Background
My first love was languages. As a teenager, I wrote to penfriends all over the world, and at the age of 15 I stayed with my German penfriend’s family for a whole month. I hardly spoke any German, it was the first time I had travelled abroad, the first time I had been on holiday without my parents, and my first time on a plane. I was scared to death!! I soon got used to my new surroundings, though, and enjoyed every minute.
It’s magical, being able to understand someone when they’re speaking to me in their own language, rather than trying to accommodate me in mine. I think you can find out a lot more about people that way, because they feel more at ease when they’re not struggling to express themselves. That’s what I like about coaching – you let go of your own map of the world, and try to inhabit your client’s world for a while.
When I graduated from university, I thought that being able to communicate in multiple languages would be enough. But I soon realised that, if I wanted to work in business, I needed a technical skill of some sort – so I trained as a computer programmer. Over the following 18 years, I worked for organisations across a range of industry sectors, and in lots of different IT roles, from business analyst to systems designer, project manager, implementer and trainer. I also got paid to circumnavigate the globe!
In 2003, my job was made redundant, which I saw as an opportunity to do something different. The only problem was – as a Scanner, I found it difficult to choose! I spent some time considering my options, which were as varied as property development and teaching English as a Foreign Language. Then I discovered coaching, and it felt like “coming home”. Over time, I came to realise that my management style had very much been about coaching my team.
While I gained experience as a coach, I began to combine coaching with my business skills and knowledge of website design – which, to some people, seemed like a very odd combination! It took a while to gel, but I realised that I have a very unique combination of skills and experience. My detailed knowledge of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and internet marketing, gleaned while promoting my own coaching business – plus my expertise in how to design a website that attracts clients – enable me to help creative entrepreneurs to turn Passions into Profits. I am particularly interested in helping business owners who want to use internet marketing and web technology to grow a global business, and/or who want to be location-independent, delivering training and coaching programmes on-line, from anywhere in the world.
I’m a photographer, writer and singer – I joined my first band when I was a student in France in the late 1970s, and my husband and I were in a band together as recently as 2010 – and I enjoy working with creative individuals. My clients have included life coaches, web and graphic designers, musicians, photographers, interior designers, writers, composers and artists, as well as managers in IT, marketing, publishing and education, who wanted to quit the rat-race.
I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2008, and again in 2011 – so I’m also keen to help other women who have recovered from Breast Cancer, and who want to create a more inspired life by turning their creative passions into a profitable business.
I’ve been described as “a natural teacher and communicator”, I love photography, writing, singing, and reading anything that’s within focusing distance. I’m also passionate about travel and learning new languages whenever I get the opportunity – and with a goal of running my own location-independent business, I enjoy using internet marketing and web technology to promote and deliver my own programmes and products.
I live with my singer/songwriter husband in New Malden, KT3, on the borders of South West London and Surrey, in the UK. I don’t have a cat. Or a horse. Yet. 
Training and Qualifications
- BA (Hons) Modern Languages
- BPS Level A, Occupational Testing and Personality Profiling (SHL)
- Trinity College Certificate in TESOL
- Inspired Coach – Institute of Human Development
- Professional Coaching Certificate (ICF accredited) – The Kerslake Company
- Certified Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) – Mind Training Systems
- Time Line Therapy® and Create Your Future Coaching® Master Practitioner – MTS
- Master Practitioner of Hypnosis – Mind Training Systems
- Certified NLP Master Coach – Mind Training Systems
- Certified Profiting From Your Passions® coach – Valerie Young
Languages Spoken
- English
- French
- German
- Italian
- Spanish
TAKE ACTION!
Contact me to arrange an initial conversation, or to book a session brainstorming ideas for income streams.
I look forward to talking to you soon.
