A word from our alumni: Olga Klimanovich

Olga Klimanovich is an executive coach and strategic communication consultant based in London who was one of our first alumni in Switzerland. We asked Olga to share her thoughts about love.

CfC: How does love influence your approach to coaching or mentoring others?

Olga: I’m often asked what I enjoy most about my work. For a long time, the question puzzled me. But then it hit me: I love people. This love has shaped my career. I moved from Corporate Affairs to Internal Communication and Employee Engagement because I wanted to work more closely with people. My love for people fuels my curiosity about my coaching clients, and —yes — I truly believe I have the best clients. I love them all.

But here’s the catch: Remember my love-(hate)ignore relationship with self-love? Unfortunately, my love for my clients often leads me to sacrifice self-love. It’s almost like two competing loves are playing tug-of-war. And I know that neglecting self-love doesn’t help me bring my best self to the clients and mentees I care about so deeply.

Perhaps there’s another place for these two loves in my E = mc² equation. I’ll need to spend some time reflecting on it.

CfC: What is one lesson about love that you believe everyone should learn?

Olga: Love is a natural feeling. We are all capable of it.

CfC: What role has love played in your journey as a coach or leader?

Olga: When I think about love, the first thing that comes to mind is romantic love. But as I sat with the question a bit longer, I began “gathering” love episodes from my life, and they came in all shapes and forms. There’s my love for my parents, my love for my children, and even this odd yet undeniable love for my country—a country that, honestly, doesn’t have much to boast about in terms of tourist attractions but still holds my heart. Then there’s the love I feel for my relatives, for people in general, and for my clients in particular.

And finally, there’s one form of love that I conveniently recall last: self-love. Why conveniently? Because it’s uncomfortable to think about, let alone talk about. And yet, this was the very place my first coach took me to 11 years ago. I returned to that uncomfortable place of examining self-love during my ACC studies 10 years ago and revisited it even more rigorously five years later during my PCC studies. This marked the beginning of my ongoing reflections on the power of self-love and how it is the foundation for leadership and coaching. However, I’ll admit this isn’t a smooth or linear journey. Periods of great growth are often followed by moments of neglect, where self-love gets quietly shuffled to the back burner. But life has a way of bringing it back to the forefront, usually with an “Oops, I did it again” moment of realization. And so, the work of reinforcing self-love begins anew.

This constant interplay helps me stay authentic — both as a leader and a coach.

CfC: Can you share a moment when love significantly impacted your life or career?

Olga: This might sound like a sad story, but please don’t take it as such. I remember sitting next to my mother’s coffin the night before her funeral, reflecting on what happens to a mother’s love when the mother is gone. My mind turned to E = mc²—don’t laugh! I was raised in a scientific, evidence-based tradition. I kept wondering: “What happens to this love now? It can’t just disappear, but what does it become?” At that very moment, my seven-year-old daughter climbed into my lap. That was my answer. I’d thought I couldn’t love her more. I believed I’d already given her all my love. But suddenly, the feeling expanded, making all the sense in the universe. This was the circle of life. At that moment, I understood that my love for my children wouldn’t die—it would be passed on from generation to generation. That realization helped me cope with my grief in a profound way.

CfC: What advice would you give someone struggling to find love in their life or career?

Olga: Since this newsletter will come out in February, let’s focus on romantic love. Here’s what I’ve learned: Love is out there. Sometimes, we create long lists of what love should look like and search the world for the “perfect match.” I’ve been there, done that, and speak from experience. Instead, I suggest looking inward. Practice cultivating self-love. I promise you, this love will begin to colour your world in brighter hues. And before you know it, it will highlight romantic love for you, too. And yes — this happened to me in the second half of my life, so there’s always hope.

Sending you all my love,
Olga