From Cambridge to Coaching: My journey to empowering early career professionals

"I don't feel good enough to be here."

Those were the words I heard from countless students and professionals over the years. Ironically, they're words I also found myself believing at different points in my own journey. That experience is one of the reasons I now do the work I do. Alongside my role as a university coach, I run Change & Confidence Coaching, where I support graduates and early-career professionals who are passionate about building careers in Higher Education. Through one-to-one online coaching, I help clients navigate job applications, prepare for interviews, develop clear career strategies, manage career transitions, protect their wellbeing throughout the recruitment process, and build the confidence to thrive long after they've secured the role.

From Cambridge to a calling in Bristol

For over 15 years, I've been supporting people to achieve their educational and professional goals. Earlier in my career, I worked in Cambridge, helping individuals gain places at some of the most competitive universities in the world by working with them to identify their strengths and potential.

At the time, I didn't realise I was already using a coaching approach.

It wasn't until a conversation with a colleague that everything clicked. I had been coaching for years without calling it that. That moment led me to apply for a university coaching role in Bristol, where I've been working full-time since January 2023, and I love it!

After receiving some powerful feedback from my university students about my coaching, I knew I wanted to delve deeper into this subject. I chose The Coaching Academy Life Coaching Diploma because it was flexible enough to do alongside my full-time role as a coach, and I was intrigued by the practical aspects of the course.

When coaching became my lifeline

A few months into my new university coach role, my life changed suddenly.

My mum's health deteriorated rapidly due to dementia and Alzheimer's, and I became her main carer almost overnight. It was a responsibility I wasn't mentally, physically, or emotionally prepared for.

During this time, coaching became more than just a professional skill - it became a lifeline.

Through the practice coaching sessions with The Coaching Academy, I experienced what it truly means to have a non-judgmental space where someone listens deeply and asks the right questions. It allowed me to open up in ways I hadn't before and to process a situation that felt overwhelming.

As someone who tends to be future-focused and practical, coaching helped me regain clarity and slowly find my way back into work.

That experience shaped not only how I coach, but why I coach.

Building confidence, one client at a time

In April 2025, I launched my online coaching and mentoring business, Change & Confidence Coaching.

I specialise in supporting graduates and early-career professionals who want fulfilling careers in Higher Education - or who are navigating major career changes and wondering what comes next. Some of my clients have relocated to completely new cities where they know nobody. Others have secured interviews but struggle to believe they're good enough. Many arrive feeling exhausted after multiple rejections, questioning whether they're even on the right career path. My coaching combines evidence-based coaching psychology with warmth, practical action planning, and genuine curiosity.

Looking back, I've now coached more than 300 students and professionals, yet I still see the same pattern. People almost always underestimate themselves. Having coached within Higher Education for several years, I understand the unique pressures graduates and early-career professionals experience - from navigating competitive recruitment processes to overcoming imposter syndrome after securing a role.

At the start of my journey, someone once said to me:

"No offence, but you don't look old enough to be a life coach."

It knocked my confidence more than I expected.

But later, achieving a distinction in my Life Coaching Diploma reminded me that I do belong in this field. My skills, experience, and results speak for themselves, and more importantly, so do my clients:

"Working with Sabrina gave me clarity and confidence in my career. She helped me identify my strengths, prioritise my goals, and develop a clear strategy for moving forward. What stood out most was her holistic approach, recognising that my wellbeing, health, and lifestyle are just as important as my career. I left each session with a clear sense of direction and the confidence to take my next steps."

For me, that's what coaching is about: helping people see themselves more clearly and move forward with confidence.

What's next for me

I'm particularly interested in how imposter syndrome affects professionals and graduates. This is something I plan to explore further in my Master's in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology. My aim is to translate this research into practical coaching strategies that help clients build lasting confidence and navigate career transitions more effectively.

If you're someone who enjoys listening, understanding others, and seeing people grow, coaching is an incredibly rewarding path.

And if you're feeling stuck, uncertain, or not quite "yourself" in your career, you don't have to figure it out alone.

Sometimes, the right questions can change everything.

The words "I'm not good enough" are often where the coaching journey begins.

Watching someone leave my coaching sessions believing "Maybe I am good enough" is why I became a coach.

Thank you Sabrina for sharing your personal coaching journey and how you are helping so many graduates and early career professionals find their confidence.