Hey! So Glad You're Here.

My name is Bella Baia and I have a deep passion for “Emotional Independence.” Emotional Independence is a term that I coined during my time in UCLA’s Transformative Coaching and Leadership (TCL) Master’s program. I define Emotional Independence as:

​

The ability to separate your emotions, feelings, or mood from others.

Emotional Independence allows you to stay present in each moment while empathetically engaging with people, but preventing their emotions from staying with you after the interaction concludes. It is not about eliminating emotions or lacking empathy. It’s about setting aside the emotional burdens of others so that you can gain independence for your own well-being.

​

I am a former UCLA Student-Athlete where I competed on the Division I Women’s Water Polo team. I earned my undergraduate degree in Sociology and subsequently earned my Master’s of Education in Transformative Coaching & Leadership. I have played water polo for nearly 15 years of my life where I was exposed to a wide variety of leadership techniques and viral emotions. During my undergraduate time at UCLA, I was on the Director’s Honor Roll for 12 consecutive quarters and I was on the PAC-12/MPSF All-Academic Team for 4 years. I graduated with the prestigious Wooden Academy Program honor. Upon graduation, I was awarded the Donald Shepherd Scholarship in an effort to pursue my passion for Leadership Development and Coaching.

​

I have been blessed with extremely influential leaders in my life ranging from parents to professors and coaches to bosses, which has led me to discover my profound passion for coaching and leadership development. Some of the most impactful exchanges have been moments in time, while others have been through lasting relationships. I strive to bring the same positive leadership to individuals that I encounter as to those that I knowingly mentor and coach.

​

In the January of 2025, I will be publishing my first book. The book consists of sections that encapsulate my discovery, my research, my practice, my reflection, my identification, and my suggestions for gaining Emotional Independence. The book summarizes my life challenges, successes, failures and accomplishments, all the while uncovering the real weakness I’ve been struggling to pinpoint for my entire life.

​

I look forward to sharing my personal experiences and expanding my research through a variety of podcasts, workshops, books and Substacks. I will update you on the upcoming release date of my first book as it approaches, but for now – please subscribe to my Substack for free – where I am able to digitally share newsletters to my community.

​

Substack Link: https://substack.com/@bellabaia?utm_source=profile-page

​

Let’s do this together. I look forward to connecting with you. Be well!