ALECHEMIST
Helping individuals provoke positive change through solution-focused coaching
GAME DESIGNER
Helping individuals and teams connect deeply through playful experimentation
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED COACH
Engaging in thought-provoking conversations to spark creative thinking
ABOUT ME... AND YOU
It's all about the journey.
I won't lie, it took me 25 years of random exploration - from being in IT support person to making wedding dresses, managing multi-million dollar projects to creating self-help children's books and helping teenagers to express themselves through art.
But it all came together in 2011, when I realised what the centrepiece of all this exploration was... human motivation and the role of connectedness.
So I quit my job, did every course I could find on coaching, facilitation, change management, team development... adding numerous certifications to my dusty bachelor's degree in social science and economics to... only to realise that the most powerful skill to master was the Art of Not Knowing :-)
Yes, I realise how ironic that sounds, but to help people connect to their true self, to others on a deeper level and to the place they really want to go, exploring the unknown with powerful questions will get you much further than a suitcase full of academic answers.
And it's a much more exciting journey all round.
THINGS GOING THROUGH MY MIND
From the minute Nicole hosted her first discovery call with us, we felt that Nicole truly understood our needs. She has a box of cheeky tricks and a wealth of experience to call upon.
Paddy Ney
If it were not for Nicole's coaching, I would not have asked the hard questions I needed to transform what was essentially a broken business model.
Sam Cook
In addition to helping groups tackle complex challenges in the workplace, Nicole brings a refreshing sense of fun and of humor to her activities, which energizes the group,
awakens imaginations and gets the conversations flowing!
Tanya Strevens
OTHER CLIENT REVIEWS
A SPACE FOR EXPERIMENTATION
After 8 years of solitary coaching individuals and team, I connected with Nick Bell and we started dreaming of a whole new approach to self-development and online courses. Coming from two very different angles, we've created a space where we take self-development beyond the classical boundaries of coaching, mentoring or learning methods be it online or face to face.
It's hard to explain. The easiest is just to go and check it out. We love it. We hope you do too.
CONTACT ME
MORE TESTIMONIALS
“Nicole helped [our employees] discover the amazing resources
that were hidden right under their nose – resources
they need to move forward. [They] even asked for more
personalized training and coaching with her.”
“Dynamic and excellent coaching skills!”
Helene Romy
Country HR Lead, Switzerland
HP WORKSHOPS - PARTICIPANT’S COMMENTS
“Excellent content and excellent delivery.”
“We want more sessions like these.”
“I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the
enthusiasm of the speaker.”
"It was really interesting, [Nicole] was really good at
getting interest and participation of the group.”
“A big ‘thank you’ for organizing this for us and
choosing such an interesting speaker.”
“Workshops were pleasant and I always enjoyed stepping back and reflecting.
Nicole managed to keep it lively, which is not always easy
with a large audience.”
“Very good concept and facilitator, interesting topic.
Loved taking the time to do these workshops.
Thank you!”
“Fresh ideas, improved thinking and reasoning skills, new perspectives on old problems - these are just some of the benefits that my colleagues and I have enjoyed from the sessions we have with Nicole.
When Nicole worked with my organization, she helped us to gain insights into the challenges
we were facing and, in other scenarios, has brought a boost of creativity that has helped
colleagues perform better and connect with each other more.
In addition to helping groups tackle complex challenges in the workplace, Nicole can also bring
a refreshing sense of fun and of humor to her activities, which energizes the group,
awakens imaginations and gets the conversations flowing!
I wish we could have Nicole visit our workplace more often –
there would be huge benefits for individuals and for the organization as a whole."
Tanya Strevens
Manager at World Business Council for Sustainable Development
“Highly valuable for our organization. Provoked fast and concrete results.”
“People obtained a better sense of clarity, positivity, a good feeling of control
and increased level of confidence.”
Diego Ruiz
Global Director, Human Resources
Management & Information Systems
“Nicole sait s'adapter aux situations, mettre les personnes
à l'aise et faire des propositions sur mesure,
ce qui est un atout précieux.”
Chrissy Matthey
Directrice à Little Green House Morges
FULL QUOTE : « J'ai rencontré Nicole lors d'un coaching avec l'équipe de direction. Elle nous a fait une séance avec la méthode des Legos. J'ai trouvé cela tellement intéressant comme méthode de management qu'elle est venue le faire avec les équipes. Ce fût un grand succès et l'équipe en a gardé un très bon souvenir, même les personnes qui n'aiment pas ce genre d'exercice. Elle a également fait des interventions sur la communication et la gestion du stress. Nicole sait s'adapter aux situations, mettre les personnes à l'aise et faire des propositions sur mesure, ce qui est un atout précieux. »
“By the end I had elaborated my own personal “tool kit”
for a particular work situation – something
I am still using successfully every day!”
Nadine McCormick
Business and biodiversity, systems change,
sustainability, facilitation, organizational learning
FULL QUOTE: “In just one session, Nicole was effectively able to walk me through a process where by the end I had elaborated my own personal "tool kit" for a particular work situation - something I am still using successfully every day!”
“One of the most creative and resourceful thinkers that I know.”
“Skillfully steers her clients toward
finding their own solutions.”
Liz Umlas
Lecturer
“Very highly developed analytical skills.”
“Fantastic non-judgmental listener.”
”Ask[s] the key questions that are often the key to really understanding
the roadblocks to moving ahead.”
Paul Grigoriev
Programme Coordinator for Europe
Nicole’s work [… ] provided me with critical “a-ha” moments and a basket of tools to help me get “unstuck” and realize my goals.”
“Great listener, easy to connect with. Profound interest for people and how to make life simple and fun.”
Maria Pulido - Svensson
Business Processes and Project Management
“An excellent practitioner of the solution approach.”
“Extremely effective, practical and enjoyable.”
Morgan Matthews
Director of worldwide sales and marketing
& EMEA Leader, HP Software Education
FULL QUOTE: “Nicole is an excellent practitioner of the solution approach. This is a counter intuitive approach to driving positive change, which requires practical experience and so is not so straightforward a topic to teach or learn as it requires a different mindset. I was privileged to attend a small course run by Nicole where she taught both the theory and this practical model experientially. Given she is also a professional coach her approach was extremely effective, practical and enjoyable. I would recommend Nicole for both this course and her general expertise in this field.”
“She helps structure thoughts and ideas, and identify priorities and waste,
even in the most confusing moments of life.”
Barbara Lax
Founder of Little Green House
“Nicole is a great coach and I highly recommend her to anyone needing
a little help to unblock situations or dealing with difficult decision-making.
I've come out of Nicole's coaching sessions with a clear mind and set of actions
of how to overcome my obstacles, with the added benefit
of a great sense of relief!”
Claire Warmenbol
Communications and Knowledge Coordinator
“She manages to make people see that there are ways out of problems
and around difficulties, and […] opens your eyes to different solutions.”
“Very much focused on my needs.”
“Nicole is a very good listener [and] takes the time she needs to make sure
that steps towards progress are made.”
Maria Hasler
Programme Finance Officer
“Her invitations for reflection, positive communication, meaningful dialogues, easy going atmosphere made me unstuck so simply and easily.”
Linda Hendriksen
Senior Administrative Specialist
“I consulted Nicole on a professional situation where I was feeling exasperatingly powerless and frustrated. As I answered Nicole’s questions, it came clear that the response I had tried to use was rather at odds with my natural personality. No wonder I had been blocked for so long! Through an amusing bee-dialogue, we then simulated alternative solutions until I found one that seemed more adequate and that has actually enabled me to open my situation to change."
C.D.
By asking the right questions, [Nicole has] managed within a few minutes to make me aware of the appropriate answers. Everything fell into place, and when I found the key which allowed me to resolve a situation which seemed complex before, everything became very clear in my mind. A big thank you for having let me discover this powerful yet simple technique! (Translated from French)
M.B.
“At a time when my to-do list was out of control, my head was a mess, focus gone, and it simply all got too much at work...I was lucky enough to have a coaching session with Nicole which put everything back into perspective. Not just that, with her help I managed to come up with the solutions myself and at the end, walked out of the session with a clear head on the next steps to take.
Feeling reinvigorated I acted upon these, and what had seemed as an insurmountable mountain before, became a manageable hill, one I crossed easily and got me back on track, focused and emotionally-balanced. Thanks again Nicole.”
C.W.