Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina McElwee.
Hi Christina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My background has really always been rooted in education. I’ve spent my career teaching and working with students of all levels and supporting colleagues in their growth and development as educators. But during COVID, like so many other educators, I struggled to find the joy and fulfillment I’d once found in teaching. I still had a passion for education, but I realized that I needed another way to feel connected to the work that I’m called to do.
That’s how Teal Couch Consulting came to be. Initially, it was very different from what it is today. I was so excited to be an entrepreneur that I took on way too much too soon. I started doing marketing, graphic design, branding, and other creative services. While these things gave me an opportunity to be creative and build something of my own, it became overwhelming. Over time, I really started to recognize that the work I truly enjoyed focused more on connecting with people, helping them recognize their strengths, grow professionally, and communicate their value.
And that’s when I decided to transition Teal Couch away from business marketing and graphic design toward career services and professional development. It was almost like a full-circle moment. I started the business to find fulfillment outside the boundaries of traditional education, but ultimately, building the business revealed what I loved about education in the first place: helping people grow. Today, I get to do that in the classroom, through my work with faculty and professional development, and through Teal Couch.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I’ve experienced both professional and personal challenges along the way. One of the biggest struggles was teaching during COVID. Teaching had always been such a source of enjoyment for me, and that shifted dramatically during COVID. I thrive on authentic connection, but that was very limited during that time. The silver lining is that Teal Couch grew out of that period of uncertainty and searching.
Another struggle for me was the transition from graphic design and marketing to career services. I think, initially, I felt like making that change was somehow a failure of the original business plan. It took me a long time to realize that sometimes the most growth happens during times of transition and that pivoting to a more sustainable business model didn’t mean what I’d built before was a failure.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Today, Teal Couch Consulting focuses on helping people with career and professional development. I typically work with individuals who are navigating growth or transition in their professional lives. I also work with organizations and businesses seeking meaningful, engaging professional development. I offer services such as resume reviews and transformations, cover letters, LinkedIn support, interview preparation, and career coaching. I don’t want you to just walk away with a better resume. I want you to better understand what you bring to the table and feel more confident about communicating that. I also offer professional development through interactive workshops, customized training, conference presentations, and tailored sessions for colleges, schools, businesses, and organizations.
I’ll talk about two things that set me apart from others. First, I spent over 20 years teaching, coaching, facilitating, developing curriculum, and helping people learn. I am a career coach who is actually in the trenches with my clients, and I think that brings an authentic perspective to the way I approach things. I also strive to make sure my approach is highly personalized. The last thing I want is to turn everyone into the same “ideal candidate”. For career clients, this means that I want to help people identify their strengths, experiences, and values, rather than just giving them resume language. For organizations seeking professional development, this means taking the time to fully understand their needs and crafting workshops that address them specifically, rather than simply pulling an existing presentation off the shelf.
In fact, one of the things that I’m most proud of is that I strive to really see the people behind the work. I meet people where they are, help them see what’s possible, and give them practical tools to move forward. The service may look different depending on who I’m working with, but the goal is always growth.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I think that people see a professor, career coach, and entrepreneur and immediately assume that I’m always confident about what I’m doing. The truth is, I second-guess myself; I sometimes wonder if I’m good enough, and I sometimes have self-doubt. It’s interesting because so much of my work focuses on helping other people recognize their strengths, so I sometimes have to remind myself of the same thing. I’m definitely learning that confidence isn’t always the absence of doubt, but I believe in the work I’m doing so much that I don’t ever let that stop me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tealcouchllc.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/crmcelwee
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tealcouchllc
