Graduated: 2009 – January
Website: Maria From Italy
I worked as a volunteer and a missionary for over 30 years in four different countries. Italy, Spain, France and Venezuela. Working with people, understanding their needs and sharing the wealth and happiness I had found myself to make their lives better, has been the greatest dream come true in my life.The first time I heard about coaching, it just rang a bell right away. I felt it was my thing to pursue at this time of my life. A friend of mine had a life-coach. This was the very first time I had heard that word, (about two and a half years ago) and even before finding out what it was really about, I knew it was it!
So I started researching on the topic, and this is when I found ICA. I found that the program was outstanding, the training excellent, the level on inspiration high and energetic. Though there was a lot of studying involved, it was all together a very exciting experience! I have become a relationships coach.
My experience as a mother of 12 children, going through separation and getting married again, while working with all kinds of people during my lifetime, made me want to get deeper in this field.
How are you using coaching to make a difference?:
Since I started the ICA program, I have been organizing and speaking in seminars on “The Art of Living”, I have presently two coaching groups, plus clients that I’m coaching on a personal basis. Together with my husband, we’re opening a non-profit organization with the purpose of contributing to the growth and development of positive relationships. A new challenge, at this moment, it’s that, after I gave one seminar on happiness, I was also asked to present it in a multinational company, which is opening a whole new range of opportunities. Thank you so much for making all this possible through your excellent program!
What was the most valuable thing you learned at ICA?:
The first huge mountain to remove as soon as I enrolled in ICA was the idea to follow the program through teleclasses. I never particularly liked talking over the phone, so I can’t hide that I really had a hard time to begin with to get over this hurdle. But sooner than I thought possible, I started liking it. I realized that my senses were changing because of it. I had to keep more focused, and learn to process my thoughts faster. Still, during the classes I didn’t talk much. So it was particularly helpful for me to have the peer-coaching experience, as well as the supervised coaching, which is the part of the program that impressed me the most. Thanks to this great training, I have overcome my limitations on speaking over the phone and it completely changed my perspective of how effective it can really be. Why did I choose ICA? From what I was reading on the website, I find it was explicit, clear and to the point. It spoke to me directly and it was exactly what I was looking for. And more! Through the support of the trainers and peer coaches, from the variety of topics covered, and the top-quality of the program I have gained a new confidence, and was able to develop skills I didn’t even know I possessed, such as public speaking.
