Where I’m from
Just the facts: I was born in Seoul, Korea then grew up in South Carolina and Maryland. I have lived/worked in Pennsylvania, New York, Washington, D.C., New York again, Beijing, and California (in that order!). I now live in Los Angeles with my husband and kids.
Just as true: As an immigrant, home has always been a question of heart as much as place. I think of home as the memories and connections that bring me back to a sense of belonging: my grandmother braiding my hair, the smell and taste of my mother's cooking, every book that has magnified my soul, the warmth of my children's bodies as they press against me in sleep. My work as a coach is also a part of what feels like home.
Why I coach
Other kids dreamed of being a doctor, scientist, lawyer. My fantasy was to be a Jesuit Priest. Lots of barriers of course -- not being a man or even Catholic being the two biggest ones. But what drew me was the idea of a life committed to seeing and loving people in their full humanity. Three decades and some odd years later, this is still what moves me.
Some people think coaching is about performance (as in peak performance). Yes, it can be a byproduct. But at its core, coaching is about living your life with meaning and courage, and claiming the full beauty and power of what you have to bring to the world. Seeing the unique magnificence of each client emerge and brilliantly shine -- these are the moments when I feel truly alive.
My training as a coach
My training is through The Co-Active Training Institute (CTI). The coaching model I am trained in is Co-Active Coaching, in which the coaching relationship is designed as an active and equal partnership between coach and client. Read more about the approach here. I have coaching certifications from the International Coach Federation (PCC - Professional Certified Coach) and CTI (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach).
My name
My first name, Hyeon-Ju, can be intimidating. As you might imagine, it was the bane of my existence as a kid (think roll call on the first day of school each year). I even went rogue in sixth grade and changed it on my own to "Jennifer," the most normal name I could think of. With college came enough self-respect and confidence to go back to my beautiful given name.
I will never judge you for asking me how to pronounce it, no matter how many times you ask. In fact, I will love you for it.
For those of you who want advance practice, my first name phonetically is "Hyun-Joo." The first syllable is "yun" (rhymes with "run") with an "h" sound added in front. The second syllable rhymes with "moo." My last name, Rho, is easy. Just think of "row your boat."
