Exclusive Interview With Jem Fuller – Leadership Coach, Author, Speaker
Updated: Feb 3, 2022
Jem Fuller is a trusted advisor and coach to executive and senior leaders across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. He brings a fresh perspective from his colourful life of adventures and experiences around the world; from barefoot backpacker, fire-dancer and tattooist, to kindergarten teacher, travel consultant and corporate leader (and many things in between!). His company, Leaders in Life, has been taking leaders on programs to the remote Himalayan mountains of NW India, the jungles of Northern Bali and remote desert regions of NW Australia since 2014. Jem combines his studies in various ancient healing modalities, mind practises and human behaviour to create practical and relatable strategies for improving leadership and culture. Jem is a TEDx speaker and the author of 'The Art of Conscious Communication for Thoughtful Men', and 'What Matters Most'. He is regarded as an expert in communication and resilience. Jem's mission: Making lives easier. You can watch his TEDx talk here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lxeRsIi1S0
Jem Fuller, Leadership Coach, Author, Speaker
Who is Jem Fuller?
Hello, my name is Jem Fuller. I live on a coastal farm in a famous surfing region of Victoria, Australia, with my partner and our four teenagers. I have packed a lot of colourful, crazy, global experiences into my 50 years; fire-dancer, tattooist, barefoot backpacker, kindergarten teacher, motorcycle courier, actor, singer-songwriter, healer, and corporate leader (just to name a few!). Since 2013 I have been running my own coaching practice and retreats company, helping senior leaders from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
I am passionate about the power of perspective, mindset and mindfulness to greatly enhance our experience of life and our ability to contribute. My mission is 'helping to make lives easier'. I love the outdoors; trekking, camping, surfing, mountain bike riding. I also LOVE learning and have a thirst for knowledge and experience.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
A pivotal moment in my life happened one of the nights I participated in an ancient North American Indian ritual – a sweat lodge. It’s basically a simplified sauna, created by a small dome-shaped canvas tent, with very hot rocks from a fire brought inside to create the heat. Small groups sit inside the pitch-black darkness for extended periods, chanting, singing and sweating.
We were guided by an elder. After some time, I became delirious and had an out of body experience, as if I was the five-year-old version of myself flying around in the sky. This event was followed later that night by a very vivid and prophetic dream, where I realised, I had spent most of my life harbouring the limiting belief of 'not being enough'.
This cathartic experience was the catalyst for me to commit to ‘re-wiring my neurology’ and self-beliefs (I am enough), which consequently led to my mid-life crisis/awakening and then to everything changing – in astoundingly wonderful ways. I lost my corporate job (a blessing), my unhappy marriage ended, I had to sell the house we’d built and start from scratch. But I was the happiest I’d ever been.
Jump forward and I’m now in beautifully conscious relationship, we live in paradise, I LOVE the work I do, and I know we can make dreams come true with a combination of the power of the mind, taking appropriate action, using your natural talents to add value and persistence.
I am very proud to have created a small not-for-profit school in the small Himalayan village that has become my second home in Himachal Pradesh, India. I am also very happy to recently have become a published author, with my first book – The Art of Conscious Communication for Thoughtful Men (available on Amazon and Booktopia).
What is your work inspired by?
I am inspired by many people, some nameless and some known; people who are passionate and committed to a cause, and who have the courage to keep moving into their potential, to explore what’s possible, and make a positive difference.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
If I could change one thing about my industry, it would be the overwhelming presence of online coaches selling courses on how to be a '6 or 7 figure' online coach. It seems self-perpetuating and shallow. Having the primary focus of getting rich, doesn’t necessarily lead to happiness. I believe it’s better to focus on what you love to do, using what you’re naturally good at, to meet a need of others. When you find this sweet spot, the money will come as a result.
