Meet Stephen 🕺

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Hi! I am Stephen Tracy 👋.

I help people explore their desires as a pathway to deeper self-discovery and integration.

As a young gay man, I learned early on how desires can emerge unexpectedly and shape our lives. My studies in cognitive neuroscience at Cambridge University and my experience at Google provided wonderful opportunities for personal growth and expansion, yet I still sensed a longing for something more.

In 2015, a new desire emerged—to start a candle company. This led to the creation of Keap Candles, which brought both personal fulfillment and community acclaim, along with its share of stress and imbalance. Life kept unfolding, and I found myself at a crossroads: one part of me wanted to stay in the comfort of Keap, while another yearned to venture into the unknown.

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These complex, life-changing encounters with my desires led me to get curious about deepening my relationship with them—and with myself. I began asking: Was it possible to be more aware of my desires and navigate them with greater ease?

I learned that by listening to my inner world with curiosity and compassion, our desires—when welcomed rather than forced—unfold naturally. They guide us toward deeper self-awareness and a fully integrated life.

Since then, I’ve pursued coaching training with Aletheia Coaching and am working toward ICF certification, while proudly being a member of the Gay Coaches Alliance.

Now, I’m here to support you in exploring your desires and discovering all that you are. If you’re ready to journey inward and uncover your inner wisdom, let’s talk!

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    “Stephen is a beautiful soul whom I can't recommend enough. The work was deep, which I wanted. And he's capable of the nuts and bolts of business and life, too. He's transformational—a joy to be in the company of, in energy and skill.”

    Simone Silverstein, copywriter and facilitator.

  • Portrait of a man with glasses, wearing a dark suit and black turtleneck, against a dark background.

    “Stephen helped me find inner clarity when I was juggling fatherhood and a complex career decision. I found more purpose and a deeper sense of confidence. He offers a rare mix of compassion and insight.”

    Philip Donaldson, Global Executive Director, Estée Lauder Companies

  • Smiling middle-aged woman with short gray hair standing outdoors with a cityscape in the background.

    “I wholeheartedly recommend working with Stephen. He is both wise and strategic and has a heart as big as a mountain.”

    DC Cymbalista, Principal, The Downing Street Group

  • A smiling man with glasses, wearing a navy suit and a patterned tie, outdoors with green foliage in the background.

    “I felt absolute trust working together. We were able to explore ideas and plans that had previously felt unattainable.”

    Guy St. Amant, Society of Fellows Scholar at Princeton University

  • A man with glasses and short brown hair, smiling and wearing a blue shirt, sitting indoors.

    “He blends intelligence with intuition, and has the gentle ability to help me shift the way I see a situation. These changes in perspective have often opened up entirely new solutions for me.”

    Harry Doull, CEO and Founder, Keap Candles

  • A young man with short gray hair, wearing a black shirt, sitting at a table with papers and a pink water bottle, looking at the camera and gesturing with his right hand.

    “Stephen’s brilliantly analytical mind combined with his deeply empathetic soul make him the perfect coach.”

    Mark Campbell, Pulitzer-prize Winning Librettist

Coaching focus areas

While every coaching journey is unique, I bring particular presence and experience to a few areas I care deeply about. Whether you're navigating the terrain of intimacy, identity, or purpose, our work can flex to meet you exactly where you are.

  • Explore your relationship to longing, connection, and erotic aliveness. Together, we can gently uncover what's blocking your full experience of intimacy—within yourself and with others—and support the unfolding of your authentic desires.

    For more details see my current in-person offering on Fire Island, which can be offered virtually for any client.

  • Whether you're beginning again after heartbreak or reimagining how you relate, this is space to explore relationships on your own terms. Drawing from practices of intentional relating, ethical non-monogamy (ENM), and post-conventional models of intimacy, we’ll uncover what kinds of connection truly nourish you. Together, we can clarify your needs and boundaries, support healthy interdependence, and build confidence in your capacity to love without losing yourself.

  • As a gay man, I offer a grounded, shame-free space to explore identity, belonging, and the complexities of queer life. This includes healing from internalized messages, cultivating self-trust, and moving toward a fuller expression of who you are.

  • I’ve been there. I understand the joys and the weight of building something from the ground up. Whether you're seeking clarity, sustainability, or more alignment between your work and values, we’ll make space to reconnect with what matters most.

  • When something’s shifting—or wants to—you don’t need to figure it all out alone. Whether you're changing careers, reimagining your role, or stepping into new leadership, we’ll work with both the practical and emotional layers of change.

Any questions or clarifications? hello@iamreadyforgrowth.com

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My personal and professional experience.

I bring a wide variety of perspectives to my growth coaching, all of which support and shapre our work together.

  • I have been practicing with clients since 2023 with over 350 hours of paid coaching experience. I completed Level 1 (2023) & Level 2 (2024) certification in coaching with Aletheia Advanced Coaching program. In 2025 I am studying coaching Aletheia journey work (dreams and psychedelic integration) and ISEE’s sacred sexuality instructor training. I am a past student in somatic (2021-2022_ experiencing with Holistic Life Navigation. I am pursuing my ACC level of certification with the ICF.

  • I co-founded and ran the successful startup business Keap Candles from 2015-2023. As a purpose-driven business we created a company focused on prioritizing connection in our customer’s lives.

  • I worked for five years as a strategic analyst for Google, Proctor & Gamble, and most recently supported the team behind the WE❤️NYC campaign as their Chief of Staff.

  • I have an undergraduate degree from Cambridge University in the UK in Cognitive Neuroscience, and a Master’s Degree in Data Science from UC Berkeley

  • I’m an expat, gay man living my life in authentic ways. I have been married and divorced, and have worked with therapists and coaches to help deepen my self-understanding. I have moved through every phased of life with a deep curiosity to understand myself and to grow through my experiences. I bring all my personal development and practice as embodied wisdom into my coaching.

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Feeling curious about your desires?

Introducing Five Days with Desire — a free, five-day email course filled with ideas and invitations to help you connect with your desires at your own pace.