Testimonials

Johanna M.

When I started my coaching sessions, I was at a crossroad, disappointed with where I was in life, feeling pressured to go back to work, but lacking the initiative or drive to do so.  I had lost my mojo.  While my initial goals were based on personal pressures and other people’s expectations rather than what I really wanted, Alie encouraged me to pause and take time for some much needed introspection and self-discovery. Together, we explored my values and what was important to me. Throughout our sessions, I was given tools to dig deep and really listen to myself.

Before long, my confidence and energy levels soared; I felt inspired, empowered and energised to take the next step. I was amazed to discover that I had the answers within myself and could access a wealth of inner resources by giving myself the space for self-discovery. My goals gradually shifted, as I started valuing my achievements, letting the pressure and expectations slip.  I discovered calmness, an inner peace and sense of fulfilment I had not known before. With it came empowerment, self-acceptance, self-confidence, energy and inspiration.  I cannot recommend Alie highly enough.

Citizen of the world, mother of two beautiful children, currently residing in London

Roberta W.

Partnering with Alie started at the perfect time for me and has changed my perspective on life forever. She’s amazing at what she does and I am certain anyone would benefit from working with her.

When I first teamed up with Alie I had been living in the USA (as a UK expat) for 3 years and a stay-at-home mum for 4 years on an extended career break due to finish in 6 months time. The question of whether I would return to work with my previous employer in the energy industry was a major decision looming. I was confused and lacking in confidence to make a change or even understand if I wanted anything to change. My main focus was not to let an opportunity pass me by. 

Working with Alie taught me I had nothing to prove to anyone. She changed my perspective from a narrow view of limited options and lacking in confidence to attempt these, to realizing a wealth of opportunities and a belief that anything I set my mind on and put energy into is possible. She has an immense capacity to listen and hear what I was saying and play this back without distortion or embellishment. Her fantastic natural ability to engage with people, combined with the powerful assessment tools she uses, allowed me to deeply understand what I truly value in life and what this motivates me towards in terms of creating tangible actions and following up on these.

Alie’s professional guidance has allowed me to make a major step towards a new career. I confidently resigned from my pervious employer and began training in an area that I have a massive amount of passion and energy for.

Wife to one, mother of two and Nutritional Coach (in training!)

Robin H.

I am a Canadian expat with a career in international development and have accompanied my British husband on 4 diplomatic postings. I have found that these types of life changes, now with two small children, require flexibility, and resilience. At times, I have felt like I was in a holding pattern without a clear idea of what I wanted to do. I was introduced to the opportunity to have Life Coaching sessions with Alie through a mutual friend, and was surprised at how open I was able to be with her from the very beginning.

Alie had me share three goals that I wanted to achieve, and had me consider ways in which I would know if I was making progress. She listened to me discuss the steps I was taking, and the blocks that I felt I was encountering along the way. The values assessment she shared with me was very helpful in understanding my top values, and which areas I wanted to focus on professionally and personally based on these values of respect, community, and self growth. After our 12 sessions together, I was curious to see what my ELI assessment results would show. We reviewed my results, and I will use them as a resource in helping me define my future goals as I continue with Alie.

One of the main lessons that I have taken away from our sessions is that I have choice in how I spend my energy and time. Reminding myself of this has been empowering. I am very grateful to have had Alie as my Coach, and would highly recommend her to other expat women.

Canadian Expat with a career in International Development

Fran Wood

Alie is wonderful! She has helped me to navigate the huge amount of change, opportunities and challenges that face you as an expat woman and given me some great tools to support my new life. Transitioning from feeling like a ‘someone’ in the workplace to being a stay at home mother has been a huge shift and Alie has really partnered with me in making the best of all the opportunities and experiences there are here. She has been hugely supportive and non-judgmental whilst managing to skillfully encourage me to push and challenge myself! She has a huge amount of expat life experience herself and really understands personally the amazing, scary, exciting and challenging world it can be.

When we first made our move I was feeling quite overwhelmed and Alie has been so encouraging that I started to believe that I could adapt and make a success of my life here. Thank you Alie, and I’m excited to continue working with you. For anyone who is reading this and thinking about making that first step, just go for it – I don’t think you could find a more supportive and positive coach than Alie!

British, living in China, previously lived in Scotland, Switzerland and London,10 years HR experience, mother

Anthea Lawrence

Working with Alie has helped me to rediscover my self-confidence and answer the question “where do I fit into this lifestyle?” As an expatriate spouse, I found the transition from career-oriented expat to stay-at-home mother extremely challenging. I didn’t want to describe myself as a trailing spouse, rather I wanted to forge my own path and feel like I had other goals outside of home life. I felt confused and lost in trying to determine a purpose for myself beyond the day-to-day.

I decided to try coaching with Alie because her background gave me confidence that she would have first-hand experience in dealing with the uncertainty that I felt. I appreciated her genuine warmth, enthusiasm and natural ability to find the positive in any context.  She introduced me to a way of thinking which showed me how to bring out the best in myself. It was incredibly satisfying to discover that I already possessed the answers I sought, and all I really needed was some help in learning how to find them. With her guidance, I was able to set goals with a level of clarity and certainty that was astonishing to me. In a very short time, I overcame confusion and self-doubt, and gained confidence and self-awareness. Now, I no longer feel like I am fighting against myself in trying to figure out what I want. I am energized to challenge myself because Alie has helped me understand how to take maximum advantage of my own life experience and apply what works best for me, whatever the situation. I strongly encourage you to give it a try!

Australian living in USA

Maggie Danforth

Before partnering with Alie, I felt all over the place. I had a million ideas running through my head about what I should do, and underneath those tasks lived guilt and insecurity in my abilities. After partnering with Alie, I felt like I had a flexible game plan and that she completely supported me in identifying it. I felt clear, purposeful and unstoppable and as a result, I transitioned out of my full time job, moved cities, started my business and got a part time position in my new city! I also got brave and spoke my truth in my relationship, which cultivated more confidence in saying how I felt in other areas of my life as well. Thank you so much Alie!

Registered Dietitian (St. Louis, Missouri USA)

Zsofia N.

During the transition process of changing careers, I found it quite difficult to stay focused on my goal and not get distracted or lose motivation. In particular, when the end goal seemed so far away and the way to get there seemed to get harder and harder. Partnering with Alie helped me to embrace this major change in my life and see the opportunities this change brought, instead of focusing on the challenges and barriers that were yet to come. I can highly recommend Alie to everyone who is ready to take the first step.

Hungarian expat living in Switzerland

Abi I.

My conversations with Alie couldn’t have come at a more opportune time!  As I prepare for retirement, and as someone who has always strongly identified with work, I needed more clarity and deeper self-insight about my post-retirement future.  For me, it is important that I should retire in a way that feels right while being able to continue living fully and actively afterwards. Through my conversations with Alie, I have been able to find balance across these priorities, creating action plans, conducting research, and identifying milestones.

We also discussed possible income streams, which has steered me towards exploring and following through on ideas to set up my own training and consulting business.  I am now working to a plan that will enable me to transition confidently out of the workforce while being adequately prepared for a post-retirement future where I spend more time with family and friends and continue working as a human capital consultant and leadership coach. Working with Alie challenged me to conceive this transition and take the necessary steps to actualize it.

If you are at a cross-road, wondering how to transform your current challenges into future opportunities, I recommend a conversation with Alie today!

HR Executive with over 20 years’ experience in consulting, financial services, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa

Melanie P.

Working with Alie has given me a wonderful rediscovery of my own strengths and abilities.  As we go through life, it’s easy for marriage, parenthood and relocation to dull this connection we have to our inner world.  It was powerful to be reminded and re-invigorated.  It sounds cliché to say that the answers lie within you but I guess that’s why clichés become clichés – it’s so true.

Alie has a knack for listening and gathering all the pieces into something that makes sense. There was one call where my energy was all over the place.  I felt like I was babbling at a mile a minute and thoughts and emotions were just spilling forth.  Somehow she was able to gather it all and make it cohesive.

It took me some time to decide to go ahead with coaching.  I felt too busy and that I might not be able to commit to it.  I took the plunge and made room for it.  Life 4 months later is a whole lot different and focused than before. It would have taken me a lot longer with lots more frustration to get to this point without Alie.  So if you’re like me and feeling pulled in many directions and not getting too far on your own, just commit to it and somehow you’ll make the time and reap the benefits.

Trinidadian living in the U.S., owner of two small businesses, volunteer for Occupational Therapist Clinic, mother of 4

Kerry Darley

I can’t believe the negative emotional place I was in before partnering with Alie. Every one of my sessions with her was extremely insightful, and I noticed a change in my whole outlook after session 2, and my husband did too! Through this process I have rediscovered the importance of the partnership of marriage and team work, and that I am not alone in the everyday challenges to raise children and manage the home, abroad. This was a completely unexpected outcome.

I am beyond proud of myself for taking that first step. Any doubts I had about embarking in life coaching were quashed in our discovery session, when I realized she was exactly what I need in my life – an unbiased, encouraging pair of ears and a guide to help me awaken my true potential. I am amazed by her natural ability to help me reveal my darkest fears and address them head on.

Since giving up work and having children, I felt my light had gone out completely. Life coaching has let me shine again, rediscover my purpose in life and most importantly take back my identity as Kerry, not just mummy or cringe worthy ‘homemaker’. As I embark on my fifth expat move, now with 2 kids, I feel stronger physically and mentally than ever! And I have done it myself; Alie has provided a treasure chest of tools and techniques to ensure I live life the way I want to.

Northern Irish, Mum of 2, Embarking on her fifth expat posting to Shanghai and studying an MBA whilst taking a career break

Stephen McNally

While eager to explore life coaching, there was a feeling of uncertainty, of being out of my comfort zone, and even a slight anxiety about what life coaching would entail.  Alison’s non-judgemental and amiable personality made me feel comfortable from the very beginning.

The process helped me prioritise and focus on my short-term and long-term goals. The sessions however were much more than achieving goals.  It was a personal journey of introspection and learning to appreciate my values.  From now on l will bring a heightened awareness of the role of my values in how l make decisions, both big and small. I have no hesitation in highly recommending Alison as a caring and diligent life coach.

Irish, Father of three, lived in Stockholm and Athens