About us

Empower finance experts with core leadership skills

Lead-it-be was born out of a strong ambition : to positively transform the finance industry by embedding the principles of effective leadership at its core. Our journey began with the recognition that the financial sector, as dynamic and challenging as it is, requires more than just technical mastery. We strongly believe that the industry fundamentally needs leaders who can not only navigate complex environments but who are also an inspiration for their teams.

Our dream is straightforward : develop leaders who are not just experts but also possess the interpersonal and adaptative skills that are essential for today’s rapidly evolving world. Our approach combines the latest in leadership theory with practical, real-world insights from the finance sector, ensuring that our coaching programs are both relevant and impactful.

Our vision

Our vision is to see coaching embedded at the core of the finance industry, fostering a generation of leaders who are equipped to navigate its complexities with people at heart.

We envision a future where finance leaders are the vanguards of innovation, where teams are empowered to drive change, and where their collective efforts lead to sustainable performance for all stakeholders and society.

Our mission

Our mission is to forge the path for financial leaders who are as adept with numbers as they are with people. In facing the industry’s multi-faceted challenges, we commit to nurturing the leadership capabilities necessary to guide teams with confidence and foresight

Founder’s word

"Throughout my banking career, I noticed a gap in how leadership skills were nurtured within the industry. I observed that while technical skills were given priority, the softer skills crucial for inspiring leadership were often undervalued. This insight led to the birth of Lead-it-be, an initiative dedicated to filling this gap by offering leadership development solutions tailored for the finance sector."
Drifa Choulet
Executive Coach

Our commitments

Integrity

We are committed to the highest ethical standards. We strive to ensure transparency and trust in every interaction and initiative.

Excellence

Our relentless pursuit of excellence drives us to constantly improve our coaching methodologies, aiming to deliver unparalleled value to our clients.

Collaboration

We champion a culture of collaborative synergy, fostering deep connections within our coaches community and with our clients. By sharing insights, experiences and expertise, we create a dynamic ecosystem where collective wisdom drives innovation and success for our clients.

Empowerment through Leadership

We dedicate ourselves to empowering financial professionals by enhancing their leadership capabilities, enabling them to lead effectively and make a significant impact in their organizations.

Visionary Adaptation

We prioritize foresight and strategic adaptation, preparing our clients to navigate and succeed amidst the evolving challenges and opportunities in the finance sector.

Founder

Drifa Choulet, Executive Coach, former Investment Banker

With over 20 years of solid experience in the finance industry and having founded Le Premier Jour, a successful executive coaching boutique, Drifa Choulet brings a compelling blend of financial acumen and leadership development expertise

Finance Expertise

Drifa’s over two-decade tenure in banking includes major roles at renowned financial institutions, including the #1 European bank where Drifa was Managing Director, heading the EMEA Corporate Loan Syndications team, a longstanding leader in the league tables. In this position, Drifa has successfully led and executed numerous high-value financings for major corporates and mid-sized companies across EMEA, demonstrating an ability to navigate complex financial transactions and mitigate risk effectively while driving revenue growth.

Leadership Development Expertise

Since 2018, Drifa has successfully helmed her own executive coaching boutique, Le Premier Jour. Drifa has a proven track record of guiding top-level executives to unlock their potential, foster cohesive teams, and navigate organizational challenges. Drifa’s coaching approach focuses on aligning leadership skills with strategic business objectives, resulting in measurable improvements in leadership effectiveness and organizational success.

Our Team

Our team is composed of experienced coaches, all with a solid experience in the corporate world.
Our coach selection process is robust. As a pre-requisite, we require all our coaches to demonstrate the following :

A minimum of 15 years corporate experience with a front office role / exposure to business or experience in leadership development
Solid coach training with relevant accreditations from the main coaching bodies (ICF, EMCC…)
At least 500 hours of business coaching (individual or teams)
A strong integrity through the adherence to the ICF (International Coaching Federation) code of ethics
Involved in the continuous development of their skills through training and supervision

Our coaches are educated by a select group of experts on the dynamics and issues of the financial industry, which allows them to provide top-notch services. They operate in multiple languages, helping individuals and teams around the world. We are selectively expanding our multilingual team to ensure high quality coaching. We offer a fair compensation structure to promote teamwork and ensure the engagement of our coaches.