Today we’d like to introduce you to Sofia Martinez.
Sofia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am from Spain. I did my MS in Industrial Engineering there. I decided to go into engineering because that’s what I was good at and then I accepted a scholarship to move to New Orleans in 2002 to do a Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Sciences. For my 9-5 job, I am a Project Engineer in the Oil and Gas industry, the rest of my time, I am a life coach. It might seem like these two areas are disconnected from each other, but there is a common thread that is what keeps me motivated in both areas. I am passionate about the Transformation process. In engineering, I can see the transformation that happens in projects that start as a draft in a blank paper and are executed all the way to construction and installation.
As a coach, I get to see the transformation that happens when someone starts working on being their best version. That was what happened to me. I decided to start my coaching business after I went through my own personal transformation. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease) when I was about 6-7 years old. Since then, I’ve dealt with my hair falling and growing back as it felt like it. When I reached the point where I had more bald areas than hair, I decided to shave it all. And that’s how I’ve been for the past nine years or so.
When I got diagnosed with my second autoimmune disease (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), I decided that I had enough of them and that I didn’t want to take any medication and continue going downhill. The doctor told me my thyroid would stop working and I would have to take hormones for the rest of my life. But, somehow, I felt I could do something, so I started researching and learning about autoimmune diseases and how others changed their lives. This decision took me to start my own wellness challenge six years ago and from there, I realized that to take control of my health and my well-being, I had to address every aspect of my life, not only my food intake.
The journey became one of self-discovery and tremendous growth and as I saw (and still see) the multiple physicals, mental and spiritual improvements in my life, I couldn’t stop the urge to share what I’ve learned with others. My transformation journey made me discover my passion and that’s why I decided to start helping others. I’ve personally experienced how one small change has ripple effects in all aspects of our lives and how those changes stack upon each other and become huge leaps over time. I am still on my journey, but my experience so far has been incredible!
During these past years, I’ve seen multiple health improvements and most importantly, I’m not taking any medications for my Hashimoto’s. My last test showed negative antibodies and all my results are within healthy ranges. I changed not only the food I eat but also my whole lifestyle. I keep learning daily and as I keep evolving and growing, sometimes I feel like a walking science experiment but it’s totally worth it!!
All these physical changes were amazing but the truth is that they are just the tip of the iceberg, these changes caused me to change my way of thinking, my way of reacting to problems, my way of seeing life and this made me grow into this new better version of me and helped me finally discovered what I wanted to do with my life. So, I couldn’t pass this up and keep quiet. I had to share with others the amazing possibilities that are created when you take control of your own destiny, make choices that are aligned with your beliefs and accept your own self. After many years of not knowing for sure what I wanted to do with my life, I finally connected with something that lights me up. I finally tapped into the greatness that we all have inside and it’s my hope that I can help others do the same.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth roads are not common. I’ve had issues with alopecia since I was a child, so I struggled with losing my hair and the impact it had in my own image and self-esteem. I’ve shaved my hair and decided not to wear a wig, so I’ve struggled with showing up as fully me and being confident despite other’s stares. I’ve struggled as a woman in an engineering field where many times I am the only woman in the room. And, I struggled being the only professional woman with a shaved head in the whole building, meeting, room… I’ve struggled finding the balance between my femininity and my masculinity in a professional environment where sometimes is tempting to just “act like the men do.” I am an immigrant in this country. I left all my family and friends in Spain and moved to a city I didn’t know. I had to restart building new friends, a new life and a new me. Then when I had done all that in New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina hit and I was forced to change again.
I moved to Houston and had to build up again a place to live, new friends, new connections, and another new version of me. I’ve struggled finding what I like to do. I struggled with my health… I had many things that I had to deal with along the way and many more to come. But for sure, without any of these things, I would not be who I am today, so I take all the struggles with all their lessons and remember that they made me stronger and more resilient. If you don’t have resistance, you can’t grow stronger.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Because I’ve seen the transformation that’s possible in my own life, I want to help other professional women that don’t know how to find their purpose. I help professional women that feel stuck and sense like there is more to them but don’t know how to get it out. I help professional women on their journey of self-discovery and transformation to get back the zest for life. Together we get to uncover and grow their best version.
Due to my personal story, I can relate to others with their struggles. I have a great balance between my right and left brain. My engineering background helps me being able to systematize ideas. I am good at extracting ideas and their main points and explaining them. At the same time, being creative, caring and compassionate, I can empathize with others and see their struggles through an outsider point of view and help them move forward.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My parents and sisters influenced me a lot when growing up. My parents always stressed out to us (we are four sisters) that we should be independent as women, that we should be financially independent and strong. I am the third of four sisters, so I looked up at my two older sisters as role models and I was at the same time learning from my younger sister, who thought me a lot about strength and being yourself despite what others think.
My husband Robert supports me in all that I do and believes in me more than I do! He’s been a great help when I changed my diet. He jumped in with me learning to cook with new ingredients and with a lot of restrictions! It made it a lot easier for sure! There are many other people I found on my way that have helped me to be who I am today. If you are always open, you will always learn from everyone around you!
Pricing:
- 30 Minutes Free Initial Assessment Coaching
- 1 Coaching Session of 50 Minutes – $90/session
- 5 Session of 50 Minutes each – $425 total
- 10 Sessions of 50 Minutes each – $810 total
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ohyiam.com
- Email: info@ohyiam.com
- Instagram: @iamsofiamv
Image Credit:
Ricky Guinhawa
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