My Coaching Journey: Passion, Purpose, and the Pivot

In this episode, I share my journey into coaching—from growing up as a multi-sport athlete to rising through the ranks of higher education leadership, and ultimately making the bold decision to pivot into mental performance coaching.

What began as a career in education evolved into a mission-driven practice of supporting athletes, coaches, and parents in strengthening both body and mind. Nassim opens up about walking away from a traditional path, reconnecting with her purpose, and blending her love of sports, psychology, and growth into a life-changing new direction.

Whether you're at a crossroads, curious about how passion and purpose can shape a career, or simply want to know a little more about me, this episode offers inspiration and insight into what it means to become your stronger self—on and off the field.

Transcript

Speaker: 0:01

I'm Dr. Nassim Ebrahimi, and welcome to Becoming My Stronger Me, a podcast designed to help you become stronger in mind, body, and heart. In season two, the mental performance series, we'll explore the intricate relationship between mental performance, sports excellence, leadership, and personal growth to help you become your stronger you. Today's episode is a little different. Instead of interviewing a guest or sharing a concept or a topic, I'm sharing something personal, my own journey into coaching. This is a story about movement, mindset, and the unexpected turns that shape who we become. It's also about choosing alignment over achievement, because sometimes, even when everything looks right on paper, it's not what's right for your soul. So let's take it back to the beginning. I've always been deeply connected to sports. Soccer was my first love growing up, but my passion for movement went far beyond the pitch. I played volleyball, did dance, did martial arts, ran cross-country and track, and even picked up tennis along the way. As I got older, that love didn't fade. It just evolved. I joined adult soccer leagues, embraced the challenge of CrossFit, and even became a certified indoor rowing instructor. But here's the thing: my path into coaching wasn't traditional. Professionally, I started in higher education. I worked in the community college sector as a faculty member, then a research analyst, and eventually moved into executive leadership. I was on track for a college presidency. From the outside, it looked like everything was lining up. Then came 2020. Like so many people, I found myself at a crossroads during COVID. I had the opportunity to apply for a college president role, but I paused. And in that pause, I realized something important. I had been climbing a ladder, but I wasn't sure it was leaning against the right wall. So I made a bold choice. With the support of my family, I resigned without a backup plan. I took time to reflect, to listen, and to reconnect with what I truly cared about. And what's always been true across every role I've held is this I care deeply about helping people grow, about using education to make a meaningful impact. So I asked myself, what would it look like to combine my love for sports, my background in psychology, and my experience in education? The answer I came up with? Coaching. But not just any coaching, mental performance coaching. Today I help athletes, coaches, and parents develop the mindset skills that elevate both performance and well-being. I work with professional athletes and elementary schoolers, club teams and individual clients. I lead group workshops, partner with clubs and schools, and help organizations create cultures of development, learning, and potential. And at the heart of all of this work is a belief I hold deeply. Real growth happens when we train the body and the mind. My path into this field wasn't linear, but it was intentional. It was driven by purpose, by a willingness to pivot, and by a deep desire to walk alongside others as they become their stronger selves. So if you've ever been at a crossroads, if you've ever questioned whether you were on the right path, or if you felt called to take a leap, even if the next step wasn't clear. I hope this very short episode reminds you that every twist in the road can bring you closer to alignment. Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting me on my journey, no matter where it's been taking me. And thank you for allowing me to share a piece of this story with you. If you want to connect, explore coaching, or just chat, reach out. I'd love to hear from you. Until next time, keep becoming your stronger you. Until next time, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, join our Facebook group, send in your stories and feedback. And if you're looking for a mental performance coach or want more information, go to www.becoming my strongerme.com. We can't wait to hear from you.