Leading with Purpose — Inside the Journey of Carlsbad’s Business Coach, Alan Shimamoto

Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact — an essential podcast for those who live, work, visit, and play in Carlsbad.
Host (Bret Schanzenbach):
Good afternoon and welcome, everyone. I’m Bret Schanzenbach, president and CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, and your host. I’m thrilled to welcome Alan Shimamoto, owner of Accelerate Growth Coaching. Good afternoon, Alan!
Guest (Alan Shimamoto):
Good afternoon, Bret! Great to see you.
Host:
Likewise! I was doing some background research but couldn’t find where you’re originally from.
Guest:
I was actually born in Japan, in Toyama, and adopted from a Japanese orphanage when I was eight months old.
Host:
Wow.
Guest:
Yeah—my dad was a Japanese American who was interned during World War II. Afterward, he joined the U.S. Army, served for 23 years, and met my mom in Japan. After ten years of marriage, they couldn’t have kids, so they walked into an orphanage and chose me.
Host:
That’s incredible. So both your parents were Japanese?
Guest:
Yes. My dad was born here in California, and my mom was from Japan.
Host:
After you were adopted, where did you grow up?
Guest:
My dad retired from the Army and moved us to Watsonville, near Santa Cruz and Monterey. He started his own flower-growing business—he was done taking orders after 23 years in the military! So I grew up as the son of a self-employed flower grower.
Host:
Martinelli’s apple cider is from there, right?
Guest:
That’s right! I went to school with Robert Martinelli, the founder’s grandson. He was on my baseball team. I didn’t realize how big the company would become at the time.
Host:
That’s a great small-town story. You studied engineering at Menlo, right?
Guest:
Yes—though that was more my dad’s dream than mine. I bounced around a few colleges after that, including a year at San Diego State, which was my first taste of Southern California.
Host:
And then you got into insurance?
Guest:
Yes, about 37 years ago. A friend convinced me to try it. I borrowed $500 from my dad to get licensed—he thought I was crazy—but I paid him back quickly. I built a career as an independent contractor, eventually leading teams and mentoring others.
Host:
So that’s where your coaching roots began?
Guest:
Exactly. About a year in, I started coaching other insurance agents—first in sales, then leadership. My wife, Louisa, and I met through that business. We moved to Portland, Oregon, started an agency from scratch, and grew it from two people to 100 agents and $18 million in annual sales within four years.
Host:
That’s amazing!
Guest:
Eventually, the company made me a Regional Director, training others to build their own teams. I was still an independent contractor but focused entirely on coaching and leadership.
Host:
And now you coach businesses across industries.
Guest:
Yes. The principles are the same—leadership, communication, growth. Most business owners are great technicians but need help transitioning into leaders.
Host:
So what brought you and Louisa to Carlsbad?
Guest:
Our daughter was earning her master’s during COVID and decided she wanted to live somewhere she loved. She moved to Carlsbad, fell in love with beach volleyball, and after a while, we decided to join her. We bought a home here about a year ago and got plugged into the Chamber right away.
Host:
Welcome! What’s one positive surprise since moving here?
Guest:
The people. Everyone is so friendly—and the beaches are stunning.
Host:
Tell us about Accelerate Growth Coaching—what’s behind the name?
Guest:
Two main challenges business owners face are time and money. We help them accelerate—condense time—to reach results faster because “money loves speed.” The “growth” part is about personal growth. Early in my career, I realized that to grow my business, I had to grow myself. When I worked on becoming a better me, everything else improved—leadership, family, marriage.
Host:
That’s powerful.
Guest:
We all have self-doubt stories in our heads. Coaches help you see what you can’t see—like a professional athlete who has multiple specialized coaches. Business owners should have that same mindset.
Host:
Well said. Speaking of coaching, let’s talk about an exciting event you’re leading here—Live2Lead—hosted at the Carlsbad Chamber on Friday, January 30, 2026.
Guest:
Yes! Live2Lead is a John Maxwell leadership simulcast. It features incredible speakers—this year, one of them is Jesse Cole from the Savannah Bananas. His “fans first” philosophy has transformed how people think about business and customer experience.
Host:
He’s amazing. I love that he turned baseball into a full entertainment experience!
Guest:
Exactly. He looked at what people didn’t like about baseball and flipped it. His story shows that success comes through resilience and creative thinking.
Host:
So Live2Lead will be an all-day event at the Chamber, right?
Guest:
Yes—January 30, 2026. Tickets are $99 (VIP) through the end of the year and then go up to $149. Half of the proceeds will benefit the Carlsbad Chamber Foundation. You can register at carlsbad.org under the events calendar.
Host:
Seats are limited, so sign up early! Alan, you and Louisa are also very active in the Chamber.
Guest:
Yes—we jumped in right away with a “serve first” mentality. The people here, especially the Ambassadors like Marcy Bro, have been incredibly welcoming.
Host:
That’s wonderful. How can listeners connect with you?
Guest:
Visit accelerategrowthcoaching.com or call me directly at (360) 915-2196.
Host:
Perfect. Alan, thank you for joining me and for bringing Live2Lead to Carlsbad!
Guest:
Thank you, Bret. I’m excited for what’s ahead.
Host:
And thanks to our listeners for joining us on Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact. Please follow, share, and tell a friend—we’ll see you next time!