I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and work with Kim, owner and founder of Bay Area-based Kim Ocumen Coaching. Truth be told, when I first connected with Kim, I immediately knew she was going to be a person I got along well with not because of anything necessarily business-related but because we spent a good amount of time talking about a special subject close to my heart - dogs and puppies galore! It was nice to connect with another individual who deeply understood the journey of caring for, loving and yes, even losing our fur-kids. I even received some very helpful tips from her that will help my own personal research for when the time comes again to welcome another pup into our home.
Kim was a former designer for companies like Intuit, Apple, and Sunset Magazine. Today, she serves as the owner/founder of her own company as a leadership and career coach helping women navigate the paths of growth, transition and recalibration in their careers. She is also a Bay Area native, a wife, and mother - and also a dog lover as I enthusiastically already shared!
I am so honored to share with you all the latest feature celebrating another Bay Area woman in business - the amazing Kim Ocumen.
Can you share a little bit about yourself?
I’m a proud Bay Area native, a mom of two adult children, and, at my core, a maker and creator. I was always drawing and making things as a kid. My grandmother taught me to sew and crochet when I was 12, and she was always working on some kind of project. I think I inherited some of that creative spirit from her. These days, I’m particularly fond of making handmade heirloom-felt Christmas ornaments. There’s something special about taking a flat piece of fabric and turning it into something beautiful that can be enjoyed, given, or passed down.
Being a designer isn’t just what I’ve done for a career—it’s really how I’m wired. I’ve always been someone who looks at things and wonders how they could be made better, clearer, or more meaningful. I feel incredibly lucky that I’ve been able to spend most of my career doing something that comes so naturally to me.
I also feel very fortunate to have grown up in the Bay Area. The cultural diversity here has taught me so much about people. Growing up around so many different backgrounds, cultures, and histories gave me a deep appreciation for the experiences that shape who we become. I also love that I can be on a trail in no time, at the beach in 30 minutes, or in San Francisco in 45 minutes. There’s always something to explore.
I’m also in a new chapter of motherhood, watching my kids begin to make their own way in the world. Having a little more space in my life has given me the opportunity to explore who I am in this chapter. Although, apparently, I needed something to mother—because I recently adopted a rescue terrier who has completely taken over my free time. These days, I’m spending a lot of time walking around with dog treats in my pocket.
What was your career journey like that brought you here to start your business?
I’ve spent the majority of my career as a designer and design leader, working across publishing and high tech. I’ve always loved the work of figuring things out—understanding a problem, seeing the bigger picture, and finding a better way forward.
The transition to coaching came during a challenging time in my career. I was leading a team through the rapid transformation brought on by AI, and there was a tremendous amount of pressure and uncertainty. Without a clear strategy, the team was left navigating a lot of ambiguity.
As a leader, I felt that pressure firsthand. I was trying to support my team, help them deliver, and navigate a rapidly changing environment, while also experiencing my own frustration and burnout. At the same time, I started to see an opportunity to help leaders think through what all of this change meant for themselves, their teams, and the way they lead.
What became clear to me was how much leaders need space to step back, think things through, and make sense of uncertainty and change. AI isn’t just changing how we work; it’s creating new questions about how we lead, how we support our teams, and how we think about our own careers. Coaching gave me a way to bring my experience as a designer and leader to those questions.
What or who inspires you and why?
I’m inspired by strong women who have opened doors for other women, particularly women who have faced difficult circumstances and continued to lead with strength, kindness, and humility.
Robin Roberts is someone I really admire—and I’ve actually had the chance to meet her. She was every bit as warm and kind in person as she seems to be publicly, which made me appreciate her even more.
She broke barriers as a woman in sports broadcasting and went on to become the anchor of one of America’s most iconic morning shows. She’s also a two-time cancer survivor and has been very open about the importance of her family and the people who have supported her along the way.
What I admire most is how grounded she seems through all of it. She’s accomplished so much and overcome some incredibly difficult things, but she continues to put a lot of value on family, relationships, and kindness. That’s something I really respect.
What inspired you to do the work that you do?
I’ve always been drawn to the moment when someone sees something differently.
As a designer, a big part of my job was figuring out how to make things better—how to communicate an idea more clearly, create a better experience, or help someone see a problem in a new way. I’ve realized that I get that same sense of purpose from coaching, where helping someone see themselves or their situation from a different perspective can open up new possibilities.
We all have stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we’re capable of. Over time, those stories can become so deeply rooted that we stop questioning whether they’re even true.
I love helping someone pause, look at their situation from a different angle, and recognize possibilities they hadn’t considered before. When someone realizes they have more choices than they thought they did, something shifts. That’s the part of coaching that really inspires me.
Knowing what you know now, what would you tell your 18-year-old self?
Trust yourself.
Don’t hold onto your beliefs too tightly. Stay curious, keep an open mind, and be willing to experiment. You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going, and you don’t have to get everything right the first time.
Perfection isn’t a thing. Work hard, do your best, and if something doesn’t work out, learn from it and try something different.
And enjoy the journey. Life isn’t a destination. We’re always moving, changing, learning, and becoming something a little different. So pay attention to the scenery. Enjoy the people you meet, the places you go, and all the unexpected moments along the way.
What do you appreciate most about your life now?
Perspective.
There’s something about having lived through enough life to realize that very few things are as permanent or as defining as they might feel in the moment. I’ve learned that things change, people change, and I change. And that’s okay.
I appreciate having the perspective to see the bigger picture and to be more comfortable with not having all the answers. I’m more willing now to stay curious and see where something leads rather than feeling like I need to have everything figured out.
I’m also appreciating this particular stage of life. My kids are becoming independent, I’m building something of my own, and I have more space to explore who I am beyond the roles I’ve played for much of my life.
There’s something pretty wonderful about knowing yourself better while still being curious about what comes next.