When Jim Fielding left corporate America in the summer of 2024, following a more than 30-year career working for corporate giants such as Gap, Disney, Dreamworks and many others, he knew that he had found his true calling by living his most authentic self as an executive coach, speaker and writer. Living authentically is what he had been training others on his teams to do for many years through his work in consumer products. But it wasn’t until he took the leap into small business ownership that he would be able to take his message to a greater audience.
Fielding recently authored his bestselling book, All Pride, No Ego: A Queer Executive’s Journey to Living and Leading Authentically (published by Wiley), which delves into helping others live their lives and lead teams authentically. It is a guide written by an out and proud LGBTQ+ corporate leader that can transform managers and business leaders alike through practical and impactful strategies that explore sensible, positive outcomes through mission-driven leadership. Through ten key learnings, the book leads readers along a journey of simultaneous self-discovery and tips for genuine leadership that incorporates kindness, trust and curiosity.
The writing process and subsequent publishing of the book left Fielding feeling vulnerable and visible; which ultimately led him to recognize the feat as an opportunity that created a massive transformation in his own life. As he approaches his sixtieth birthday, and for the first time as a business owner, he can now help others grow, feel inspired and know they’re not alone. He has the flexibility of managing his own schedule and working across a greater spectrum of industries that will also allow him to reach a broader demographic of managers, executives and business leaders.
Owning one’s narrative is a tenet of Fielding’s work that he believes helps lead to personal authenticity and authentic leadership. For a person to know – and own – their story, it can be an empowering tool to work through conflict, to resolve life issues or to become more independent, courageous and confident. And as various communities feel the impacts of social, societal or legal shifts with regard to personal and individual liberties, it is more important than ever for individuals to know who they are by owning their own stories.
Fielding approaches life from the Japanese concept of Ikigai, where three important components of one’s life produce the intersection at which a person can find happiness. It is at the center of mission, profession and passion that someone will find their true calling, and Fielding is working to help others find this about themselves. Working with teams, he’s also a speaker and an executive coach who gets to share his unique strategies one-on-one with top industry leaders across the United States.
Recently, Fielding launched his new website, www.hijimfielding.com, as a hub where viewers can discover all there is to know about him, his work and how he can help others get on the inspirational journey of self-discovery and authentic leadership. Fielding will soon launch a new podcast in addition to various other projects that are currently in production.
I recently started putting stories on Substack.com. If you look up MichaelPino2 you can find the stories. I related to Jim’s journey and look forward to reading more.