Five Questions with Maxie McCoy

Maxie McCoy

Author, Writer and Speaker

“My work is the place where the things my heart deeply cares about and my talents have lined up.”

Maxie McCoy is a writer and speaker obsessed with giving women the tools they need to believe in themselves and thrive. Committed to the global rise of women, she writes weekly inspiration and monthly curriculum on maxiemccoy.com. Her book, You're Not Lost: An Inspired Action Plan for Finding Your Own Way provides a guide to figuring out your next steps and believing in yourself enough to take them. Maxie specializes in creating meaningful offline experiences for top brands, conferences and companies. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, TheSkimm, Forbes, Fortune, INC, Bustle, Business Insider, MyDomaine, Women’s Health, Marie Claire, Billboard, CNN and many more.

IN THREE WORDS, DESCRIBE YOUR LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY?

Vulnerability, Connection, Diversity.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE BRAND PURPOSE?

I define it as why do you exist? Rather than what you’re here to do. For example, my brand purpose is to support the global rise of women.

WHAT IGNITED YOUR INTEREST IN YOUR CURRENT LINE OF WORK? WHAT KEEPS YOU INTERESTED TODAY?

Looking back, I’ve always been obsessed with women’s issues. It’s the thing I’ve always cared about and been involved with long before I knew this could be a career. It’s a place where the things my heart deeply cares about and my talents have lined up. That alignment keeps me energized in the work even as the exact responsibilities ebb and flow. And especially when things get hard. I’m currently living a major dream with the recent publication of my book You’re Not Lost. Aside from working my butt off to get that book deal, and all the challenges that came after to bring it to fruition, my commitment to why I’m doing this work always kept me in the game.

WHAT BRANDS INSPIRE YOU PROFESSIONALLY? PERSONALLY?

There’s so many! I really love watching the careers of female creators right now – women like Issa Rae and Ava Duvernay are so deeply inspiring to me and my work. Aside from making great shows and movies...they have both created potent personal brands by using their voice and letting nothing stop their relentless desire to write and create. Hello Sunshine has also been a really fun brand to watch grow, and I’m especially grateful they’re elevating so many women’s voices across mediums.

IN ONE SENTENCE, WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF CAREER ADVICE YOU WISH YOU COULD GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

Be the highest possible expression of yourself. Because when we stop trying to fit in, and we stop playing small in order to be accepted, and when we stop letting anything or anyone cost us our power, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.

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