From Academic to Coaching Academics Through High-Stake Projects

What initially drew you to coaching, and how has your own personal journey shaped your approach as a coach?

My passion for coaching grew out of my international academic career and personal journey through higher education. I studied in Canada, the United States, and the Netherlands, earning a Ph.D. with research focused on the factors that contribute to the long-term success of collaborative international projects in higher education. I have been so fortunate to work and live internationally — in Singapore, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. — as a university administrator and faculty member.

My own dissertation mentor, Dr. Mary Gergen, was an extraordinary person who showed me how powerful the right support could be during times of growth and challenge. Inspired by her example, I developed a coaching style that blends academic expertise with compassionate, personalized guidance. Coaching allows me to walk alongside others as they move through complex, high-stakes projects — not just helping them complete their goals, but empowering them to thrive.

Do you have an established coaching practice / business and what is it called? Do you have a coaching niche that you specialize in? What is your website?

Yes, I founded Dissertation Complete Coaching, where I specialize in mentoring doctoral students, academics, and professionals working on dissertations, research projects, and scholarly publications. Many of my clients see structure, motivation, and expert guidance to complete major academic milestones. My approach combines strategi planning, emotional support and deep listening.

My website is www.dissertationcompletecoaching.com

Did you get certified / accredited by any coaching schools / institutions? If so which one(s) and what attracted you to their program / accreditation?

I hold credentialing as an educator and academic leader. Additionally, I studied with MentorCoach in the United States, a progressive program rooted in positive psychology and evidence-based coaching. MentorCoach’s commitment to combining rigorous coaching techniques with a client-centered philosophy aligned beautifully with my background in academic mentoring and my belief in lifelong learning.

How did you set up your coaching practice and what challenges / wins have you encountered in the process? Any tips for new coaches just starting out to get their business registered?

My coaching practice grew naturally out of my academic and consulting work. As students and colleagues increasingly sought one-on-one guidance for major research projects, I realized there was a deep need for customized, emotionally intelligent coaching.

Challenges included trusting the slow organic growth of a practice built primarily through relationships and referrals, rather than traditional advertising. Wins have included building a worldwide client base and seeing many clients complete projects they once thought impossible.My advice to new coaches: Start small but strong. Focus first on service — when you truly help people move forward, your reputation will grow.

 

Coachvantage has been integral to my daily operations — allowing me to manage scheduling, client notes and documents. I also rely on Google Workspace for administrative work, Zoom for virtual sessions, Mailchimp for email blogs, and Canva for producing supportive coaching materials. I believe in keeping systems simple and aligned — every tool should serve to reduce friction and create more time for meaningful client work.

 

I believe in keeping systems simple and aligned — every tool should serve to reduce friction and create more time for meaningful client work.

 

How do you typically acquire clients / market yourself to grow your business? What has worked best for you and what pitfalls should be avoided?

Most of my clients find me through referrals, university networks, professional associations, and organic search linked to content I have created. I rely on social media, as well as Google ads. Publishing helpful, authentic content — whether blog posts, articles, webinars, or talks — has been far more effective for me than aggressive marketing.

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One pitfall to avoid is focusing too much on “selling” at the start. Focus instead on real service. When your work creates transformation, the right clients will find you — and will stay. Many of my clients are with me for a year or more as they complete their dissertation projects and graduate.

 

What's the most transformative shift you've witnessed in a client thanks to your coaching? Can you share the specific approach or tools you used? For eg, do you use any coaching models or specific techniques?

I once coached a doctoral candidate who had paused her dissertation for nearly five years, believing it was too late to complete it. Through structured coaching with weekly accountability sessions, and mindset work targeting perfectionism, she reconnected with her vision, completed her research, defended successfully, and graduated.

Seeing a client reclaim their own agency — to move from "stuck" to accomplished — is profoundly rewarding. My philosophy is that practical structure and personal encouragement go hand in hand: clients need a path forward and someone who sees their capability before they can fully see it themselves.

Describe a moment where you encountered a coaching roadblock with a client. How did you navigate it, and what lessons did you learn for future situations?

One client was convinced she couldn’t meet deadlines and kept disengaging from her goals. Rather than focus solely on time management strategies, I asked deeper questions and listened carefully — uncovering that her resistance stemmed from a fear of public failure. By addressing the emotional root and rebuilding her sense of internal safety, she was able to take consistent action.

The lesson? True coaching happens when we slow down, stop "fixing," and create a space where underlying beliefs can surface and transform.

 

"I’m not smart enough to complete a Ph.D.," "I don't belong here," "I’ve left it too late," and "I’ll never finish" are deeply common beliefs among doctoral students. I help clients challenge these beliefs by co-creating a new evidence-based narrative: reminding them of what they have already achieved, highlighting the resilience they've demonstrated, and building small, consistent wins that restore self-trust.

We move from self-criticism to self-compassion — a necessary shift for sustainable progress.