Embrace Your True Potential and Lead from Within – Exclusive Interview with Zeljka Cacic-Escalera

In this interview, Zeljka Cacic-Escalera, a Senior Manager at Accenture and transformation coach, discusses how her coaching philosophy – Awaken, Align, Activate – helps high-performing women navigate personal and professional transitions. With a focus on self-awareness and emotional regulation, Zeljka guides her clients through meaningful, sustainable change. Learn how she empowers women to break free from limiting beliefs and create lasting transformation in their lives and careers.

Zeljka Cacic-Escalera, Transformation Coach

Who is Zeljka Cacic-Escalera?

I am a transformation coach with a strong corporate background, currently working as a Senior Manager at Accenture. I combine strategic thinking with deep inner work to support people through meaningful personal and professional change.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time in nature, traveling, and continuous learning. Reflection plays an important role in my life – I regularly assess where I am and where I want to go. I am highly goal-oriented and motivated by progress and growth. Music is another important anchor for me; I enjoy listening to it and attending concerts. I also value business events for women, where I connect with like-minded individuals and engage in meaningful exchange.

In business, I am solution-oriented and strongly client-focused. As a leader, I am passionate about empowering others and supporting them in becoming the best version of themselves. I am part of a female leadership program and actively support young female professionals in their career development.

Something interesting about me is that I genuinely enjoy being a host – bringing people together and creating spaces for connection. I also strongly believe in reciprocity: when you act with integrity and do good for others, positive outcomes tend to follow.

What inspired you to transition from your corporate background to becoming a transformation coach?

My transition was not a departure from the corporate world but an expansion of my impact. While continuing my role at Accenture, I felt a growing desire to invest more time in work that is deeply meaningful and purpose-driven.

I have personally navigated significant personal and professional challenges and sought the support of a coach during critical phases of my life. That experience reshaped how I view growth and change. Although coaching and mentoring have always been part of my corporate work, I felt a strong calling to support people outside of that environment – individuals who feel stuck or powerless, yet know they want to change their lives.

I see myself as a bridge maker. I can relate to where my clients are because I have stood there myself. I understand both sides – the uncertainty before change and the clarity that follows once aligned decisions are made. My role is not to provide answers, but to guide people back to their own.

How does your corporate experience inform your current coaching philosophy and approach to transformation?

My corporate experience gives me a grounded, realistic perspective. I understand pressure, complexity, leadership responsibility, and performance expectations. This allows me to coach in a way that is both empathetic and pragmatic.

My coaching method – Awaken, Align, Activate – reflects this balance.

First, clients "Awaken" awareness around limiting beliefs, emotional patterns, and unconscious behaviors. Then, they "Align" by building habits and an identity that support the life they want to live. Finally, they "Activate" through consistent, aligned action.

This structured approach ensures that inner transformation translates into real, sustainable change in daily life and leadership.

What is your core coaching philosophy, and what makes it effective for creating meaningful, sustainable change?

My core belief is that lasting transformation occurs when self-awareness, emotional regulation, and intentional action work together. Change does not happen through force or motivation alone, but through alignment.

This approach is effective because it respects both the emotional and rational dimensions of change. Clients learn to challenge themselves while staying connected to themselves – creating progress that is both meaningful and sustainable.

Who do you primarily serve, and what are the biggest hurdles they face before working with you?

I primarily work with women between their twenties and mid-forties who are navigating transitions in their personal or professional lives. Many are high-performing and outwardly successful, yet feel disconnected or unfulfilled.

Common hurdles include limiting beliefs around not being “good enough,” people-pleasing tendencies, and the pressure to meet expectations that are not truly their own. The fear of disappointing others often keeps them stuck in situations that no longer align with who they are.

Can you share a story or example of a client who experienced a significant transformation working with you?

One client came to me feeling emotionally exhausted and defined by performance. Her sense of self-worth was closely tied to external validation.

Through our work, she developed awareness of her patterns, learned to regulate her emotions, and began making decisions aligned with her values. Over time, she experienced greater confidence, clearer communication, and a more stable inner foundation. The most significant shift was how she related to herself – with clarity rather than self-judgment.

What is the most common misconception people have about transformation or personal development?

A common misconception is that happiness will follow once a specific goal is achieved. In reality, true transformation requires deeper self-inquiry.

It means asking difficult questions: Who am I without my role, my relationship, or my achievements? Many people avoid these questions because the emotions they evoke can be uncomfortable. Yet meaningful transformation often requires emotional courage, honesty, and the willingness to make difficult decisions – even when they involve loss or disappointment.

How do you help clients build the trust and credibility necessary to sustain their changes long-term?

Trust is built through consistency. I support clients in setting realistic commitments, reflecting on progress without judgment, and developing accountability toward themselves.

As self-trust grows, clients naturally strengthen their credibility in how they make decisions, communicate boundaries, and show up in their personal and professional lives.

What role does personal branding play in the transformation process for your clients?

Personal branding is the external expression of internal alignment. When clients are clear about who they are and what they stand for, their presence becomes authentic and consistent.

Rather than creating an image, we focus on embodiment – allowing values, clarity, and confidence to shape how they are perceived.

What is one key piece of advice you would give to someone looking to make a significant change in their life or career right now?

Do not wait for certainty. Clarity is created through action, reflection, and honesty with yourself. Start with one aligned decision. Sustainable change begins with courage, not perfection.

Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info!

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