Where your live, laugh, love heart meets bold strategy
Guiding you through systems never built for you, so you can grow into the leader you’re meant to be!
Meet Bryan Lian (he/him)
Your partner in sustainable leadership: Helping you ditch burnout, reconnect with purpose, and lead for the long game.
I know what it feels like to follow the script you were handed — to push harder, climb faster, and still wonder why you feel stuck. I spent years chasing the next title, the next credential, the next project, only to realize I was living someone else’s version of success.
The turning point wasn’t a grand revelation. It was an ordinary evening in a private practice clinic, worrying about my wife managing bedtime with the kids while I worked late, burning the candle at both ends. It was the countless nights spent on projects after the house was quiet, my brain fried, wondering if this was what making a difference was supposed to feel like.
That’s when I knew both my main quest and side quests had lost the plot.
So I did something radical: I stopped trying to fit into a broken system and reconnected with my humanity. I leaned into curiosity, wonder, and that unshakable desire to create impact without sacrificing myself. Coaching wasn’t just a new tool in my kit — it was the leadership style I didn’t know I needed. It blended strategy with self-compassion and gave me the clarity to lead well and be well.
Now, I help clinicians, creators, and change-makers like you break free from the burn-and-churn model, reconnect with your values, and design a leadership path that feels both impactful and sustainable.
Because leading well starts with being well.
The Call to Action
As a first-gen college student, I stumbled into a campus RD’s office thanks to a free pamphlet in the dining hall. That chance meeting lit a fire in me — I knew I wanted to help others navigate their relationship with food and health.
A Summer of "WTF" Moments
I landed a summer job as a nutritionist at a camp, only to realize that the power dynamics were messy and the system was broken. But the people? They were worth it. That’s when I decided to specialize in working with adolescents and young adults.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling
After years of climbing the clinical ladder, hitting every milestone, and earning my MS in Health Administration, I hit a wall. I saw firsthand that institutions prioritize systems over people, and the work felt more like fighting fires than creating change.
The "Make it Make Sense" Era
Burned out and needing a shift, I left hospital life for a university role that others saw as a "retirement job." But for me, it was a reset button. I raised my kids, weathered the pandemic, and found a new path. This was where I discovered coaching — the bridge between nutrition counseling and leadership development.
Leading Well While Being Well
Bryan Lian Well-being & Leadership Coaching was born. It’s more than a business — it’s a movement for clinicians and creators tired of running on empty. Here, we build a new model of leadership rooted in self-awareness, strategic action, and radical well-being.
My coaching style is deeply curious, inquisitive, and non-judgmental, grounded in critical awareness and perspective-taking. I believe in creating a safe space where my clients can feel seen, heard, and understood, exploring the interconnectedness of their identities and relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
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My path to becoming a dietitian and well-being & leadership coach was a bit of a winding road, but it was fueled by a deep desire to make a positive difference in people's lives.
Growing up, I watched my parents work tirelessly to provide for our family, and their dedication inspired me to find a way to give back. I was always drawn to science, but I didn't have a clear career path in mind. Then, one day, I stumbled upon a flyer at my college dining hall advertising free consultations with a dietitian. I figured, why not?
That simple encounter changed the course of my life. I learned how food, something I loved so much, could also be a source of stress and confusion for many people. And as I moved from the city to the suburbs, I saw firsthand how access to healthy food and environments could vary dramatically.
When I landed a job as the campus dietitian at Stanford University, I realized that my passion for nutrition extended beyond just food. I wanted to help people achieve overall well-being, so I trained as a CPCC and Applied Compassion Ambassador.
Now, I'm on a mission to share my knowledge and experiences with others who are looking for a little guidance. I want to help people rediscover their passions, thrive in their careers, and become the leaders we need to create a more just and equitable world.
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My practice is all about helping people reconnect, explore, and heal.
Reconnection: Creating a space where you can rediscover yourself, your relationships, and the world around you.
Curiosity: Encouraging you to be open-minded and curious, and to embrace new experiences and perspectives.
Healing: Supporting you on your journey towards well-being on multiple levels: physical, emotional, social, existential/spiritual, etc.
I'm always learning and growing, and I'm committed to making my practice ever more inclusive and accessible for everyone.
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I’m a Queer XL Chinese-American dad who feels very lucky to come home to two spirited kids and a loving wife. I’m a Enneagram Type 5 (Investigator) and MBTI - INTP (Architect), which means I love to ask questions and building solutions. On my off days I spend my time watching fantasy shows, curating art, music, and recipes that inspire, are delicious, and speak to the Asian diaspora experience. I’m a salty, don’t mind sweet, and spice is nice kind of guy. I’m a recovering NYC Rise-and-Grind turned California-Chill Dad.
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Lived experience is so important to the work and so I respect and invite that desire to meet with someone with shared identities and experience. At any time in our process, from our initial call to our last session, I offer space for co-designing working agreements that acknowledge this and create a container around what would feel supportive. For example, I can offer resources or referrals that can meet those needs and preferences. I am engaged in the ongoing work for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, seeking out supervision, further trainings, and the ongoing process of learning/unlearning. As a client, I do not expect you to teach me and I will do my best to fill in gaps outside of our sessions. The opportunity to re-design our working agreements and pivot is ever present. In our work you have agency and choice.