What happens behind the scenes of a coaching session?

In this blog post I explain how I, as a professional coach, prepare, stay present, and follow up to maximize impact for my client.

Your money beliefs can shape your career choices, especially in social impact work. This blog explores four core money scripts and how they may unconsciously hold you back from pursuing fulfilling work. Understanding and rewriting these beliefs allows you to develop a healthier relationship with money and make career decisions aligned with your values - yes even in social impact!

Physical Intelligence techniques have been used for decades in the worlds of sports and the arts.  Sports psychologists and top performers in sport and the arts use a variety of techniques to manage their "Winning Cocktail" and build peak performance. We can learn from their successes by acknowledging and embracing the impact of those techniques on our own personal and professional performance.   

Our work often defines us—but should it? If you've ever felt like your self-worth is tied to your job title in social impact, you're not alone. In this blog, I explore why social impact professionals struggle with work enmeshment, the signs to watch for, and the consequences of over-identifying with work. More importantly, I share five actionable steps to reclaim your identity beyond your career.

Given the USAID funding freeze, which has led to significant disruptions in global humanitarian efforts and mass layoffs among development professionals, here is a master list of resources tailored for social impact professionals affected by these changes. Explore career transition support, job lists and networking avenues to navigate this challenging period.

Crispin Thorold, an international strategic communications advisor, wanted to grow his business as a freelance advisor in human rights and international law. But not soon after starting, he started to feel isolated and lacked focus on critical activities.

“Suddenly, I was on my own, and I just really didn't know how to put one foot in front of the other. I lost a lot of confidence.”

Read/listen to how coaching supported Crispin in landing his dream client.

Have you ever felt unfulfilled in your social impact career, even when working toward a good cause?
You’re not alone. One reason this happens is that you might be living by adopted values — values that were handed to you by society, family, or the organization you work for.
But when you discover and act according to your core values, you experience more fulfillment, purpose, and authenticity in your career.

Discover how cultivating inner skills can help you and your team drive sustainable progress and achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Take the quiz to assess your Inner Development Skills (IDG) strength, and learn how you can use the framework with your team.

Daniela Richter wanted to be intentional about her next career step. She wanted to proactively develop a position aligned with her, interests and family life. She was looking for a coach to support her in doing that and supporting her during stressful periods to not lose direction.

Read Daniela’s story.

Is changing careers in mid-life different than in your early career? Listen to this 30 min podcast interview to find out.

"I was sabotaging myself continuously all the time... I was on the verge of giving up."

Dr Balakrishnan Balachandran, an international development consultant, had earned his PhD in regional planning disaster-risk recovery. He aimed to land a role in academia. A few months later, all he had were rejection letters. He started to worry.

Read and listen to this case study.

Do you ever feel like your job has gradually evolved into something quite different from what you initially signed up for?

An energy-time audit is a simple yet effective way to assess your work satisfaction and identify areas for improvement. Read this article for how to do one.

In 2022, a handstand workshop taught me that change requires more than mechanics. This mirrors the journey my clients take with me in coaching. Learn more on why true change requires more than just a one-off coaching session.

"I was insecure. I had no confidence and was afraid of the future."

Katerina* worked for a multilateral organisation in Greece on human rights. She was ready to find a new role. The problem: Within her organisation, the bureaucracy meant no clear transition paths into new roles.

Read this case study.

Coaching is an unregulated profession. In this blog article, I outline the five red flags to watch out for when choosing a coach in international development. I’ll also give you seven questions that will help you make an informed decision.

Carol Tojiero was looking to advance her career within a large international organisation. She loved her job, her team and the work she did. Over the years, she has taken on more and more responsibilities. She looked at the growth opportunities before her but struggled to navigate the space effectively.

Listen to her coaching journey.

This article outlines the differences, benefits, and downsides of team coaching, group coaching and individual coaching - and the role of the coach in each modality.

“We look and act very composed, calm, but inside, there's a lot of anxiety."

Dr. Ishani Roy is leading a fast-growing social impact business, Serein Inc. The exponential business growth was coupled with frequent travel, challenging meetings, and remote team management. This affected Ishani physically and emotionally.

Read and listen to Ishani's coaching journey.

How can I gain self-confidence in a new role? Discover the crucial difference between self-confidence and self-belief and learn strategies to develop both.

“I lacked the confidence to speak the truth.”

Ritu Bhardwaj, a documentary film maker in the social and climate justice space, wanted to be more confident and assertive in pursuing her creative ideas.

She struggled to assert her needs and goals within the cultural context she’s operating in.

Read Ritu’s account of her coaching journey.