Exclusive Interview With Lucie Matsouaka ‒ Certified Professional Career Coach

Lucie S. Matsouaka is an Author and Career Coach who believes that it’s not enough to help people look good on paper before a job interview. According to her, more can be done than just a mere image touch up and a resume boost.

As an International Youth Leadership Coach, she gives our young leaders the tools they need to separate themselves from the masses to have a successful career, whatever “career” means to them. She also the founder of L’Emergence De L’Entrepreneur, a French-speaking empowerment platform where she teaches emerging entrepreneurs how to navigate the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship and meanders to stand out and be successful.

Lucie Matsouaka, Certified Professional Career Coach

Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.

I like to introduce myself first as a wife and mother, simply because I know raising my kids and preparing them to face the world we live in is my greatest responsibility on Earth. I do that by educating them, by exposing them to different cultures and experiences, and by working on myself as well.

I am also an author, international speaker, Certified Career and Youth Leadership Coach as well as a bilingual personal development coach for emerging entrepreneurs (French and English). Four years ago, I founded a consulting company in French called "L’Emergence De L’Entrepreneur" and in English "Career Coaching with Lucie".

How do you help your clients?

Before becoming a Career and Youth Leadership Coach, I was exclusively working with emerging entrepreneurs and young professionals. My role is to shift people's views and perspectives. I help them see the world differently by helping them see themselves how God sees them so they can find the drive to fulfill their purpose. Why Career and Youth Leadership field? Throughout our conversations with my mentees around the world, I noticed a trend that drew my attention: many people go to the workforce without the right foundation, i.e., based on self-belief, self-leadership, and the right attitude. These three elements are crucial, no matter what the word "career" means to you. It is always hard, when one, two, or the three are missing. Trust me, I've been there. In fact, it took me years and years of hard work to believe that I have something to offer to the world. For years, my self-doubt hurt me professionally (and by default, financially). I want to prevent others from falling into the same trap. I think the best moment to start is right before the youth goes into the workforce. Therefore, my mission (and my duty) is to help our youngsters shorten their learning curve.

What kind of audience do you target your business towards?

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, I worked with groups of women and early college students. For the past two years, I've also worked in partnership with international organisations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), both domestically in the US and overseas. My work with UNESCO entails preparing the youth for career and self-leadership. The goal is to give them the necessary leadership tools so that they can excel in their future career, no matter what the word "career" means to them. I also worked with a group of high school teachers and university professors in Nepal (Asia), where we discussed ways educators could help future leaders (i.e., their students) succeed. Recently, I was invited in Cameroon (Africa) to work with two local organizations. Working with organizations allows me to reach and interact with diverse groups of people at once. It has enriched my viewpoint and helped me teach, listen to their concerns, and provide suggestions as well as proven strategies to solve their problems more efficiently.

What are your current goals for your business?

My current goal is to go global. After the US, Europe, and Africa, my next step will be Latin America. I already have spoken to youth from around the globe through my online trainings (via either UNESCO or my personal contacts). Now, I would like to go in person when the time is right. While virtual trainings are great, I'm a firm believer that when you have the chance to meet people face to face, you can both learn from each other. This is key and personal connection is extremely important and often difficult to achieve over the internet.

What would you like to achieve for yourself and your business in the future?

You see, young people have great dreams and aspirations, but they might not know how to express them, leverage them, or channel them properly. Unfortunately, we often hear adults complain "Young people these days don't listen...” or “Back in my day...". These statements often create tension between adults and the youth who feel misunderstood and tend to rebel. I hate blanket statements. I'm strongly against the belief that young people don't know what they want. How would they know if we don't teach them? How will they listen to us if they feel misunderstood? As a parent of future leaders myself, I know this feeling too well. Sometimes we're not prophets in our own homes. The fear many parents, leaders and educators have is that the youth they're responsible for will be negatively influenced by the wrong guidance and get lost. I want to be a positive voice they will want to listen to. I want to be a voice other adults can rely on to teach their youth about career and self-leadership.

Who inspires you to be the best that you can be?

I have had several mentors; though many great leaders (Darren Hardy, Brendon Burchard, Tony Robbins and John Maxwell) have had a great impact in my life and truly inspire me, I think the late Dr. Myles Munroe had the biggest impact on me. I still remember meeting him face-to-face and thinking "Wow! Who is this man with such influence and such presence?" I recall being fascinated by his ability to find the right words to get his point across. I believe his integrity is what made his words heavier.

What is your work inspired by?

My work is inspired by the desire to prevent the chaos of having young people going into the workforce and leadership positions in the future without knowing what they're actually doing or leading but with the wrong motivation, background or intent. Our kids will inherit after us and some of them with be the leaders of this world; it will be a disaster if they don't have the proper guidance and leadership skills. I simply refuse to be one of those who whine and complain about young people not knowing what to do. By my experience, I have realized quickly that they're intelligent,​ hungry, and eager to learn. However, instead of us teaching them how and what to do, we waste precious time complaining about what they don't know. Whose responsibility is it to teach them? Ours, of course! Since that's the case, enough whining and complaining. Let's get to work!

Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far.

My greatest career achievement is the multiple messages I receive from people (sometimes years after listening to me at a conference or a seminar) saying "Lucie, one day, I heard you say this, and I took it into account and changed the trajectory of my life...". That alone is bigger than the trophies, recognition, and the money. That's my greatest joy.

To connect with me, visit my website or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If you speak French, feel free to join our French-speaking community, L'Emergence De L'Entrepreneur, for more tips for emerging entrepreneurs.

Read more from Lucie!