Somewhere along the way, I realised it was always the people I cared about most.
I spent two decades in academia, earning a PhD in Chemistry and becoming a university professor. While I valued my academic career, I eventually realised I cared far more about my students than I did about chemistry.
What interested me most was understanding the person in front of me — how they thought, seeing their confidence grow and helping them see something differently.
That curiosity eventually led me into coaching and a deeper exploration of what shapes the way we think, feel, and respond — and what actually helps us change.
My story
For a long time, achievement and self-doubt existed side by side in my life.
On paper, I ticked all the boxes. I had a PhD, a successful academic career, a family I loved, had spoken on a TEDx stage and received a Teaching Excellence Award.
Yet I held myself to impossibly high standards, overthought, looked outside myself for reassurance and validation, and still didn’t feel good enough.
Perhaps you recognise some version of that — being capable and getting on with life while privately doubting yourself far more than other people would imagine.
My own experience led me to look more deeply at the beliefs I held about myself and the world, the identities I'd built around achievement and success, and the perfectionism and people-pleasing that I’d carried for decades.
Over time, I came to understand something that now sits at the heart of my coaching:
Insight matters, but insight alone isn't enough.
We can understand ourselves deeply and still find it difficult to do something different when fear, discomfort or uncertainty shows up.
Change requires expanding our capacity for those experiences.
When we can make space for difficult emotions without letting them dictate what happens next, new choices and actions become possible.
Eventually, I made one of those choices myself.
I left academia, moved from Lebanon to Cyprus with my family, and built a practice dedicated entirely to this work.
Stepping into someone’s inner world, holding space for what truly matters to them, and earning their trust is a privilege I hold with deep care and respect. Doing this work brings me a profound sense of fulfilment.
“Amazing listener. Ability to connect dots. No hesitation to share insights and help me go even deeper into my own explorations. Your genuine care shows in EVERYTHING you do, every session, every text.”
Cynthia Abad Mancheno · USA
Credentials & training
Academic & Leadership Background
PhD in Chemistry
Monash University
20 years in higher education
Former university professor Former academic director Teaching Excellence Award recipient
TEDx Speaker
“Confessions of a Struggling Supermom” · TEDxLAU
Workshop Facilitator & Trainer
American Consulting Experts REA Delta Institute
Coaching Qualifications
Certified Professional Coach (Advanced Practitioner)
ICF Level 2 · Coach Masters Academy
Holistic Life, Career & Executive Coach
Goal Imagery Institute
Trauma-Informed Coach
The Centre for Healing
NLP Master Practitioner
The Coaching Masters
Somatic EMDR
60-hour Certificate Program · The Embody Lab
Beyond the work
My faith and my family are central to my life. I'm a wife and mum to two boys who have taught me far more about life than I could ever have taught them.
I love spending time together — travelling, eating good food, talking, laughing, watching football or a good series.
I deeply value close friendships, love to move and be active, and remain endlessly curious about human nature and the universe.
“I love how compassionate and non-judgemental you are. It makes me feel so at ease and it really helps to make our sessions a safe space for me to let down my walls, take off the armour, and just be me.”
Chris Turek · USA
Curious whether we'd work well together?
A straightforward, no-pressure conversation about what's bringing you to coaching, what you'd like to explore, and whether working together makes sense.
Book a free connection call