Your Partner in Growth
You’ve got the A’s (achievements). Let me help you with the BCDEF: burnout, conflict, disappointment, expectations, and failure.
Hi, I’m Mel! (Pronouns: she/her)
My coaching is designed to strengthen your mental and social fitness and gain the core human skills we all need to thrive.
I’m professionally trained, complex trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+ and neurodiversity-affirming, and bilingual in English and Chinese (廣東話).
You’re in the right place if . . .
Your life looks better than it feels, yet nothing is terribly wrong. You just feel a bit stuck, tired, unfulfilled.
You’re high-performing, high-achieving, and at least a tad perfectionistic. You’ve worked hard to get to where you are, you’ve accumulated a lot of experience and skills now, and you couldn’t help but wonder, Is this it? What else is there? Where do I go from here?
You feel tied down by stress, anxiety, guilt, shame, the imposter syndrome, a sense of duty, other people’s expectations, or fear of disappointing someone.
But you increasingly don’t want to disappoint yourself either! You want to take self-care more seriously and give yourself the focus you deserve too, even if the thought of it may feel a bit self-indulgent.
When you read the standard self-help books or advice on careers, relationships, boundaries, etc., you find them too Eurocentric, too far removed from your reality, or too hard to put into practice.
Not that that stops you from trying, and boy, have you been trying. You really want to be able to do this on your own (whatever “this” is). Asking for help just doesn’t feel great, unless it’s really necessary.
You have well-meaning people in your life who want to protect you from risks or who equate being realistic with being pessimistic. You might even do that yourself, going “Yeah, but...” when you dare to think what you actually want.
You know it’s important to talk, but you also want to do more than just talking. You know it’s important to take action, but you also want to know you’re taking actions that matter.
With so many options and conflicting advice out there, you’d love to know how to choose among them, get started, and make sustainable change.
Support that works, tailored to you
I’ll scaffold your learning and development as you go through a core-strengthening exercise that helps you build a life well lived: your core values, character strengths, habits, self-talk, and emotional agility. And because meaningful connection is critical to our quality of life and ability to thrive, we’ll strengthen your relational and communication skills too. We’ll do all this within a supportive coaching relationship, so that we can safely explore any barriers you’ve got to applying all these skills.
Work-Life Alignment & Wellbeing
It’s possible to stop living someone else’s dream, working below your potential, being underpaid, or simply tolerating work. What do you want? What if we bring your work life in alignment with your values, strengths and goals so that more of your energy and talent go into what matters?
Relational & Communication Skills
Many of us have been in limiting environments. We just might be missing a few critical “software updates” that can really help. It’s not your fault, and it’s never too late to learn a new language of relating to yourself and others. I’ll help you identify and practise what’s most relevant to your contexts and goals.
Intelligent Failure & Agility
Fail better. We’ll pair theory and insight with action that’s designed with just the right amount of stretch each time. This way you’ll minimise risk, learn from experience, and achieve (and take in) progressive wins. I’ll be your accountability buddy, and if you’d like me to, I can share relevant resources too.
What you’ll gain with coaching:
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Your own toolkit for constructive self-inquiry, decision-making, and action-planning, so that you can pursue your professional and personal goals more effectively and sustainably.
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Skills and practices that help you build and strengthen
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a quality support network, so that you enjoy more healthy, life-giving relationships and improved wellbeing; and
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an internal caring committee and a budding inner coach, enabling you to motivate yourself from a place of kindness and to hold your own in the face of setbacks, criticism, and conflict.
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Applicable, synthesised knowledge from different disciplines, languages, and cultures, including evidence-based approaches and adaptations that are relevant to you and your contexts.
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A partner who believes that you’re already worthy and that you can keep growing.
Real client results
My clients have:
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Negotiated higher pay/rates (70%+)
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Found more fulfilling, growth-fostering jobs
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Grown their business with less stress and reversed their path to burnout
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Become better parents, colleagues, and friends – all at the same time
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Built a new life in a new country, with more ease and joy
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Developed a growth mindset and healthy habits that really work for them and that they can carry on building upon
What’s the investment?
A worthwhile investment if you value your time, energy, and wellbeing. What I offer as a coach/mentor is informed by professional training, extensive lived experience, and ongoing studies. I know I could’ve saved at least five years had I got this kind of support!
A
Starter: 3-4 months
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1 x kick-off, clarity session (90mins.)
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4 x personalised coaching session (45mins.; usually held every other week)
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1 x mid-point review session (45mins.)
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12 x post-session accountability check-in
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12 x post-session follow-up with relevant resources (as requested)
US$900 / £650
B
Standard: 3-8 months
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1 x kick-off, clarity session (90mins.)
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9 x personalised coaching session (45mins.)
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2 x progress review session (45–60mins.)
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12 x post-session accountability check-in
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12 x post-session follow-up with relevant resources (as requested)
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2 x 15-minute call for when you could use some extra support
US$1,750 / £1,275
C
Single Session
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1 x coaching, mentoring, and/or strategic planning session (90mins.)
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1 x post-session accountability check-in
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1 x post-session follow-up with relevant resources (as requested)
US$285 / £180
If you purchase a Starter or Standard package within a week after this single session, payment for this session can be deducted from the package price, with this session counted as one of the packaged sessions.
Payment via credit/debit card (through Wix or Stripe). Happy to discuss installments, custom packages, refer-a-friend savings, value exchange, etc.
“Not only did I find a new job that I am really excited about, I also managed to get a significant salary increase. ... We were able to work both on the practical and psychological aspects of job searching and prioritise each session according to my needs at the time, which really allowed me to progress quickly.”
Business Development Manager
Why choose me as your coach?
We talk a lot about accountability in coaching, and here’s what you can hold me to: that I’ll be a coach who doesn’t hide behind jargon, important-sounding words, overcomplicated frameworks, ill-timed questions, or toxic positivity. Sure, we’ll solve problems, reach goals, and improve performance, but in our coaching relationship you’ll always be seen first and foremost as an actual, multidimensional person – not a problem to be solved, not a project to perfect, not a fleshy container of skills and experience with “annoying human stuff like feelings getting in the way”.
The six points below outline what I offer as a coach. I’d invite you to also check out my blog posts and the FAQs, read what my clients have said about working with me, and learn even more about my track record on my 15-year-old LinkedIn.
Supportive relationship
I’ve worked a lot on myself to be well-regulated, boundaried, and empathic so that I can offer you a lab where you’ll feel safe to explore, try new things, fail, and unpack the important messages behind difficult emotions such as fear and disappointment. I’ll also hold you accountable and challenge you in a way that’s not shaming, blaming, or as if you have to prove yourself. You’ll see yourself clearly: good, bad, and everything in between.
Language & storytelling
I use my experience as a copywriter/editor/translator to help you examine your self-talk, clarify your thinking, articulate your vision, and reframe your challenges. I choose and adapt my examples and analogies so that they’re more visceral and relatable to you, and I can work with you in English, Cantonese, and some level of Mandarin. And expect some acting, role-playing, and laughing too!
Personalised approach
My coaching considers the whole person and the different contexts we live within. I use what fits you rather than make you fit one framework and am all about combining theory with real-world experience. I can add a dash of mentoring when it’s helpful, and I also use my knowledge of design, agile methodologies, behavioural economics, etc. when we co-create next steps. We’re always collaborating.
Mental health awareness
Don’t worry about anything you say being too heavy. While coaching is not therapy, I do welcome all parts of you! I’ve had training in mental health first aid, peer support, and counselling, as well as lived experience of complex trauma and recovery. If appropriate, I can signpost you to more suitable support and help you work through any concerns about going to therapy.
Cultural humility
Raised in Hong Kong, educated in the US, and based in the UK for over a decade now, I enjoy being a bridge between cultures. I have lived experience as an immigrant of colour, as a less visible member within the LGBTQIA+ community, and as the “only” in many contexts (e.g. the only woman on the software engineering team). I pledge not to react with fragility when you point out my ignorance or mistakes.
Professional practice
I did my coaching training in person at the University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education and earned an Advanced Certificate in Life Coaching with distinction. I’m happy to share references to any concepts covered in our coaching. And as a member of the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC), I adhere to its code of ethics and supervision requirements.