What’s your next? Meet our ‘Courage Coach’, Monique Visée.

At the end of 2023, Monique made a decision that changed everything. 

After two decades in a senior role at a high-profile financial services firm, guiding large-scale transformations and sitting on executive boards, she walked away. Not because she had to. But because something deeper was stirring. 

“My identity had been wrapped up in titles, achievements, and security. But I had hit a point where, even with all the success, something was missing,” she says. “There comes a moment when the life you’ve built doesn’t feel quite aligned anymore. For me, that whisper became louder and louder, and eventually, I couldn’t ignore it.” 

And this persistent whisper ushered in a period of deep reflection. Monique knew what it meant to lead others, to deliver results, to perform under pressure. But what she hadn’t given herself space to explore was what it meant to lead herself, outside of the frameworks, roles, and rewards she’d come to know. 

So, after taking the leap and leaving corporate, she and her husband moved to the countryside and started a lifestyle lavender farm and vineyard; despite having no agricultural background or know-how. It was a huge leap into the unknown. A complete lifestyle shift. And one that demanded patience, humility, and a willingness to unlearn. 

“I make mistakes, I often underestimate complexity, and I have become a master at ‘winging it,’” she says with a chuckle. “And in that process, I uncovered something far more powerful than a new venture, I discovered who I am when I’m not defined by a title.” 

The shift wasn’t easy: "When you’re built to value security, predictability, and financial stability above all else, stepping away from the known doesn’t just feel risky, it feels reckless.” 

But what she discovered in the letting go was that there is beauty in starting over. And there’s bravery in exploring that part of you that wants something different, even if you can’t explain it yet. 

A New Chapter 

Today, we welcome Monique as our newest coaching partner at Caleo Consulting, affectionately known as our Courage Coach. Her work centres on helping people navigate their own ‘What’s Next?”. That uncertain, often emotional space between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming. 

“Whenever I’ve stood at a crossroads and asked myself, ‘What’s next?’, I’ve also felt fear rise. But over time, I’ve learned to pause and reflect on what’s really going on beneath that fear. Most of the time, what holds us back isn’t a lack of opportunity; it’s a story we’ve told ourselves. A narrative that says, “don’t risk what you’ve built,” or “you’re too old, too inexperienced, too late”. These stories are often rooted in conditioning and survival thinking, not in possibility. Recognising those internal narratives has become part of my personal strategy when facing the unknown.” 

Coaching That Starts from Within 

Monique’s coaching strategy starts with a journey of inner inquiry using the Enneagram framework. As a core type 2, the Considerate Helper, Monique reflects on her core drive to feel appreciated and loved. “It helped me see how I was unconsciously shaping my life around validation, often at the cost of authenticity,” she says. “That meant I spent much of my life focused on others, always giving, supporting, and showing up. But often, I was burnt out, running on empty, waiting for external validation to prove I was enough.” 

Self-awareness is the very first act of bravery to living a life of alignment. When you understand your motivations, you can finally choose your actions consciously. You stop living on autopilot and start living with intention. 

Her perspective on leadership has also shifted. “I no longer see it as just guiding others, it starts with leading yourself. That means setting boundaries, staying grounded in your values, and doing the inner work to stay aligned with your purpose.” 

Leading with Courage 

Whether she’s in a coaching session or walking the vineyard rows at sunset, Monique lives by a simple principle: your next chapter doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs your willingness to say yes. To trust yourself. To step forward even if your voice shakes. 

“If you're at that 'what’s next?'" moment, I want to share with you this: You are not alone. And yes, it’s scary. It takes guts to step into the unknown when the world has trained you to seek certainty, safety, and status. But the truth is, the magic begins where comfort ends. If you’re feeling disillusioned or restless, it might be your soul inviting you to rewrite the story.” 

We’re thrilled to welcome Monique to the Caleo team, combining everything she’s learnt - corporate leadership, personal transformation & transitioning, and deep self-awareness - to support others navigating their own step into their ‘next’. Her story is a reminder that it’s never too late to change direction. And that some of the most powerful leaders are the ones who’ve had to lead themselves through uncertainty, first. 

If you’d like to work with Monique in a coaching capacity, reach out to info@caleoconsulting.com and start your next chapter.