GAVIN MASUMIYA COACHING
Konnichiwa (hello),
I am Gavin Masumiya - vocal confidence coach, speaker, and founder of FlowFam.
My Story
Growing up in West LA, I often felt invisible—shy, reserved, and struggling with self-doubt.
Starting school a year late made me older than my classmates, and I was often teased for being 'stupid' or called a 'monkey' because of my big ears. I wasn’t the popular kid; I was the quiet observer from the sidelines, feeling isolated and like something was wrong with me.
My journey to finding my voice was a winding one, filled with moments that shaped me profoundly.
Identity Conflict
Raised in a Japanese-American community center, playing basketball and joining Boy Scouts immersed me in teamwork and countless community service projects—weekends spent giving back, even when I didn’t always want to.
These experiences taught me the importance of devoting oneself to a greater purpose beyond individual desires, while also sparking an internal conflict about finding my own voice within a collective identity. This balance laid the foundation for my journey to finding my voice.
Shut Down
In 7th grade, I thought freestyle rap would be my gateway to setting myself apart from the herd and being noticed. But when Joey, the popular kid, heard me, he shouted, “Gavin, you suck!”
Those words crushed me. I withdrew, believing my voice didn’t matter.
Yet, my love for freestyle never faded. Alone in my room, I practiced daily, turning it into my release valve from daily stresses. This intrinsic motivation to express myself, even when unseen, kept me grounded and away from unhealthy vices.
Finding Confidence
Then came 9th grade. I sat next to Ariana in art class, and this connection came after years of isolation and self-doubt. Her kool-aid smile and endless questions to learn more about me opened me up little by little.
One day, she came in and didn't have the same positive energy she usually had. I asked her, "What's wrong, Ariana?" She confided in me about a fight with her dad and asked for my advice. I wasn't expecting this question. I thought for a moment and saw that underneath the upset is a desire for a more harmonious and loving relationship. So, I suggested something simple: “What if you just told him you love him?”
The next day, as I was walking to class, I heard my name from behind. It was Ariana with her big kool-aid smile. She came up and hugged me, "So, I listened to what you said and spoke with my dad. It made a difference! Thank you for that." For the first time, I realized my words had weight—they mattered. This made a small imprint in my mind that became a slow roll into speaking up more, recognizing that my perspective holds value.
Feeling Lost
After high school, inspired by the confidence Ariana sparked in me, I went to UC Irvine to study psychology and social behavior with a minor in management.
Yet, I found myself lost in uncertainty about my future. I got into a lot of drugs at the time, and fell into xanax - a huge escape where I was able to forget about the stresses with its anti-anxiety effects.
What I didn't know was how bad the withdrawals would be. It led to a dark seat of the soul where I looked in the mirror and asked, "What are you doing with your life? You are using xanax to run away from the fact that your romantic relationship isn't working, you have friends based on taking substances, and are not clear on your future career. You need to stop this xanax and get your life together."
Practicing Meditation
Around this time, my father recommended reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle in 2009. It introduced me to meditation, teaching me that presence could ease my anxiety and help me confront my emotions. Meditation became a silent companion and a bridge to understanding detached involvement—a crucial skill in my coaching work.
I learned to have a relationship with my inner voice - recognizing the difference between the harsh inner critic and that of my higher self (intuition). It also kept from returning back to substances like xanax. I had to courage to end the relationship and although I felt guilty, I knew it was the best decision for us. That was another catalyst for my personal development journey.
School of Life
After UCI, I began working at Behavior Frontiers, where I became one of the best trainers in the company, mentoring new employees and emphasizing the importance of emotional regulation, building relationships, and serving as a liaison between teams.
Despite my success, I faced high burnout and low pay, especially working with one of the most violent clients in the agency. I knew our services was not optimal for this extreme case, it was a lose-lose for all parties involved. Advocating for reassignment taught me that self-advocacy is essential, even when difficult.
Discovering Coaching
My journey into coaching was sparked by a conversation with my high school friend Rod, who suggested I explore life coaching. That suggestion led me down a rabbit hole where I discovered Tony Robbins and his teachings on the 6 Human Needs. I realized how much I had prioritized certainty and significance in my life, often seeking attention to feel like I mattered, rather than being of true service.
Immersing myself in Robbins’ work, I absorbed everything from his Personal Power 2 program and even used all my PTO to attend his $5k Date with Destiny seminar—despite friends thinking I was being scammed. This experience gave me a blueprint for living with intention, led me to volunteer at halfway homes empowering youth, and set a goal to live abroad.
.jpg)
Living in Japan
I built strong relationships at Behavior Frontiers, and with support from the clinical director, I pursued a teaching opportunity in Japan. Moving there in 2013, I began coaching pro bono on weekends and fell in love with the process. I found a deeper purpose coaching a citizen from the Navy and young man back in the US - and I knew I wanted to set roots and grow as a coach - even when others said it was fishy and was skeptical of my path. This reinforced the importance of trusting my path and using my voice to pursue what mattered most.
Coming Home
In May 2015, I moved back to Los Angeles, secured my job as Senior Behaviorist and joined Toastmasters where I honed my public speaking skills. I started up a mentorship program within my chapter, mentored dozens of individuals, and competed internationally twice, reinforcing my love for helping others find their voice.
To deepen my coaching expertise, I also pursued certification through iPEC, one of the most rigorous ICF-accredited coaching programs, where I refined my framework using Energy Leadership principles. This period was instrumental in shaping my coaching philosophy and commitment to empowering others through authentic self-expression.
In this period, while still working back at Behavior Frontiers, I faced a crossroads. I was respected in the company, enjoyed training employees, and was even offered opportunities to move up the ladder with potential funding for further education. But deep down, I knew this wasn’t my end game. My passion for empowering others to find their voice extended beyond special education, and I felt a calling to take that passion further into coaching. This inner conflict pushed me to seek guidance.
Crossroads
In a pivotal coaching session with Tristan, my coach at the time asked, “What do you REALLY want?” For the first time, I voiced my dream aloud: coaching full-time. Tristan challenged me to create a plan—saving $40k, securing five clients, and preparing my exit within four months. On June 8, 2018, two days before my birthday, I achieved these goals and stepped into entrepreneurship with clarity, purpose, and a renewed belief in the power of speaking our truth.
.jpg)
Persistence
Through the years, it was rocky. I worked with clients from all walks of life—from building healthier habits, improving their public speaking for promotions, and reinventing themselves after life shattering breakups. Though my work felt scattered at times due to juggling different client challenges, the common thread was always helping people find their voice. This realization shaped my focus moving forward, reinforcing that using one’s voice is essential in every area of life.
FlowFam
Reflecting on my younger years and the transformative power of using one’s voice, I founded FlowFam® in 2019—starting humbly with a few people on a hamburger-shaped blanket at Dockweiler Beach, inspired by my early love for freestyle and the confidence it gave me. This connection to flow state through music fueled my desire to help others find their voice.
FlowFam has touched people across 18 countries from ages 10-71 - bringing team building experiences to organizations like Airbnb, Medium, CA Science Center, and the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).
Holistic Approach
Around the same time, while running my coaching program Find Your EDGE, I faced burnout from overserving and realized that vocal confidence also means honoring my body and knowing my own limits. Meditation, boundaries, and self-care became my anchors, leading me to co-lead FlowFamFest retreats in 2022 and integrate holistic well-being into my coaching approach.
Ironically, by setting more boundaries around my accessibility and honoring my health, it led to $10k+ months - reinforcing the power of honoring my health to be of sustainable service.
RIP Mom
Then in May 2023 after Mother's day, my mother fell seriously ill. Within minutes of arriving, we realized she became paralyzed. In that moment, I remember sitting by her hospital bed with my brother as she reached out with her numb hands and said, “Sons, if I don’t make it, know that you are loved.” Those words are etched in my soul—the power of voice to uplift even in the darkest moments.
Her passing within a month was devastating, but it taught me that grief is love with no place to go, and it deserves reverence. It pushed me to channel my emotions into music and creative expression, emphasizing my belief that voice and creativity are vital for healing.
This profound experience made me more resilient, more present, and deeply committed to helping others find strength through self-expression, especially during life’s most challenging times.
%20copy.png)
My mission is to help people find their voice, advocate for themselves, and thrive through authentic self-expression, blending Eastern mindfulness and Western assertiveness into every aspect of life and leadership.
