What brought you to coaching?
I discovered executive and personal coaching as a profession quite by accident. I worked in an investment company in London - in the grey zone with no room for professional development, and felt ready to experience a change. Someone left a Protégé Programme Leaflet in a block of apartments where I lived. I was intrigued by Professional standards of The Coaching Academy, and without any doubts I booked myself into a free Initial Training weekend.
What were your original thoughts for applying the coaching?
I loved the outcome of my first coaching session at the Training weekend, which pushed me past my comfort zone and the safety of my old patterns and beliefs. I felt so excited about what I could achieve being trained as a Professional Coach.! I have found the answers I was looking for: how can I capitalise on my experience in living, studying and working in the UK and Russia, by entering a new career field.
What was your profession before becoming a coach?
My background is in Economics and Statistics: I worked in Russia as a Consultant for the Department of Employment, a Deputy Head of Department of Prices/Inflation, and a Senior Economist. Then tell us about your journey whilst you were working hard to qualify; Whilst I was working hard to qualify, I had major changes, such as Redundancy, Divorce and long-standing Hospitalisation of my son. Those experiences opened me up to a more compassionate way of being in the world and taught me to have tremendous empathy. I also discovered that pain and hope are common denominators of all of these life changes.
What did you find most interesting to learn?
Non-judgmental listening skills, as everyone is carrying their own burden.
What was the most rewarding part of the training/journey?
The most rewarding part of the training was getting feedback from Jan for my Practical Assessments, thesis and Assessment paper. I was so pleased to get 95% for Professional Development Journals. We were joking about it, as I still had a room (a 5 %) for improvement. The most rewarding part of the journey was the satisfaction of being paid for one week of Coaching as for one month’ previous salary of working- for- someone- else- job.
Which bits did you enjoy the most?
Understanding my own values and confronting my limiting beliefs. Having Practical assessments: I deliberately choose the most challenging clients for my assessments, as I wanted to make sure I got a good return on my investment (ROI). You cannot take an Economist from me.
How did the qualification slot in with your current life?
Professionalism is one of my core values, thus having the qualification is a MUST for me. It’s a great foundation to understand the moral, ethical and behavioral guidelines and professional standards.
What else did you have to consider whilst qualifying? Two things.
1)The need for enhancing my professional skills and knowledge through planned CPD and meetings, thus I set up the Barbican (City of London) Coaching group.
2)The need for reflective supervision, thus I set up the Barbican Supervision group.
Where are you now? How are you using your coaching skills?
In 2011 I set up my coaching business - VSEI Coaching, and work as an independent Leadership/Personal Performance Coach. Coaching becomes a part of me.
What is your coaching niche and why did you choose it?
My niche is Leadership, Personal Performance and Cross-Cultural Coaching. I have emerged in my unique Identity as a bi-lingual Leadership/Personal Performance Coach after many experiences and trials with range of clients in the UK and Russia.
What is the best thing that could happen to your coaching business in the next 2 years?
Expand Business Prospects and collaborate with 5-7 coaches. Develop multicultural and emotionally intelligent leaders. Win a National Recognition Award for impact in International Leadership.
What is your favorite coaching question?
How do you handle a challenge? I believe that the quality of our questions determined by our ability to tolerate tension and deliberately inquire into tensions (with clients permission).
What do you enjoy most about being a coach?
I enjoy facilitating change and creating sustainability through coaching, which has a direct beneficial business impact and an indirect impact.
What are your top tips for: People who are looking at coaching?
Select the Diploma(s) you want to enroll; find all available information associated with your choice and attend a free Initial Training Event. Consider what you want. You might find that you can add some coaching skills to your existing job, if you want to make a positive contribution and to deliver excellent results.
Those coaches currently in training?
*Take your training seriously. One day you might be asked by your potential client: How well trained is my coach? *Join in a coaching community group in your area. Make commitment and grow in your expertise. If you isolate yourself, the changes are - you will be lost. The beauty of our Barbican (City of London) Coaching community- we grow together.
Coaches that are about to qualify?
Be Honest with Yourself. Learn from the Masters. Walk your Talk.
People that are in a similar situation to yourself?
Let’s cooperate, collaborate and raise standards! Together we will have the scale, knowledge and creativity to tackle problems that no-one else can.
The Coaching Academy was established in 1999, and is now the world's largest coaching school.
In that time we have trained over 14,000 people to become life coaches.
We are accredited by the International Coach Federation and the Association for Coaching, and we're rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
