A Glimpse of My Youth.
Let me share a story about “Pierre” from my younger days. He was the CEO of a company where I worked as an expansion director when I was 24. Pierre was a Frenchman, tall and slim, not one for many words, always impeccably dressed in a suit.
At that time, I knew nothing about the insecurities, fear, and self-criticism that tormented him internally, but I could see glimpses of it in his behavior.
One day, we were visiting, along with some partners and team members, the construction site of a new center we were opening in Madrid.
As we said goodbye, Pierre, with a gesture of contempt and a mocking smile, threw some trash he had collected from the site into my car. “Au revoir, Juan,” he said, gesturing with his hand like a king dismissing a servant. The others laughed nervously, not knowing how to react. I got into my car and left.
This public act of humiliation was his way of asserting superiority over me in front of others. It is a simple gesture that illustrates what still happens today in many companies worldwide—leaders trying to elevate themselves by belittling others.
The business world I grew up in was a cold place dominated by hostility, power struggles, and the energy of winners and losers.
For a long time, I thought Pierre and others in the business world were terrible people, but I gradually realized that their behaviors reflected neglected inner lives full of fear, pain, and limitations.
These people were driven by ego and, consequently, by a mindset of scarcity, relentless self-criticism, and insecurity and trapped in very uncomfortable emotional patterns.
As I matured, I had to acknowledge that I wasn’t so different from Pierre, and my unconscious behavior and emotional management shortcomings had also harmed others.
Becoming a Coach.
A happy mix of curiosity, suffering, and critical thinking inspired me to believe we could do better.
This divine spark led me to explore the topic of conscious business, and I discovered influential thinkers such as Borja Vilaseca and Fred Kofman.
I also connected with Jeff Klein; may he rest in peace. He was an insightful entrepreneur and the author of “Working for Good,” who played a vital role in the inception of the conscious capitalism movement.
After several enlightening conversations in which I shared my frustrations about the business world and my lofty ideals about how everything could be better, Jeff asked me a fundamental question:
“That’s all well and good, Juan, but what will you do?”
This question changed everything for me. I felt compelled to act.
Around the same time, my meditation teacher, Juan Manzanera, encouraged me to teach meditation and pursue practical disciplines to help others, leading me into the coaching world.
Midway through my coaching program, it became clear that this was the right path for me. I left my position as managing director of a distribution company in Boston and returned to Ohio to embark on this adventure.
Conscious Executive Coaching: The Practice.
Since then, I’ve guided hundreds of business leaders in integrating mindfulness practices, enabling them to lead happier, healthier lives and maximize their positive impact.
The hostility and lack of human warmth we still see in the business world reflect the inner poverty we live with, as Pierre and I experienced.
Things change when we learn to let go of fear, insecurity, and self-criticism and process anxiety, frustration, guilt, and other challenging emotions.
We free ourselves from damaging mental and emotional states that held us back, and experiences of mental calm, peace, vitality, and joy become more frequent, permeating our attitudes, behaviors, and decisions.
It’s an ongoing process that brings us inward to realize our inherent core of love and peace, enabling us to spread these qualities to others.
Alignment & Spiritual Leadership.
Part of the work involves helping individuals feel better, more present, and more peaceful.
The other part focuses on developing transpersonal consciousness, integrating spiritual alignment as a natural aspect of the human experience.
This alignment allows us to operate from trust, love, and compassion instead of fear, separation, and conflict.
It enables a partnership with the creative source of life, infusing our existence with purpose.
When a leader operates at this level of consciousness, none of their actions harm others, the environment or any living being.
They manage their businesses and lives from a perspective of abundance and contribution, adding value to humanity and the community.
Equally important, the leader models a way of being and, in doing so, exercises their responsibility for spiritual leadership, serving as an example of what is possible in terms of conscious human development for those within their sphere of influence.
The Path Forward.
Humans are inherently good, as we can easily see in children. We need to access our essential goodness and let it flow into the world without the interference of the egoic system.
Ultimately, what heals us personally also heals the world: becoming aware of the universal love that defines us and allowing it to flow through our actions.
This loving awareness must manifest in all aspects of daily life, our social structures, political decisions, and economic practices—thus, wisdom and love can positively transform our environment.
It’s not an easy task, but it’s already happening. Many leaders in our community are leading this change; we’re making progress.
Every time they recognize and overcome the ego, making decisions based on love and abundance instead of fear and scarcity, they embody authentic, conscious leadership.
Thank you for your effort.
Onward!
I am a former CEO and entrepreneur with 18 years of experience. As a conscious executive coach, I am dedicated to helping business leaders cultivate presence, peace, and purpose to maximize their positive impact.
Additionally, I host the “Life Is The Practice” podcast, where I explore the connection between mindfulness and leadership.
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