From HR to Coach: Navigating Fear, Purpose, and Authentic Leadership

In this episode, Kim Olver continues her powerful conversation with coach and HR leader Josh Brumley, exploring what it really takes to launch a successful coaching practice after years in an internal coaching role. Josh speaks openly about the emotional and mental challenges of starting a business, reframing fear as excitement, and navigating the mindset hurdles that often hold new coaches back.

Together, Kim and Josh dig into why early-career and mid-career managers often struggle, how coaching can transform the transition into leadership, and why authenticity—not scripts or corporate expectations—is the key to becoming a trusted, effective supervisor. Josh also shares how his background in non-profit, higher education, and government work uniquely shapes his coaching niche, and why coaching skills naturally deepen relationships far beyond the workplace.

If you’re a new coach, a manager seeking support, or someone considering launching your own practice, this thoughtful and honest conversation will give you clarity, encouragement, and a realistic look at the coaching journey. Josh also shares how listeners can connect with him on LinkedIn as he builds the next phase of his work.

You can reach out to Josh on his LinkedIn Profile.