Background information of NE:
Name & surname: Christina Wirl
Country: Austria
Age: 31
Email (only for publishing in the Online Business Community): christina@diefuehrungskraft.com
Sector of activity: Leadership Coaching
Did you already started your business?: yes
Name of business/website (if any): www.diefuehrungskraft.com
What is your (future) business?: Keynotes, Workshops and 1:1 Coaching for (future) leaders
Background information of HE:
Name & surname: Mikaela Jackson
Country: England
Sector of activity: Female Leaderhsip Coaching
Experience in running a business (in years): +10
Name of business/website: www.shealmighty.com
What is your business?: Keynotes, Workshops and 1:1 Coaching for female leaders
Teaser
How can stepping out of your comfort zone accelerate both your personal and professional growth in ways you never imagined?
Introduction
I discovered the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme through the JW newsletter. Having previously lived in Spain for six months, I already knew how transformative it can be to step into a completely new environment. That experience encouraged me to apply with a clear intention: to consciously leave my comfort zone and invest in my ongoing development.
At this stage in my journey as a leadership coach, I was looking for two key things. First, I wanted to clearly define my personal brand as the foundation for my future business growth. Second, I was seeking mentorship from someone who had already walked a similar path. My host entrepreneur, Mikaela, is also a leadership coach and founded her business ten years before me. She focuses on female leadership and recently published her first book, making her the ideal mentor.
Activities undertaken
During my exchange, I was deeply involved in a variety of strategic and operational activities. A central project was the co-creation of a leadership retreat, which we planned and organised together and will take place at the end of the exchange. In addition, I worked intensively on defining and sharpening my personal brand, which became a core focus throughout my stay. I also expanded my international network, leveraging my ability to coach in German, English, Spanish and French.
I supported Mikaela in refining her social media strategy and assisted in her events, including talks and a book event. Beyond that, we engaged in multiple coaching sessions. While initially planned as a one-way mentorship, it quickly evolved into a two-way exchange: she coached me in certain areas, while I supported her in others. This dynamic made the collaboration particularly valuable. Mikaela guided me not only as a mentor but also as someone who genuinely took me under her wing – like a bigger sister. This created a trusting environment where both of us could grow and benefit equally.
Regarding digital transformation, the initial plan was to expand existing digital offers. However, as my personal brand became clearer, my strategic focus shifted towards keynotes and workshops on “The Performance Paradox.” Nevertheless, I significantly redesigned my website and completely repositioned my social media presence, which will serve as a strong foundation for future digital products.
Achievements and Impact
This exchange led to profound personal and professional growth. I gained clarity about my values, my positioning and my next business steps. One of the most impactful outcomes was uncovering limiting beliefs I was previously not even aware of and actively working through them. Additionally, I improved my English significantly and connected with many like-minded entrepreneurial women. This made me realise that I am not alone on this journey, which was both reassuring and empowering. From a business perspective, the impact is already visible: I now have a completely new website and a much clearer, more focused approach to my work. My host also benefited, gaining clarity on her own next steps and the strategic role of platforms like Instagram in her business. While I did gain one new international client, the greater value lies in the relationships and connections I have built. These connections hold strong potential for future collaborations and opportunities.
One of the main challenges during my stay was the amount of time I spent on my own, which forced me to confront many personal topics. While this was challenging, it ultimately became one of the most valuable aspects of the experience, as it pushed me to grow on a deeper level.
Future
I will definitely stay in close contact with my host. We already have potential plans for future collaboration, including the possibility of her visiting Austria and me returning for another retreat in October. I would highly recommend the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme to others. It offers a unique shortcut to both personal and professional development. The return on investment is truly invaluable, as the growth achieved goes far beyond measurable outcomes.
If I had to summarise my development in one sentence, it would be:
“Self-worth is not built. It is being uncovered.”