Changemaker Interviews

Uplifting Women to Design Their Futures: The Journey of Andrea C. McLean

Published

1 year ago

February 18, 2025

Uplifting Women to Design Their Futures: The Journey of Andrea C. McLean

Andrea C. McLean has spent a lifetime guiding others toward success. As a life, career, and executive coach, as well as an award-winning author, uplifting women is her mission. She’s helping them overcome challenges, build confidence, and take charge of their futures. With over 35 years of experience in the corporate world, she has witnessed firsthand the struggles many women face in advancing their careers. Through coaching, writing, and mentoring, she has created a space where women feel empowered to break barriers and thrive.

A Calling Rooted in Experience

Andrea’s journey into coaching wasn’t accidental—it was personal. Throughout her career, she saw talented women held back by self-doubt, lack of representation, and limited access to opportunities. She understood their struggles because she had faced them herself. Rather than accepting the status quo, she chose to be a part of the solution. Her coaching practice was born from the desire to equip women with the tools and strategies to succeed, regardless of the obstacles they faced.

The transition from a corporate leadership role to full-time coaching wasn’t without its challenges. Like many entrepreneurs, Andrea faced moments of uncertainty and questioned whether she could truly make the impact she envisioned. But her faith, integrity, and resilience kept her grounded. By leaning on her mentors and embracing the very mindset shifts she teaches her clients, she turned her vision into reality.

Creating a Lasting Impact

What sets Andrea apart is her deeply personal and tailored approach to coaching. She understands that success isn’t one-size-fits-all. Instead of applying generic solutions, she helps women embrace their unique strengths, develop confidence, and create strategies that align with their personal and professional goals. Her work isn’t just about securing promotions or career transitions—it’s about uplifting women to own their voices, take up space, and lead with purpose.

Beyond one-on-one coaching, Andrea has expanded her impact through online courses, workshops, and writing. Her book Decide to Be Your Future Self won the 2024 Storytrade Award in the Motivational/Self-Help category, further solidifying her place as a thought leader in personal and professional development. She continues to reach a broader audience by developing accessible programs that address leadership, confidence, and resilience.

The Power of Collaboration and Community

Andrea firmly believes that success isn’t achieved in isolation. Collaboration has been a cornerstone of her journey, both in her personal growth and in her work with clients. By partnering with organizations, employee resource groups, and other industry leaders, she has been able to develop programs that foster professional advancement and inclusivity for women. She sees collaboration as an essential tool in building supportive environments where individuals feel seen, heard, and valued.

Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of Andrea’s mission. She knows that women—particularly women from underrepresented backgrounds—often face systemic challenges in the workplace. Her work goes beyond traditional career coaching; she helps women navigate cultural biases, challenge limiting beliefs, and cultivate the confidence to advocate for themselves. Her goal is to help create a workforce where all women have the opportunity to thrive.

Living by Core Values

Throughout her career and business journey, Andrea has remained committed to five core values: integrity, honesty, fairness, trust, and building relationships. These principles shape every decision she makes, from how she engages with clients to how she runs her business. By staying true to these values, she ensures that her work is not only impactful but also deeply meaningful.

Her biggest influence? Her late mother, who instilled in her the belief that she could achieve anything with hard work, perseverance, and faith. That unwavering support and encouragement shaped the foundation of Andrea’s approach to coaching. She now passes that same encouragement on to the women she works with, helping them see their potential and take ownership of their futures.

The Next Chapter

Andrea’s work is far from finished. She is focused on expanding her reach, developing more resources, and creating new opportunities for women to grow. She plans to launch additional online courses, write more books, and continue working with organizations to drive meaningful change in professional spaces.

Her legacy is one of empowerment and transformation. She envisions a world where the women she coaches, the readers of her books, and the participants in her programs are not only thriving but also inspiring others to do the same. Andrea C. McLean is proof that when women are given the tools to succeed, they can reshape their careers, their lives, and the world around them.

About Andrea

Andrea C. McLean is a board-certified life, career, and executive coach, as well as an award-winning author. Her latest book, ‘Decide to Be Your Future Self,’ won the 2024 Storytrade Award in the Motivational/Self-Help Category. Andrea’s coaching philosophy rejects cookie-cutter approaches, emphasizing individual strengths and authentic living. She helps clients navigate cultural integration, maintaining their sense of self. Andrea believes true success lies in self-acceptance and leveraging personal gifts to impact the world positively. She encourages clients to shed limiting beliefs and external expectations, fostering clarity of vision and embracing change for fulfilling lives and careers.

Get your FREE Copy of the Unlocking Your Inner Power: A Woman’s Guide to Career Confidence: https://acmcoachinggroup.thinkific.com/courses/UnlockingYourInnerPower

Connect with Andrea