Hélène Ferreira is a Co-Active Career & Fulfillment Coach, who was born and raised in France in a little town, 3 hours south west of Paris. She is a self starter, who started working when she was 16 years old and left home at 17. She studied Business & Entrepreneurship in the Alps next to the Switzerland border and graduated with an MBA in Business in 2015. She is also a foodie and a travel enthusiast. She enjoys discovering new cultures, learning new languages and volunteering in various countries she visits. In the pursuit of giving back and helping others, she started searching for a meaningful way to have a bigger impact!
Most of us struggle with professional and personal challenges on a daily basis and we aren’t provided with a lot of support! Yet, our careers and personal goals are very important to us and help us feel confident and fulfilled.
With this thought, she started my coaching business in February 2022. She leverages a combination of Co-Active training and Positive Intelligence to empower hyper achievers and people pleasers to get out of their own way, gain clarity, set healthy boundaries/habits, break free from self-doubt and build more confidence!
Tell us about your life before the venture/ leading up to your venture?
It’s a story about grit & resiliency. I always wanted to be part of something bigger than myself that could have a positive impact on others around me. I was searching for purpose and meaning for a while.
Like most of us, I spent most of my time focused on finding the best ways to be successful growing up. As a hyper-achiever, I was trying to do everything right and after a couple years working many different jobs after my graduation in 2015, I thought it was about time that I start my career and find a good job in my field because well, isn’t that what we are supposed to do?
I had been working in sales and in the hospitality industry so when I had the opportunity to start working in Tech, I thought: Jackpot! This is great for my future, there are many opportunities and growth in that field, and for a while it really felt like it was enough. I had chosen a company where giving back was part of the package. It was very important for me to keep helping communities/volunteer while working.
In the midst of the pandemic while working from home I realized that I was very unfulfilled. I was doing so little of the things that actually bring me joy. I felt stuck, I was lacking purpose and I was overwhelmed. I couldn’t figure out how to get out of my own way and break free from self doubt and exhaustion.
I was overworked and burned out trying to keep up with all the priorities and do everything the business was expecting from me. As a people pleaser, I tend to say yes too often because I love helping but I was putting targets before my own needs. I was losing my confidence, my good habits and I didn’t have time to exercise or eat healthy. I was so tired that I didn’t have any mental energy left to do anything, it was a virtuous cycle. I kept pushing through, and I was keeping a straight face publicly, no one knew what was going on. Stress and anxiety left me frazzled, numb and emotionally drained.
When traveling, I discovered how fulfilling it was for me to help people and communities, to have a bigger impact and support people in their journey. When I was helping kids, mentoring friends or co-workers with their goals and/or projects or volunteering, that’s when I felt truly alive!
The fear of failure held me back from taking action for a long time so I hired a coach. Probably the best decision I’ve ever made! It was such a great investment in myself.
Powerful shifts happened; I was able to release my mind, bring new perspectives and be in the moment. I felt inspired, hopeful and confident again.
She helped me work through my challenges, and I was able to reconnect with my strengths, values and purpose. At this point, I knew coaching was a natural path forward. While still being coached, I took a positive intelligence course which helped me tremendously, then I started the renowned Co-Active Coaching Program from CTI. And now that I am trained as a Co-Active Coach and soon to be certified, I meet and coach amazing, bold and talented people regularly… and it feels awesome!
Tell us something about your organization. What is it about and how is it helpful for people?
I decided to name the company after myself because I’m seeing the possibility beyond coaching. I provide coaching now but I intend to expand my offer. I’m a firm believer that through experiences, through movement we get to grow and experience joy. Stay tuned..
Currently, my mission is to empower my clients to get out of their own way so they can break free from self doubt and exhaustion, experience more fulfillment, have the tools to do meaningful work and feel more confident to build the life they really want!
Some benefits/outcomes from current clients: (non-exhaustive list):
– Be more self-aware;
– Get clarity on what you truly want;
– Freedom to create the career that inspires you;
– Get promoted/hired in your dream job;
– Better understand your values & strengths;
– Bring self care and passion back to your life;
– Set healthy boundaries/new habits;
– Break free from self doubt & overwhelm;
– Regain confidence and achieve your goals;
– Be more intentional to create your successful journey;
– Live an authentic and meaningful life;
– Have the tools to take things to the next level;
– Develop a growth mindset;
What has been the response of the consumers towards your venture?
Some testimonials:
“As I was working on myself for a long time I honestly was not sure if the coaching would be helpful before we started. I felt I had enough tools to grow on my own! But I was completely wrong. Helene brought up some significant changes through the sessions: there are things that I couldn’t figure out on my own and she helped me a lot. I’m really grateful.” Noemie Valois
“I have always had issues committing to finishing any work I started or even finding the willpower to get new tasks started and since I have been seeing Hélène everything has changed in such a better way. She has been my mentor , my motivator and on top of that she makes sure to check up on me and see if I need any support outside of our regular scheduled session. She is such a blessing to my now better organized life and I can always count on her to cheer me up. I recommend her services 100%!” Saloua M.
“There are moments in life when you really want to move forward in your projects and your personal/professional evolution, and even if you wish for this evolution from the bottom of your heart, you don’t know where to start or what to do. I wouldn’t say that Hélène is the key because the key is you, but she is the key to the first door: the one that will lead you to find the key within yourself if you decide to trust her.” Solène A.
How has your life changed because of your venture?
Going through coaching changed my perspective and helped me immensely, I was able to get clarity on what really matters. Powerful shifts happened during this journey, I was able to be more confident, purposeful and now I show up with gratitude everyday!
Building my business made me feel alive and everyday that I coach I feel aligned with my purpose. It re-energizes me to work with people from all walks of life and it helps them gain clarity on what they truly want, empowers them to achieve their goals and brings more joy in their life. If I can have even the tiniest impact and it helps them shift their perspective, grow their mindset or get them closer to what they truly want then that’s a win! And that is the true power of coaching and there is nothing more gratifying than living your true purpose! I’m fully aligned with myself since I created my business and I get to coach people on a regular basis.
Give a motivational message for the audience/women who are reading this.
Never stop believing in yourself and your abilities! You are stronger than you think you are and we don’t acquire grit and resilience by succeeding all the time. It all comes through the challenges, the struggles and the failures. They teach us what we need to know to proceed forward. They are showing us the best path forward. It’s never a failure, always a lesson! And you don’t have to tirelessly figure out everything on your own, accept the help, reach out to people sometimes, you could be greatly surprised!
