Marlene Powell

Marlene Powell, a business coach with ActionCOACH, transitioned to coaching after spending 27 years in the corporate world, specifically in the short-term insurance industry. Reflecting on a pivotal moment in her 40s, she explained, “I reached a crossroads in my life and discovered my passion for coaching.” Eager to explore this new direction, within just three months, she became a franchisee with ActionCOACH, embarking on a new chapter in her career focused on helping others achieve business success.

Marlene’s journey into the professional world was heavily influenced by her parents, who both came from the short-term insurance industry. Reflecting on her early career, she said, “When I finished school, I was told I’d either be a secretary or work as a bank teller. But I said, ‘No, that’s not what I plan to do. I want to go into the insurance industry.’” Despite her father’s advice to avoid the field, Marlene decided to follow her own path and ended up spending 27 years in the insurance industry. She added, “I loved it while I was there, gained so much experience which prepared me for where I am today.”

THE FINER THINGS
Marlene admitted that in the early days of her career, she didn’t have a clear sense of purpose. She explained, “It was just go to work, earn money, come home and be like a hamster in a wheel.” However, as time went on, she started to recognise the struggles of businesses around her, including those of her friends and family, who lacked the skills to make their businesses more profitable. This realisation pushed Marlene towards becoming a business coach, where she saw that she could make a significant impact because of the many skills gained when she was in corporate. Today, Marlene’s driving force is to help businesses not only succeed but also improve their owners’ quality of life. She stressed, “Your business is a vehicle to give you time and money so you can enjoy the finer things in life.”

For Marlene, her proudest achievement is surviving and thriving in her business. “There’s a very small percentage that actually makes it to 10 years, and I’ve made it to 16 years,” she remarked. Notably, she started her business during a recession without realising it at the time, which in hindsight, may have been a blessing. Alongside personal recognition by ActionCOACH and top business leaders, Marlene takes the most pride in her clients’ successes. “Watching my clients grow and achieve what they want in life is an absolute honour,” she said. She also highlighted the growth mindset she fosters in her clients, helping them double their businesses with just a few mindset tweaks. “That’s what I’m proud of, seeing the success of my clients, which also motivates me and inspires me to keep growing.”

Marlene has received a lot of advice over the years, but one piece stood out for her: “It’s got nothing to do with you what other people think.” In the initial stages of her career, she spent a lot of time worrying about what others thought of her. She recalled, “You’ve got no control over that. “This advice allowed her to focus on what truly mattered and has been a guiding principle throughout her journey.

A SILVER LINING
Like many business owners, Marlene faced significant challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, she found a silver lining. “What was good about it for me personally was it helped me move my business from face-to-face to virtual,” she explained. By embracing virtual coaching, she was able to enhance her services and use time more effectively. Most importantly, she and her clients successfully navigated the challenges together. “Every client that I had, we managed to go through this together, and every one of my clients, including myself, succeeded and survived that time.” The experience not only helped her adapt but also helped her clients catapult their businesses to new heights.

For Marlene, keeping her team motivated starts with having a clear vision. “The clearer I am about my vision of where I want to take this business, the more excited my team becomes to be part of that journey,” she said. Her enthusiasm for embracing change also plays a key role. Recently, her husband remarked on her energy: “He said to me the other day, ‘I can’t believe you’re so excited, it’s like you’re back in business for the first time.’” This excitement translates to her team, who share in her vision for the future. By implementing systems and automating tasks, Marlene ensures her team remains focused and motivated.

A POSITIVE IMPACT
Marlene is deeply inspired by people who have a desire to grow, who want to survive, and want to thrive. Her clients, in particular, fuel her passion. “My clients encourage me to push myself out of my comfort zone sometimes,” she noted. Seeing them take ownership of their businesses, become accountable, and make a positive impact on their communities is what drives Marlene to continue doing what she does.

Marlene’s focus is clear: to help businesses grow and scale. As part of ActionCOACH’s national goal, she wants to contribute to eradicating unemployment by encouraging every small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) to employ at least one more person. She explained, “If every SME out there employs one person, we can eradicate unemployment.” She believes that with the right guidance, businesses can double their workforces, as she’s already witnessed with some of her clients. “In the next five years, I strongly believe that if I could help every client I work with, we can make a real difference,” she said. Her mission is to teach business owners how to create a profitable business that not only benefits them financially but also improves their quality of life.

When asked about a motto, Marlene emphasised the importance of authenticity. “Authenticity goes a long way,” she stated. For her, being true to herself and her values is key to both personal and professional success.