There’s a certain mystique about Google and those who work or have worked for the highly selective, highly competitive tech giant. That’s why we just had to learn more about local business coach Becky Thalmann’s back story—she spent nearly a decade at Google before leaving to start her own business, Vivica Partners. Today, as a Certified Coach and Transformational Leadership Architect, she offers business coaching for professionals, business owners and corporate leaders to overcome obstacles, unlock their full potential, and drive meaningful change in their lives and businesses.
Can you tell us about your time at Google?
Before Google, I worked at Orbitz in Chicago, overseeing strategic partnerships in the travel industry. Google recruited me to do similar work with its travel clients, supporting executives on digital transformation and marketing. Eventually, I moved into overseeing Procter & Gamble’s global partnership, essentially acting as the COO and working with teams both locally and globally. Then, I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, which led me to turn inward and rethink my life and career goals.
How did your cancer diagnosis change your perspective?
When I was diagnosed at 35, with two young kids at the time, it was very life-altering. I took 10 months off for treatment and did everything I could to survive and thrive. That experience gave me a lot of clarity about how I wanted to spend my time. When I came back to Google, I was a different person—a 2.0 version of myself. It solidified my desire to work more directly with people and support them in a deeper way. I became a certified executive coach and was able to transfer those new skills and my previous experience into a leadership enablement role for 4,000 leaders. I led a team that developed a program called “The Google Way of Coaching,” which is a methodology for teaching leaders to use coaching skills to become more effective. Google still uses the program today, and it’s been very successful and highly regarded. We even won two Brandon Hall gold awards for our program after redesigning it to be all-virtual during the pandemic.
What a legacy you left at the company. How did you start Vivica Partners, and what does the name mean?
I started Vivica Partners six years ago while I was still at Google. I went all-in on it in 2022; it has truly become a culmination of my experience and expertise. The name “Vivica” is a combination of my grandmothers’ names, Vivien and Danica. They were both incredibly courageous, influential women in my life. I have a built-in entrepreneurial spirit like them, and also like my father. He immigrated to this country and started his own business, as did many other family members. The “Partners” in Vivica Partners is important because I see myself as a partner with my clients—not everyone has that same approach.
What services do you offer through Vivica Partners?
I work with leaders, founders, executives and leadership teams. For one-on-one coaching, I typically meet clients one to three times in a month to solve challenges and support them in navigating tough decisions and driving change. I also facilitate small group cohorts of professionals who share similar goals and function like a peer group. In addition, I design and facilitate leadership team workshops and offsites, helping teams take a step back, clarify their focus, and solve challenges together.
What would you say makes your approach unique?
A lot of my work is about identifying what’s really going on beneath the surface. For example, if someone struggles with communication, there’s often a deeper blocker—like a fear or a mindset issue. Everything is more complex now, and moving so quickly, so it’s easy to just keep doing the same thing day in and day out. As a certified coach, I’m trained in how to change behavior to create more effective results. I don’t come in with a cookie-cutter formula; I custom-design solutions and structures to drive sustainable change rather than just put on a band-aid.
Who do you typically work with?
I work with a diverse mix of people, from small business owners to founders, leaders and global executives at companies like Google, Crate & Barrel and others. Most of my clients come through referrals, and I work with people all over the country.
How can someone work with you?
The first step is booking a discovery call so we can discuss what you, your team or your company is facing. I tailor my approach to people’s needs and goals, so I might recommend a yearlong coaching partnership, joining a cohort or attending a workshop.
To learn more about Vivica Partners or to book a discovery call, visit vivicapartners.com.
A lot of my work is about identifying what’s really going on beneath the surface...if someone struggles with communication, there’s often a deeper blocker—like a fear or a mindset issue.
The “Partners” in Vivica Partners is important because I see myself as a partner with my clients—not everyone has that same approach.