At the age of 59, I felt compelled to pull my “institutional ejection seat” to protect myself. This was a challenging turning point after a rewarding career as a consultant, researcher, adviser, and leader.
It was quite tough and I did not know what would come next. However, I felt a quiet intuition that something precious might follow.
Months later it turned out that there was something deeply resonant ahead – it was the journey in an appreciative community in the field of systemic solution-focused coaching.
Even during my time as a manager and adviser for European Research and Innovation Programmes, I adopted a solution-focused approach. This meant I was not interested in the description or analysis of problems – except for a few very specific aspects.
I learned that everything that is important to the development of complex systems emerges by describing present and future possibilities and scenarios. In this completely different context, we become highly creative. It is even joyful to discover, invent and shape the future.
Diving into new dimensions, I encountered the “art of not knowing” – a real challenge for a former adviser – and the methodology of “pure coaching”, which became a precious foundation.
From there, I took first cautious steps towards mentoring. As I see it today, this means: seeking to understand the context of the conversation partner, sharing perspectives, offering methodological knowledge and wisdom, and providing training or consulting – when requested.
Today, one of my passions is learning – especially alongside my clients. In some sessions, I frame it like this: In this process, we are both learners. You learn within your context, and I learn within mine. The only difference is that your learning is the central focus, while my learning is a very valuable side benefit.
In my coaching practice, I have observed a fascinating phenomenon: the more we think about or actively explore a personal future scenario, the more likely it is to take shape in a similar way. If you are curious about the mechanics behind this, I dove deeper into the topic in my recent post: About the Influence of Imagination on the Future (February 2026).
My journey began as a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Today, I am an accredited Senior Practitioner with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC), where I truly feel at home. I find myself deeply aligned with their outcome-oriented mindset — one that embraces a wide range of approaches and is open to the inherent complexity of our world.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has accompanied me on this transformative journey – my mentors, clients, colleagues, and loved ones.
The journey since has taught me that crises hold the potential for amazing and rewarding opportunities. It is never too late to discover oneself anew.
Many thanks to EMCC Switzerland for featuring my story. I am honoured and proud to be a member of this professional and inspiring community!
