Episode #52: Susana Gonçalves – How an Introvert Engineer Became a Master Certified Coach

As a self-described introvert, it was a surprise to Susana Gonçalves when she found her calling in coaching. In our conversation in episode #52 of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, Susana explains how she experienced “an awakening” that led her forward from her background in IT, engineering and finance. When the organisation she worked for invested in team coaching, Susana witnessed first-hand the evolution of her colleagues as they worked with a coach, inspiring her to invest in her own development and transformation to become a coach. In this episode Susana shares her experience of rising up through male-dominated industries in the early part of her career, instilling her with a deep belief in the power and importance of diversity within organisations – a belief that shapes her work as a coach. Now, as an ICF Master Certified Coach with more than 2,500 hours of experience in coaching leaders and executives, she works with clients across the world, from Saudi Arabia to Brazil.  In this episode, we also talk about: The art of team coaching and its transformative potential The impact of mindfulness on a coaching practice The different ways in which people live and work as coaches The differences between ICF certifications Imposter syndrome, and how we manage it Through her coaching company Meaningful Works, Susana has enabled herself to be location-free, delivering her work from wherever she needs to be in the world, and we discuss the sensitivity and understanding required when working cross-culturally. To learn more about me, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/, and to learn more about Susana, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/susana-goncalves. For information about my wider work, my writing or to buy my books, visit www.robbieswale.com. Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg To support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community. Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in): - ICF coach training https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/find-education - John Monks on The Coach’s Journey Podcast https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-39-john-monks-closing-the-circle-and-becoming-closer-apart - Robbie’s group coaching session on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFBvAVfZrKQ - Bounce by Matthew Syed https://www.matthewsyed.co.uk/book/bounce-the-myth-of-talent-and-the-power-of-practice/ - Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed https://www.matthewsyed.co.uk/book/rebel-ideas-the-power-of-diverse-thinking/ - Headspace https://www.headspace.com/ - Insight Timer https://insighttimer.com/en-gb - MCC certification https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/credentials-paths/mcc-credential - Live coaching sessions by MCC coaches https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgQvPII9BKg - Janet Harvey https://mccmentorcoach.com/janet-harvey - Janet Harvey video with commentary on a coaching session https://youtu.be/2C8aIPA82UY - Centre for Creative Leadership (CCL) https://www.ccl.org/ - ‘Luck is the residue of design’ – John Miltonhttps://scottturman.com/luck-is-the-residue-of-design - ICF Converge https://coachingfederation.org/events/icf-converge BIOGRAPHY FROM SUSANA Susana Gonçalves is an ICF Master Certified Coach with +2,500 hours’ experience coaching leaders and executives globally and a strong background in IT, organisational development and team leadership. She is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in multinational organisation environments with a breadth of cultural influences, including invaluable international experience, bringing a wealth of personal and professional experience to her role as executive coach and team coach. She excels in coaching individuals and navigating the complexities of global and culturally diverse teams, yielding remarkable outcomes. She is driven by a profound passion for empowering leaders and guiding them to forge their own transformative paths. Through the creation of a safe coaching space, she brings awareness to their aspirational potential, inspiring them to reach new heights.