not alone.

My client Dr. Teresa Nguyen wanted to avoid these common pitfalls. We first met at a communications workshop I was facilitating at Stanford. A few years later, when she finished her residency, she contacted me to help her move with more intention towards her career goals.

Her words in a recent email she sent me capture the formula for success we discovered together:

^{Visibility + Vision + Value = Velocity}

Her email shows the formula in action:

• Visibility — she stepped into public moments before she felt “ready.”

• Vision — she focused on the message, not her nerves.

• Value — she defined leadership in relationship to her audience.

• Velocity — we shortened the runway to get where she wanted to go.

Like Teresa, for your career to take off, you need to talk about yourself and the impact you create. There’s no way around it. And if you hesitate, stumble, or blurt when you try, let’s talk. I can help you sidestep those common pitfalls and move your career forward. Watching her, and my other clients, find their paths and lead with clarity has been one of the most rewarding parts of my own journey.

It’s taught me that leaders don’t emerge in a single leap of faith. With the support of a coach, they grow through steady, thoughtful steps that gather momentum. Teresa and I continue to work together to deepen her leadership presence, constantly retooling the formula, always refining the path forward.