Reigniting my journey through coaching

Turning redundancy into opportunity

After nearly three decades in corporate change, I realised something: real transformation doesn’t start with new strategies or restructures.  It starts with self-mastery…from the top down.

When I was made redundant, I welcomed the reset & invested in my future by building on my agility coaching.   As a business agility coach, I saw too much focus on outputs & quick wins…not enough on mindset, self-trust, sustainability & emotional resilience.  I didn’t want to just help people perform better.  I wanted to help them lead better - starting from within. Training as a Life Coach & Neuro-Linguistic Practitioner gave me the additional tools to do exactly that. Today, I coach small business founders, leaders & those responsible for change, supporting them to reset, reignite & reinvent how they grow, lead & sustain from the inside out.

Before I could coach anyone else, I had to coach myself & that changed everything. I was & still am…my first client. Coaching helped me reconnect with purpose, rebuild confidence in my decisions & step into the clarity & courage I needed to leave a secure but unfulfilling path behind. Through Life Coaching & NLP training, I didn’t just study change…I lived it. Every reinvention deepened my belief that sustainable success isn’t about doing more - it’s about becoming more of who you truly are.

Training with The Coaching Academy

Already fully qualified as a Business Agility Coach, I was leading change across technical teams, but knew there was more to transformation than systems & metrics. I wanted to deepen my skills around human-first change: mindset, self-mastery, leadership identity, emotional & positive intelligence.  I discovered The Coaching Academy while exploring how to formally build out those coaching foundations.  The Coaching Academy's structured yet flexible approach stood out…combining live training, mentoring, observations & accessible resources alongside my evolving business plans.

To help with balancing study, practice coaching & business setup I found the flexibility of The Coaching Academy's training allowed me to learn at my own pace. I carved out learning time around my commitments, treating it as an investment in the future I was building.  Applying coaching principles in real conversations helped embed learning naturally - building genuine confidence, not just skills.

The real reward was the connections…with like-minded coaches, mentors & a business mentor aligned to my vision. The Coaching Academy's support & Business in a Box resources helped me move beyond theory into real-world transformation. Seeing early client breakthroughs reinforced what I believe about change: it starts with leading yourself differently.

The live training, peer-to-peer sessions & mentoring access were invaluable.  Practising skills in real conversations made a huge difference. The student community kept me inspired. Completing DISC Level 2 also deepened my understanding of communication styles…strengthening relationships & reducing conflict.

My Coaching Business

I'm the founder of FlameLily Coaching, where I work with small business founders, leaders & those leading change - helping them reset, reignite & reinvent how they grow, lead & sustain their businesses.  Through my Reignite YOU Programme, I support individuals who feel caught in second-guessing or decision fatigue…helping them rebuild confidence, reconnect to their vision & lead with clarity & courage. I also help small businesses strengthen leadership capability, improve communication & create systems that support both people & performance.

One of my favourite coaching tools is the Wheel of Life - adapted around change themes like leadership energy or decision-making confidence. It helps clients visualise where they’re thriving, where they feel stuck & where small shifts could unlock sustainable growth.  It’s not about fixing what's wrong…it’s about realigning with what matters.

Unlocking Clarity and Confidence 

Clients often share that coaching helped them move from second-guessing to leading with clarity, confidence & momentum.  They value the safe, encouraging space I create, where they reconnect with their strengths & sharpen their self-trust. They appreciate the clarity & structure I bring, helping them turn insight into meaningful action.

I'm fascinated by how mindset, self-mastery & language patterns influence sustainable agile growth. Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) showed me the power of small shifts - how we think, speak & frame our experiences can either expand or limit what’s possible.  I'm especially interested in how coaching transforms not just goals, but the way people lead themselves.  

I'm excited to continue growing FlameLily Coaching into a go-to resource for small business founders, leaders & those leading change. I’ll expand Reignite YOU Programme, have more flexible elements & bonus pathways. Alongside one-to-one coaching, I’ll be developing group coaching experiences, leadership training & human-first resources focused on sustainable growth & self-mastery.

Progress Over Perfection Always Wins

Be willing to be your first client…that’s where real transformation starts.  Coaching isn’t something you do for others; it’s something you live yourself. Stay curious, reflect often & embrace imperfect action. You don’t need to have it all figured out - you just need the courage to keep growing. Progress over perfection, always.

Coaching isn’t just a career for me - it’s a commitment to living & leading differently. I believe coaching creates ripple effects…in businesses, in communities & in how people show up for life. It’s about creating sustainable change from the inside out - for yourself, your clients & the systems we’re all part of. 

Thank you Chelle for sharing your transformational and inspiring coaching journey story with us!