Why Personal Self-Development Became my Lifelong Passion
Why Personal Self-Development Became my Lifelong Passion
When people ask me why I am so passionate about personal self-development, leadership, and education, I often smile because the answer goes back much further than my coaching career.
It goes all the way back to when I finished school.
Like many young people, I wanted to go to university. I was curious, ambitious, and eager to continue learning. I loved studying and was excited about what the future might hold.
When I raised the subject with my parents, however, the answer was a firm no.
The reason?
I was told that if I went to university, I would be too old to find a husband by the time I graduated.
Looking back now, it sounds almost unbelievable. In fact, it makes me laugh.
But it is the honest truth.
For those reading this from a younger generation, you may be wondering why I needed my parents' permission at all.
The reality is that the world was very different then.
As a non-British student, university fees in the UK were expensive. University in Malta was not a straightforward option either. There were different rules, quotas, sponsorship arrangements, and barriers that made access much more complicated than it is today.
In the end, we reached a compromise.
I was "allowed" to spend one year in London studying History of Art before returning to Malta.
At the time, I accepted the decision. Looking back, I realise that although a particular educational path was closed to me, something else was beginning.
What I didn't know then was that learning would become a lifelong pursuit.
If I couldn't follow the traditional route, I would find my own.
Over the years, I attended courses, gained qualifications, completed professional certifications, worked with coaches and mentors, attended workshops, and immersed myself in books, podcasts, and articles.
I became fascinated not only by business and leadership but by people.
I wanted to understand what drives us, what holds us back, how we navigate adversity, why some people thrive through change while others struggle, and how we can continue to grow throughout our lives.
I learned from entrepreneurs, leaders, psychologists, coaches, and ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
Every course taught me something.
Every book offered a new perspective.
Every conversation expanded my thinking.
Some lessons helped me solve practical business problems. Others challenged beliefs I had carried for years. Many gave me the confidence to take on opportunities I might otherwise have avoided.
Looking back now, I can see that personal self-development shaped every stage of my career.
It helped me navigate leadership roles, manage complex challenges, build resilience, develop confidence, and ultimately make one of the biggest transitions of my life — becoming a coach.
Perhaps the irony is that although I never followed the university path I originally wanted, I never stopped learning.
In many ways, education became a lifelong journey rather than a destination.
Today, that experience continues to influence the work I do.
It is one of the reasons I am so passionate about supporting the growth and development of others, particularly women.
While opportunities have changed significantly since I was a young woman, I believe there is still much work to be done.
Many women continue to face challenges around confidence, visibility, self-belief, leadership progression, balancing competing demands, and recognising their own capabilities.
That is why I have created women leadership programmes focused on supporting women to grow, develop, and step more fully into their leadership and potential.
Because I know first-hand how powerful learning can be.
One course can change your thinking.
One conversation can change your direction.
One new perspective can change your future.
And sometimes, the opportunities we create for ourselves become even more valuable than the ones we thought we had lost.
This is only part of the story.
But it is where my lifelong passion for learning began.
Don't be afraid to be ambitious
Warmly,
Johanna