Manager of an International Development Company

“While not a traditional leadership role, the nature of my position requires the ability to mobilise multiple stakeholders, from all levels and departments of the organisation.  When I first started the coaching experience with Steve, I was unsure of what to expect and even what I really wanted to get out of these sessions.  With a very demanding schedule and working in a high-pressure environment, I was having trouble seeing the forest for the trees and felt like I had little-to-no-space to step back and think more strategically.  I really appreciated Steve’s open and flexible approach, and how he adapted the sessions to deal with immediate challenges and issues that I was experiencing, while at the same time, using these examples to connect to wider elements on which I could work.  I feel that our sessions were one of the few places that allowed me the time and space to really step back and reflect beyond the day-to-day hustle.  He presented the idea of “moving from dancefloor to balcony,” which really resonated with me.  Working with Steve has helped me to identify what leadership means to me, and to be more purposeful about cultivating a leadership mind-set in whichever task I undertake.

Steve’s thoughtful insights and reflections were incredibly helpful, not only in navigating immediate challenges, but also in prompting wider learnings.  He opened the space to allow me to see things from different perspectives.  In our conversations, he was able to make me more aware of strengths I hadn’t considered I had and highlight the limiting thought patterns or habits that I was sometimes unintentionally fostering.  He helped me think through specific situations and extrapolate from those to reframe the way I approached things and found better solutions.  As I applied these learnings, I gained in confidence and was able to better position myself in my role.  On a personal level, I also began thinking more actively about my development and the direction in which I would like to go.  Some of my peers and my manager have even mentioned that they’ve noted the change, as I have developed a greater sense of ownership and felt more comfortable in actively taking on more responsibilities.  I have subsequently taken on a new role which will allow me to move into a more strategic space, where I hope to be able to make a stronger impact.”

Nelien Ribeiro Coache, Manager, Organisational Effectiveness, Aga Khan Foundation