A Career Story: Noa Stisin On Helping Herself & Others Heal Their Inner Voice
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Welcome to Career Diaries, where we showcase individual career lore. EverMore believes reflection and storytelling are key to personal and professional growth.
Meet Noa Stisin
Noa founded the coaching company, Rewriting Childhood, where she helps parents, caregivers, and teachers recondition their ideas about childhood. They learn to nurture a kind inner voice for themselves and their children.
We wanted to feature Noa on EverMore because the reflective work she's doing with parents and childhood is a mirror of our work on the professional side.
Without further ado, here is her story. You can also listen to her on the Dear EverMore podcast:
Tell us about yourself.
I'm Noa. I was born in Spain, but have lived in 4 different countries, encompassing many different cultures and life experiences.
I spent years trying to change how people work together by creating healthier environments in the workplace before realizing the real work happens at home. This is why I founded Rewriting Childhood.
I now work with parents and teachers, helping them understand their nervous systems and how to break generational patterns by translating children's behavior as communication of their internal world seeking safety.
I am convinced that in order to have healthier, kinder, and more grounded leaders, we need to start by shaping their childhood experiences, and that starts with how caregivers see the children.
They need support to learn how the brain works and teach skills rather than punish them for their lack thereof. This is what will build healthier inner voices in future adults and healthier relationships between humans.
What career did you want as a child?
I wasn't sure exactly, but I was drawn to working with people. Hotels, tour guides, anything where I could talk and connect with and help others. I just didn't know what form that would take.
What were the circumstances you grew up in, and how did they shape your view of work?
OMG. They shaped it in every way and form.
I grew up as an only child with divorced parents. I grew up mainly with my mum and maternal grandparents. We are Jewish, and there was a lot of shame around emotions, and being wary of everyone around you—a lot of “be careful, don’t say anything to anyone, keep everything to yourself, people are out to get you, people are jealous.” To the point where I became incredibly hyper-vigilant, and it, to this day, really affects my life.
I come from a lot of intergenerational trauma and toxicity, which has been passed down, and I am finally the one stopping it. Growing up the way I did is what drove me to where I am today.
I was raised in a household where my feelings weren’t valid. I was called a “bad” daughter every time I made a mistake, and the love I received always felt conditional and offered or withheld based on my behavior.
Teachers and other caregivers reinforced that same message in their own ways, leaving me feeling unseen and unsure of myself. When I had my daughter, I promised myself she would never feel that way. But before long, I started hearing the same words and tone I’d grown up with coming out of my own mouth. That’s when I knew I needed help to break the cycle—and that’s how I found coaching.
What’s your villain origin story?
I was working in HR, spending my days writing separation agreements. And I remember perfectly, I went to "meet the teacher" day at my daughter's daycare when she was eight months old; I was sitting on the floor crying, and I had this huge lightbulb moment.
What the fuck am I doing with my life? I'm wasting my potential and passion away.
I realized that what I actually care about, what moves me, what I'm meant to do, is not fixing workplace structures. It's teaching humans from the very beginning that all their feelings are valid. That there are no crazy emotions and that we are worthy of love unconditionally.
I grew up feeling ashamed of how I felt. And I was about to let my daughter grow up the same way, in systems that don't teach emotional validity from day one. That's when I knew: I had to leave. I had to do the real work.
What did your first job teach you about yourself?
I worked with my aunt, who was an esthetician and sold beauty products at beauty fairs. That’s where I learned I had no problem approaching people and talking to them about anything, no matter their level, from the cleaning lady to the C-suite. Sometimes, to my detriment, as I have no shame and an impulsive brain, which is both a gift and something I've had to learn to manage.
What was your experience entering the workforce?
All over the place… I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I did it all.
I did internships, worked as a waitress, worked in a store, worked in real estate, and as I graduated from university, I began to have steadier jobs in the corporate world. But nothing that felt like I was doing something that valuable with my time.
Just trying to get by and earn a salary.
Looking back, what was your first big career break, and how did it happen?
I was working for my former boss, whom I still consider a friend and mentor. He gave me a lot of opportunities, taught me, and allowed me to be in the rooms with the big bosses. I learned about how to communicate, about what people really cared about, and about the kind of impact I wanted to have as a leader.
Is there a moment of joy, pride, or surprise that stands out most in your career?
Having the guts to finally put myself out there and speak at conferences in front of 70+ people. I’ve always been incredibly scared of doing so, but I found a way, and it’s always been something I’ve wanted to do.
Who or what has influenced your career story the most?
My own life growing up. Having had to parent myself made me tenacious and hardworking. I never thought I was too big for any kind of job.
From clearing toilets at the restaurants I was working at, to canvassing leaflets around the neighborhoods, or standing for 8 hours with heels on for conventions.
Because of that, now, being a mother and realizing how I would love other children to NOT grow up, and wanting to help them.
What skills or mindsets helped you grow the most in your career?
Tenacity—showing up even when I was terrified.
Not being scared of communicating with leaders and advocating for myself.
The willingness to be vulnerable and admit when I don't know something.
And maybe most importantly, the ability to learn from everyone, regardless of their role.
Can you describe a moment when your career path shifted—planned or unplanned?
All the time… but the biggest was when I sent my daughter to daycare at 8 months, first time mum, and realizing that I didn’t want to waste my life away doing something that felt like a waste of time.
What were the biggest obstacles you faced in your career journey?
People's egos, including my own, and not knowing myself as well as I do now. Learning who I am took (and still is) taking time and a lot of self-reflection and self-awareness.
What have been your biggest failures?
In all honesty, failure to me sounds finite, so I don’t consider I’ve had any “failures,” only lessons.
Failure sounds like you can never get up again, and if there is something I keep on doing, it's growing & learning.
I make hundreds of mistakes a day, I am sure. And many times, I won’t know it was a mistake till much later, so right now I am on a journey of learning how to feel safe making mistakes.
AND, that being said, one of my biggest challenges has been learning how to be a coach, and how it’s all about the relationship. Learning I can’t work with everyone and anyone, there has to be a match. I learned that the hard way after coaching 4 people, which didn’t go so well. That has been humbling, as I had to look inwards a lot to realize what kind of coach I wanted to be.
What values have remained constant for you through different jobs or stages?
Authenticity: to a detriment—but I just can’t fake it.
Wellbeing: physical, but mainly emotional—that’s my priority above anything else—protecting my emotional well-being.
Connection: Life for me is all about the people and the relationships we build.
Did you ever feel pressure to conform to someone else’s definition of success?
Sometimes I think, when my daughter is asked what her mum does, she won’t be able to describe it in one word (e.g., lawyer, doctor, therapist, teacher, accountant). I’ve always thought of those people as successful, as it sounded steadier and like a “proper” job.
How do you define success for yourself today?
Attuning to my body and doing the things that I fear the most. Learning constantly and putting myself out there.
If your career story were a book or movie, what title would you choose?
Growing One Mistake at a Time
What’s your favorite quote?
"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." —Maya Angelou
What books are canon for you?
Untamed (Glennon Doyle) taught me I am stronger than I thought
Beyond Behaviors (Dr. Moona DeLahooke) taught me we are not our behaviors
The Dance of Anger (Dr. Harriet Lerner) taught me freedom from family toxicity
What are you listening to right now?
Indie Rock—when I feel young and good
Calming piano or classical music—to regulate when I'm feeling stressed around parenting
All the children’s songs in the car with the kids
What’s your pet peeve?
When someone invites me to go somewhere, and there are surprise guests that no one has told me about. I need transparency about who will be there so I can make an informed decision.
What’s your current passion project?
My workshops for teachers and parents. I want to help caregivers see children for who they are, not for their behavior. I am incredibly passionate about being a translator for children and their caregivers.
Where can we follow you?
Instagram: @rewriting_childhood
LinkedIn: @rewritingchildhood
Website: Rewriting Childhood Coaching
Career Diaries is an EverMore series to showcase careers in all their vulnerability. Gone are the days of the career ladder; instead, we believe in the career portfolio and treating your talents like a product. Learn from the unconventional, rogue, and creative minds that are charting new territory.
To have your story featured, email courtney@evermore.so.
