As a coach and a newly appointed board member at a major corporation, I never could have predicted the events that would unfold in my first few months with the company. But it’s through those unexpected challenges that I learned some valuable lessons about trust, speaking up, mentorship, and the impact of company culture.

It all started when I noticed some unusual financial transactions occurring within the company. As a coach, I’m trained to be attuned to subtle cues and to trust my instincts, and something just didn’t feel right. I brought my concerns to the board, and surprisingly, they moved quickly to launch an internal investigation.

What we discovered was shocking: our long-time CEO had been embezzling company funds for years, funneling money into personal accounts and using it to finance a lavish lifestyle. The board had no choice but to remove the CEO and turn the case over to the authorities.

We were left with the task of finding a new leader for the company, and that’s when we turned to a young, up-and-coming executive within the company. I saw a lot of potential in this individual, and as a coach, I knew that I could help him tap into that potential and become an effective leader.

I offered to mentor and train him as he took on the role of CEO, and together we set about implementing a series of reforms aimed at increasing transparency and accountability within the company. We also worked on cultivating a positive and inclusive company culture.

One of the key learnings from this experience is the importance of trust and trusting your instincts.

As a coach, I’m trained to be attuned to subtle cues and to trust my gut. That skill proved to be invaluable in this situation, as my instincts helped me to uncover the fraud and bring it to the attention of the board.

Another lesson is the importance of speaking up and advocating for what you believe is right. It can be intimidating to speak up and challenge the status quo, especially when it goes against the norm or when you’re dealing with authority figures. But it’s important to remember that your voice matters and that you have a responsibility to speak up when you see something that doesn’t seem right.

The power of mentorship was also a key takeaway from this experience.

Mentorship can be a transformative force, both for the mentor and the mentee.

In this case, my role as a coach and mentor to the new CEO helped him tap into his full potential and become an effective leader, while also allowing me to grow and learn as a coach.

Finally, I learned the impact that company culture can have on an organization. A positive and inclusive company culture can make all the difference in terms of financial and operational performance. By focusing on building a culture of transparency and accountability, we were able to turn the company around and set it on a path to success.

The results of these efforts were nothing short of extraordinary. Under the new CEO’s leadership, the company experienced a rapid turnaround, becoming an outlier in terms of financial and operational performance. The company’s success was recognized with numerous awards for culture and inclusion.

Looking back on this experience, I’m grateful for the opportunity to have played a role in driving positive change at the company. It’s a reminder of the importance of trust, speaking up, mentorship, and the impact of company culture, and the transformative power they can have on an individual, a team, and an entire organization.