Awkward and Proud: Theresa White Of Career Bloom On How Embracing Your True Self Can Be Your Social Superpower
An interview with Dr. Bharat Sangani
Now that you uncovered who you are, the next step is to embrace it. Chances are there are parts of you that aren’t ‘perfect’. Accepting this and not being afraid to show these parts to the world is where the real fun begins. Owning all of who you are, from strengths to imperfections, is where we find joy and connection. It is when we stop chasing society’s narrow definition of success and make space for what success looks like for ourselves.
In a world that often pressures us to fit in, embracing quirks and authenticity can become a unique advantage. Leaning into what makes you different, even if it feels awkward, can foster genuine connections and unlock personal empowerment. In this series, we would like to explore how embracing one’s true self can transform social interactions and become a powerful tool for building meaningful relationships. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Theresa White.
Theresa White is a 5x Certified Career Coach, Career Clarity Expert, and the visionary behind Career Bloom, supporting women in discovering their ideal career paths in record time. Theresa is known for her Career Clarity Formula program, which offers an industry-first 30-day career clarity guarantee, and for drawing from her corporate recruiting background to guide clients through structured, actionable steps to find meaningful work they love.
Since founding Career Bloom in 2020, she’s helped hundreds of women make a successful career change, leveraging insights from tools like the Sparketype® assessment to foster clarity and confidence. This December, she’s relaunching “The 12 Days of Career Goals” — a free give-back event featuring 12 days of expert insights designed to equip attendees with confidence, clarity, and a roadmap to career success. Based in Hawaii and originally from Germany, Theresa also holds advanced degrees in philosophy and global leadership, adding depth to her empathetic, results-driven coaching approach.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
My path to becoming a Career Clarity Coach, and my passion for the work I do, comes from my own journey of not knowing what I want to be when I’m ‘grown up’ — despite long being ‘grown up.’ Early on in my career, I had no idea (and no actionable guidance) how to figure this out. I accepted the first job offer I received and fell into a career path I didn’t actively choose. I climbed the ladder in front of me, thinking this is what I ‘should’ be doing and following societal expectations. I was essentially in the passenger seat of my career, letting it happen to me, instead of actively choosing my next steps.
I kept climbing the corporate ladder from management to HR and recruiting, but couldn’t shake this nagging feeling that this isn’t what I’m meant to do. During my lunch breaks, I’d scroll through jobs on LinkedIn without even knowing what I was really looking for. This ‘not knowing where I wanted to go’ kept me stuck on a path that wasn’t right for me.
It wasn’t until I started to dig deep into my strengths, transferable skills, and what lights me up that I had a breakthrough moment. Instead of looking outward hoping to find the ‘perfect’ job, I realized that I needed to look inward to find who I am at my core and which professional direction is aligned with me. By getting clear on who I was and what makes me come alive, I found a career I love. Now my passion lies in helping others do the same — leave jobs that make them feel like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole — and instead find a career that is aligned with who they are.
In 2020, I launched Career Bloom and developed the Career Clarity Formula to guide others through a step-by-step path to finding their ideal career. Today, I help women take charge of their professional lives, get out of roles that aren’t fulfilling, and find work that aligns with their strengths, skills, experience, and makes them come alive.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person that you are grateful for, who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
So many wonderful people to thank, mentors and coaches, colleagues, and my amazing team who have been so generous with their time and support throughout my journey. It’s hard to narrow it down to just one, but taking the Sparketype® assessment developed by Jonathan Fields was one of my biggest turning points. His work and the SPARKED body of knowledge he’s developed have been truly life-changing for me.
Before discovering Sparketype®, I struggled with one of the most challenging aspects of career coaching — helping clients answer the “What am I meant to do?” question. It’s incredibly hard to guide someone to that deep clarity, and although I had effective tools, there was a missing piece. Taking the Sparketype® assessment was my “aha” moment; it helped me connect the dots in my own life, both personally and professionally, in a way I hadn’t experienced before. Suddenly, all the decisions I’d made — my strengths, interests, and the work I felt drawn to — made perfect sense.
This breakthrough was pivotal because it allowed me to develop a complete coaching formula to guide others toward career clarity in record time. I’m now a Certified Sparketype® Advisor, and Jonathan’s approach to fulfilling, meaningful work resonates deeply with me. His perspective — that we can identify what truly energizes and aligns with each person’s unique self — has shaped not only my career but also my life. I continue to be inspired by his podcast, his books, and his commitment to helping people find work that feels truly aligned.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Three character traits that I would say have contributed most to my success are: Listening to my intuition, being willing to take risks, and being an action-taker.
The first, trusting my intuition, has been a true life changer in itself. Throughout my career, especially in the corporate context, I was not encouraged to trust my intuition — it was all about numbers and logic with established processes to follow (a.k.a. the ways it has always been done). But once I launched my own company, I realized that I could trust myself — and my intuition — to make the right decisions for me and my business. Yes, quitting my safe, corporate job to start my own business was anything but safe or logical by conventional standards. But it felt right to me — so I did it. Listening to my intuition has resulted in some of the best business decisions I have ever made and is something that I now pay attention to regularly.
The second quality is being willing to take risks. Without taking (calculated) risks, you cannot innovate or make a real impact. I encourage this mindset in my team as well. We go for it — and if an idea, campaign, or post doesn’t work out, it is just another lesson learned — and we’ll try something different next time. Giving my team the freedom to be creative and take risks has allowed us to bring fresh, unconventional ideas into our work, and has enabled us to develop a best-in-class coaching program.
Finally, I’m an action-taker. When I have an idea, I turn it into action. Of course, I consider things carefully — my perfectionist side won’t let me do otherwise — but I don’t get stuck in the thinking phase. A great example is when I decided to launch the “12 Days of Career Goals” speaker series. It was a huge undertaking involving award-winning global keynote speakers, industry experts, and authors, and in the first year, I gave myself just five days to pull it off (most people thought I was crazy to do this). But it felt right to me to host a give-back event, so I jumped into action and pulled it off (sleepless nights and all) and it ended up being a huge success for me, the speakers, and all attendees.
Trusting my gut, taking risks, and jumping into action truly shape the work I do and how I show up in this world.
Can you recall a moment when embracing your awkwardness led to a meaningful personal or professional breakthrough? What shifted for you in that experience?
It took me years to embrace my awkwardness and be comfortable being truly myself. Growing up, I always felt that if I showed who I truly was, I wouldn’t be accepted. I ended up putting on a mask and became who (I thought) others wanted me to be. This carried over into my corporate career, where I often felt I didn’t quite fit in. Even when I started my own business, I kept this “professional” persona on, thinking that’s what people wanted and needed from a career coach.
The moment I was brave enough to embrace my awkwardness was when I started my podcast, Career Clarity Unlocked. At first, I planned to produce a standard career podcast — actionable advice on the most common career topics. Recording the first episode I realized this wouldn’t be fun at all. I wanted my podcast to be different — authentic, fun, and aligned with who I am. I wanted to bring in my quirks, my humor, and my perspective, on top of sharing actionable advice that makes an impact.
So, it was time to keep it real and I invited my friend and brilliant copywriter Katie as my first guest. Katie and I share a lot of wonderfully weird conversations, and we’d always joked about recording them. That first episode with her set the tone — it was unscripted, full of laughter, and a perfect mix of brilliant insights and the awkward. I thought, “This is the energy I want for the whole podcast. Let’s go!”
Since then, I’ve leaned more into this authentic style, having candid conversations with guests about their real journeys, what makes them come alive, and how they found work they love. I also began offering live coaching on the podcast, which has been some of the most joyful work of my career. The best part? I get to be myself, with all my quirks. This has given me a platform to show up as my whole self, and in turn, it has made my podcast not just more fun, but also more successful.
Many people feel pressure to ‘fit in’ socially. What advice do you have for someone struggling to be their authentic self in a world that often rewards conformity?
This question hits home for me, as I’ve struggled with it for a long time — as, I think, many of us do. It is very hard to be authentic in a world full of judgment and pressure to conform. It takes guts to just be you. And it is a process that continues throughout our lives (with some days proving easier than others). So, first off, I think you owe yourself a ton of grace.
For anyone struggling with this, my best recommendation is therapy. Therapy has changed my life because I found a place where I can truly be myself, without judgment, and all of me is accepted. Working with my therapist has given me the tools and confidence to be more authentic in my life. To my incredible therapist, thank you for changing my life!
The next step is to notice how we may hide parts of ourselves to fit in without even realizing it. For the longest time, I did not know that I was putting on a mask at work or when socializing; it was simply the way I learned to function growing up. Through a process of self-discovery, I started to notice when things didn’t feel aligned and I was just going along with something that wasn’t me. I slowly learned that it is completely fine to be different and not in sync with a system where authenticity takes a backseat and conformity gets the highest payoffs.
It is about also finding places and people who encourage your authenticity. This starts with getting to know yourself at a deeper level: What makes you come alive? What motivates you? What are your values, skills, and strengths? Once you’re clear on who you are, you can start making aligned choices. This may mean securing a job with an organization that has a culture of belonging, inclusiveness, and diversity, or looking for roles that genuinely allow you to bring your whole self to work. I experienced this myself — back when my role and company didn’t align with who I was, it was so much harder to feel authentic. Now, that my current role aligns 100% with who I am, it’s much easier to show up as myself.
In the end, being authentic is something many of us grow into — and it’s okay if it takes time. Knowing who you are and finding environments — personally and professionally — that allow you to be you, quirks, awkwardness and all, is everything.
How do you think embracing your quirks and imperfections can enhance connections with others, especially in professional or high-pressure settings?
I think that sharing your quirks and imperfections is one of the best ways to connect with others — especially in professional or high-pressure environments. Everything in business (and in life) boils down to relationships, and our success depends on forming real, genuine connections with others.
In high-pressure environments, where people often have their walls up, authenticity can actually be your superpower. When you show up as yourself, quirks and all, you allow for trust and respect to build — the foundations of any authentic relationship. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to genuinely connect with others when you are not authentic and putting on a front.
Being who you are and showing your imperfections makes you relatable and approachable. People are drawn to authenticity. When others sense that you are being real and that they can trust you, they’re more likely to respect and support you, even when challenges arise. And when you’re comfortable being yourself, you deepen relationships, make bolder decisions, and ultimately become more effective in your work.
So, my advice? Be you. Embrace every part of who you are. Share your quirks and imperfections — they make you relatable and unique. And in the end, those authentic connections are what lead to personal fulfillment and professional success.
What role does vulnerability play in transforming awkwardness into a superpower? Can you share a time when showing vulnerability opened doors or strengthened relationships?
Vulnerability is important but it’s also incredibly hard, especially in professional settings. Being vulnerable takes a lot of courage, but it’s also the key to turning your awkwardness into your superpower. To fully accept ourselves, we need to recognize not only our strengths and successes, but also our fears, insecurities, and doubts. It’s this openness that allows us to connect deeply with others, because in the end, we are all imperfect human beings.
As John Legend sings, “Love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections.” This is a beautiful reminder to embrace all our quirkiness, the messiness, and everything that makes us — well — human. It is that openness and acceptance of ourselves that allows us to connect meaningfully with others.
A time when vulnerability opened doors for me was when I was invited to join a mastermind retreat for career coaches. At first glance, it seemed like an incredible opportunity. But the moment I accepted, all of my self-doubt and limiting beliefs flooded in. I thought, “I don’t belong here. I’m not successful enough, not stylish enough, I don’t have a big enough following, etc.” The imposter syndrome was real. I was torn between giving in to those doubts or pushing through, even though I felt like I didn’t belong there at all.
In a moment of courage, I decided to open up about how I felt. I wrote a LinkedIn post about how much I questioned my place in that room. The response was incredible. So many people reached out to share similar experiences — they felt they weren’t “enough” to join my coaching program, that they weren’t smart enough, successful enough, or accomplished enough. That post gave me a chance to connect with them deeply and tell them, “You are enough, exactly as you are.”
Sharing this with the other coaches at the mastermind led to an amazing moment where several of them admitted they felt the exact same way. Each one thought they were the only one feeling out of place, but by being vulnerable, we realized we were all carrying the same self-doubt. That was the moment we all bonded! Vulnerability allowed us to let go of the facade, be real with each other, and connect in a much deeper, more authentic way.
Ultimately, being authentic and vulnerable makes space for others to do the same. The more vulnerable we can be, the stronger our relationships become because we can see each other for who we really are. It reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect all the time, we just have to be honest and open, and that’s where true connection happens.
What are “5 Ways To Embrace Your True Self”?
1. It all starts with figuring out who your true self really is. For me, this is a life-long journey, with new layers to uncover as I grow and change. Cultivating deep curiosity about yourself, uncovering all that makes you you, is necessary for understanding and accepting who you are.
One of the most impactful experiences on my path of self-discovery was taking the Sparketype® assessment. I discovered that I love solving problems and figuring things out. It’s exactly what makes me come alive. When I realized this, it was like the lightbulb turned on — well, of course, this is me! And the big question that I’m drawn to the most, is ‘What are you meant to do?’ Guiding people in figuring this out became my biggest passion. Realizing this laid the foundation for me to build a career and life I love.
2. Now that you uncovered who you are, the next step is to embrace it. Chances are there are parts of you that aren’t ‘perfect’. Accepting this and not being afraid to show these parts to the world is where the real fun begins. Owning all of who you are, from strengths to imperfections, is where we find joy and connection. It is when we stop chasing society’s narrow definition of success and make space for what success looks like for ourselves.
For me, one area where I had to embrace an “imperfection” was in advocating for myself. Self-advocacy doesn’t come naturally to me — it feels like a very heavy lift. Accepting that this is just part of who I am and that there’s nothing wrong with it has been freeing. Every human has strengths and areas that drain them, and that’s completely okay. I learned to accept this and let go of the need to ‘fix’ it. Like all humans, I have weaknesses (chocolate being another one) — and by surrounding myself with talented people who shine in my weak spots, we all grow and win together.
3. This one is unconventional — but I firmly believe in trusting your intuition. Most of us grow up learning to think rationally and follow our heads, not our hearts. There is nothing wrong with following your head, but you are missing out on an extra layer of wisdom if you ignore what your intuition is telling you. Turns out, our gut is actually an amazing compass, guiding us in a direction that feels aligned and ‘right.’ Reflecting back on my years in corporate, I now realize why I so often felt misaligned with company decisions and ended up second-guessing myself.
The beauty of running my own business is that now I can follow my intuition as much as I want to. The best decisions I have made in business all came from going with my gut feeling — from creating the Career Clarity Formula to launching a podcast and organizing a 12-day speaker series in just five days. When we carve our own path — even though it’s unconventional — it opens opportunities that are so aligned that they just feel ‘right.’
4. Next, you can’t do it alone. The people we surround ourselves with shape who we are. If you want to embrace your true self, you’ve got to surround yourself with people who accept all of you. Seek out spaces where your differences are celebrated and you feel accepted for all of who you are.
That’s the type of culture I cultivate in my company — a place where everyone can be their full self, with all their “curves and edges.” It doesn’t only make for a more fun work environment, but it’s where creativity blooms. I want my team to feel respected and empowered to voice their ideas. When we’re free to be who we truly are, we have the best foundation for creativity and innovation to spark. One of the best ways to be true to yourself is by surrounding yourself with people who accept you, support you, and appreciate what makes you different.
5. Stop thinking and start doing. It’s easy to get stuck in analysis paralysis, worrying about every detail, second-guessing ourselves, and obsessing over what others may say. Overthinking holds us back from taking action, even if our intuition tells us, it would feel right to do the thing. This is our brain doing its job: activating its survival mechanism and analyzing potential risks and uncertainties to protect us (even when this ‘risk’ is minimal or non-existent). And if we don’t take action, we stay stuck — and don’t bring our unique ideas to life or express ourselves fully.
Yes, it’s bold to take action, step outside of your comfort zone, and pursue what feels right in your gut. But that is the next step — to be brave, get out of your head, and do what feels right to you.
I did this when launched the “12 Days of Career Goals” speaker series with just five days of preparation. It was one of these spontaneous ideas I knew in my gut I had to turn into action — even if it seemed impossible to pull off. Most people thought I was crazy to put together a give-back event in just five days, including recruiting expert speakers, marketing the event, and organizing all the details. While this was one of the craziest things I did, it was also one of the best experiences, and seeing it all come together and turn into a huge success was worth every all-nighter it took to make it happen.
So go for it, even if it feels scary or uncomfortable — trust that your unique ideas are worthy of being brought to life and will lead to growth, success, and fulfillment.
Do you believe that celebrating awkwardness can inspire innovation and creativity? How has staying true to yourself influenced your approach to problem-solving or leadership?
Absolutely, I believe that celebrating awkwardness is the best foundation for innovation and creativity. When we hold back parts of ourselves because they don’t feel “professional” or not what we think others want, we end up as a limited, edited version of ourselves. That version is safe but uninspired and maybe even boring; it follows the status quo without bringing in its own unique perspective. Creativity requires us to be authentic, to bring in our quirks, our humor, and our different perspectives — even if they’re unconventional.
Staying true to myself has changed my approach to problem-solving and leadership. If I had stayed that “safe” version of myself, the one who conforms to what others expect, I could still do my job — but it wouldn’t be nearly as fun or effective. I wouldn’t have dared to create and market a program with a promise as bold as guaranteeing clients career clarity in 30 days. In the past, I would’ve played it safe instead. But now, I trust myself, the blueprint I created, and that, with my unique approach, I can deliver bold results.
Creating an environment that encourages authenticity, uniqueness, and diversity is also the key to inspiring creativity in teams. When people feel safe to bring their true selves to work, with all their quirks and “awkwardness,” it allows for innovation to happen. I encourage my team to bring their bold (and crazy) ideas, their humor, and even their doubts to the table. When everyone feels free to be who they are, think outside the box, and take risks it inspires the best creative ideas and solutions.
How can our readers further follow your work?
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share! For anyone seeking career clarity, thinking about a career change, or wanting to find fulfilling work, follow me on LinkedIn where I post daily inspiration and actionable advice. Subscribe to my podcast, Career Clarity Unlocked, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — all about guiding people in finding work that lights them up.
If you enjoy weekly inspiration in your inbox, my newsletter covers career topics with practical advice, empowering stories, and insights to help you find a career that makes you think, “Pinch me, I get paid to do this!” And if you’re ready to learn more, register for the 12 Days of Career Goals in December. I’m bringing this free give-back event back, even bigger and better, with daily live expert-led sessions designed to equip you with confidence, clarity, and a roadmap to career success — whether you want to advance, pivot, or find fulfilling work.
Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you on LinkedIn, in your inbox, or at the 12 Days of Career Goals.
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
About The Interviewer: Dr. Bharat Sangani is a cardiologist and entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience, practicing in Gulfport, Mississippi, and Dallas, Texas. Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, he specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and hypertension. In 1999, Dr. Sangani founded Encore Enterprises, a national real estate investment firm. Under his leadership, the company has executed transactions exceeding $2 billion, with a portfolio spanning residential, retail, hotel, and office developments. Known for his emphasis on integrity and fairness, Dr. Sangani has built Encore into a major player in the commercial real estate sector. Blending his medical and business expertise, Dr. Sangani created the Life is a Business mentorship program. The initiative offers guidance on achieving balance in health, wealth, and relationships, helping participants align personal and professional goals. Now based in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Sangani continues to practice cardiology while leading Encore Enterprises and mentoring others. His career reflects a unique blend of medical expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to helping others thrive.
Awkward and Proud: Theresa White Of Career Bloom On How Embracing Your True Self Can Be Your Social… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.