As career stories go, Geri's is an interesting one. With little guidance early on (like most of us) and lots of initiative, Geri takes us through her upwardly mobile career to result in creating her own Executive Coaching business in 2001.

So how did Geri, perhaps unwittingly, use her own emotional intelligence to inform her ability to become a sought after executive coach? And how is it that the Emotional Intelligence model is precisely the tool she uses today to help good leaders become better?

Geri makes a convincing case for lifelong learning and maintenance of a hard work ethic. She expresses her thoughts on competitiveness, curiosity and remaining open to what you don't know. She also uses her own story to show us how standing up for yourself is critical in being recognized.