Member since July 2025
Yumna Aysen is an ICF-accredited international success coach, motivational speaker, and podcast host passionate about helping individuals unlock confidence, clarity, and authenticity.
Born in South Africa and now based in New York City, she brings a powerful global perspective to her talks. Yumna has coached professionals from companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Warner Bros., NBCUniversal, and Instacart, and her insights have been featured in Entrepreneur, Medium, and on South African national TV and radio. As the host of The Life Unlock Code podcast, she inspires audiences to live boldly and lead with purpose. Whether on stage or in coaching sessions, Yumna’s mission is simple: to help people create lives they can’t wait to wake up to.
Talking about authenticity and confidence absolutely lights me up. There’s something magical about helping people realize they don’t need to fit in- they just need to own who they are. When I speak about transforming self-doubt into self-trust, or about leading from the inside out, I can feel the energy in the room shift. That moment when someone says, “Wow, I see myself differently now”- that’s what I live for.
One of my most powerful stories comes from a speech I gave using a carry-on luggage bag as a prop. I used it to symbolize the difference between self-sabotaging thoughts and what I call “first-class thoughts.” I opened the bag to reveal labels like “not good enough” and “imposter,” and then swapped them out for thoughts like “I am worthy” and “my voice matters.” The audience connected deeply with this metaphor, and to this day, I’ve had people come up to me saying they remember that bag- and the mindset shift it inspired. It’s a reminder that we can’t always control the flight, but we can always pack differently for the journey.
I’ve always been deeply curious about what makes people tick- what holds them back and what helps them rise. Growing up in South Africa, I navigated a blend of cultures, expectations, and the journey of discovering my own identity. I’ve been an entrepreneur from the start, building my own path rather than following a traditional one. Over the years, I earned an MBA in coaching and leadership, gained experience across industries, and carved out a niche helping others unlock their confidence and live more purposefully. My journey hasn’t been without its challenges- from navigating health issues like epilepsy to coming out later in life- but those very experiences have shaped my voice and mission. I didn’t pivot into this work- I’ve lived it. And now I help others do the same: own their story, lead with authenticity, and create lives they love waking up to.
One of my most powerful stories comes from a speech I gave using a carry-on luggage bag as a prop. I used it to symbolize the difference between self-sabotaging thoughts and what I call “first-class thoughts.” I opened the bag to reveal labels like “not good enough” and “imposter,” and then swapped them out for thoughts like “I am worthy” and “my voice matters.” The audience connected deeply with this metaphor, and to this day, I’ve had people come up to me saying they remember that bag- and the mindset shift it inspired. It’s a reminder that we can’t always control the flight, but we can always pack differently for the journey.
I’ve always been deeply curious about what makes people tick- what holds them back and what helps them rise. Growing up in South Africa, I navigated a blend of cultures, expectations, and the journey of discovering my own identity. I’ve been an entrepreneur from the start, building my own path rather than following a traditional one. Over the years, I earned an MBA in coaching and leadership, gained experience across industries, and carved out a niche helping others unlock their confidence and live more purposefully. My journey hasn’t been without its challenges- from navigating health issues like epilepsy to coming out later in life- but those very experiences have shaped my voice and mission. I didn’t pivot into this work- I’ve lived it. And now I help others do the same: own their story, lead with authenticity, and create lives they love waking up to.