From Corporate Life to Coaching with Purpose: Colleen Guerriero’s Inspiring Journey
In a recent episode of Grit Won’t Quit, host Tom Mirabella sits down with Colleen Guerriero, founder of A Joyful Career, to explore her powerful transition from nearly three decades in the corporate world to a fulfilling new life as a leadership and career coach. Colleen shares not only the highs and lows of her professional evolution but also the deep “why” behind her mission: helping others find joy, connection, and purpose in their careers.
A Corporate Career with a Human Focus
Colleen spent 29 years at Verizon, where she evolved through a series of company mergers and changing roles. As a sales engineer and architect, she worked with Fortune 100 clients and navigated long, complex sales cycles. Despite the challenges, she thrived in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, crediting her continued engagement to the variety of roles and relationships she developed.
But as her children grew and she and her husband considered a fresh start, the idea of change became more appealing. They relocated from New Jersey to North Carolina—before her new Verizon role was even secured. That leap of faith led her to build an innovative early career program at Verizon from the ground up—an experience that would spark her entrepreneurial path.
Building Talent, Trust, and Confidence
Charged with developing an early career program for Verizon’s sales engineering division, Colleen hired and trained 40 new graduates over three years. With no blueprint to follow, she created a comprehensive boot camp, cultivated a strong team culture, and coached each team member one-on-one. Her goal? To make each person feel seen, capable, and confident—something she believes is missing in many corporate environments.
Inspired to deepen her leadership impact, Colleen pursued a master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology—the study of human behavior at work. This education, paired with her real-world leadership experience, became the foundation for her next chapter.
Leaving the Corporate World—and Finding Her Voice
When her beloved early-career program was disbanded, Colleen took on a new internal role in HR. But the change in pace and structure wasn’t a fit. Used to autonomy and decision-making power, she realized what she truly wanted: to run her own business, on her own terms.
In 2022, Colleen officially launched A Joyful Career, where she now leads leadership coaching sessions, career development programs, and trust-building team workshops for businesses that want to create stronger, more connected workplace cultures.
Coaching That Builds Real Culture Change
So what makes Colleen’s coaching unique? Her emphasis on trust.
In her workshops, teams don’t just learn leadership skills or communication strategies—they build the psychological safety needed for vulnerability, innovation, and real collaboration. Through interactive sessions and insightful exercises, Colleen helps leaders and teams see each other more clearly, share honest feedback, and grow stronger together.
As she puts it, “Team success starts at the top.” When leaders model respect, trust, and open communication, those values ripple through the organization. She’s seen firsthand how this shift transforms not just individual careers, but entire cultures.
Lessons for Leaders and Entrepreneurs Alike
For those considering a pivot into entrepreneurship, Colleen offers encouragement—and honesty. Starting a business is rarely a straight line. You try things. Some work, others don’t. But it’s in the trying, she says, that you find clarity and confidence.
In her first year, Colleen landed a corporate client just six weeks after launching by reaching out to her network and being honest about her new mission. She credits her early success to persistence, clear messaging, and yes—her favorite digital assistant, ChatGPT.
Whether you’re a leader looking to build a better culture, a team in need of connection, or someone navigating a career shift, Colleen’s message is clear: you don’t have to go it alone. With the right guidance, it’s possible to find your joy—and help others do the same.
Ready to Build a More Joyful Career or Workplace?
Connect with Colleen Guerriero:
🌐 Website: www.ajoyfulcareer.com
This podcast episode was filmed at Wingman Planning in Belmar.
