Individual coaching

As a wife and mother to two wonderful adult children, I’ve balanced family life with a dynamic career spanning nearly three decades. After 14 years in the corporate world, I shifted my focus to running my business—Zebra Blue. I genuinely believe that we can make the world a better place for ourselves and others through meaningful conversations. With 14 years of coaching experience, I love supporting my clients in identifying the core issues keeping them stuck or preventing them from reaching their full potential. Together, we partner to make the necessary changes that unlock their success.

Michele Wickham

My approach:
I take a holistic approach to coaching, integrating the head, heart, and hands to help clients achieve their personal and professional goals. This methodology considers all aspects of their lives and how they interconnect. My coaching is also grounded in self-actualization psychology, positive psychology, and systemic thinking.

My credentials:
I am a qualified Organizational Psychologist and an ICF PCC-accredited coach. Additionally, I hold international credentials as a Meta-Coach and Systemic Team Coach. During my career in corporate and investment banking, I led change teams and drove exciting initiatives focused on leadership and culture shifts. In addition to my coaching, I conduct team coaching, training, and workshops to help leaders and teams thrive.

Area of specialty:
Having navigated significant changes in my life—including pivoting my business during COVID, moving countries, and starting anew in a different market—I understand firsthand the challenges transitions can bring. Whether it involves stepping into a leadership role, experiencing relationship changes, or navigating career shifts, most of us face substantial transitions throughout our lives. These changes can feel overwhelming and often come with a profound sense of loss, even when anticipated with excitement. Sometimes, these transitions require deep reflection on who we are, what we believe, and how we operate. I partner with you to navigate the process of letting go of the old and embracing the new.

How it works

I offer potential clients a complimentary introductory session. This initial meeting allows us to connect and explore your unique goals and challenges, laying the foundation for our work together. After the introductory session, I provide flexible coaching packages with four, six, or eight sessions tailored to your specific needs. My coaching approach is conversational and collaborative, empowering you to uncover insights, create actionable strategies, and achieve sustainable change. Each session builds on our progress, facilitating a transformative journey aligned with your personal and professional aspirations.

Tools and methodologies

One of my favourite tools is the IEQ Enneagram Assessment, which helps individuals and teams gain deeper insights into themselves and what drives their behaviour. When coaching leaders, I offer a complimentary 360 feedback survey to gather input from your team and stakeholders, allowing us to tailor your coaching program effectively.

What you can expect from coaching with me

Increased clarity and focus

You will better understand your goals, priorities, and the steps needed to achieve them.

Enhanced self-awareness
As your coach, I hold up a mirror to help you recognise your strengths, weaknesses, and behavioural patterns.
Improved decision-making
I provide a safe space and a sounding board for evaluating options and aligning your choices with your goals and values.
Actionable strategies
Together, we will create tailored action plans and strategies that assist you in overcoming obstacles and navigating challenges.
Heightened accountability
Our coaching relationship establishes a structure for accountability, helping you stay committed to your goals and follow through on your plans.
Better relationships
Many clients see improvements in their interpersonal and communication skills, leading to more effective networking and relationship-building.
Career advancement
Coaching can facilitate career development opportunities, including promotions, new job offers, and successful transitions to new career paths.
Increased motivation and confidence
Clients often experience boosted motivation and self-esteem, enabling them to take bold steps toward their aspirations.
Growth in leadership skills
For those in leadership roles, coaching enhances their ability to inspire, influence, and lead teams effectively.
Personal growth and development:
Clients experience overall growth through improved relationships, greater resilience, or heightened emotional intelligence.
Sustainable change
Ultimately, coaching is one of the most powerful ways to create lasting change by instilling new thinking, habits, and practices that you can carry forward beyond our sessions.

What others have said

As a newbie to external coaching, I was at first uncertain how things will progress and what progress I will make. To my surprise, I felt at ease from the first session and was able to reach within myself for answers that never surfaced before.

I find Michele’s style of questioning extremely thought provoking and her efficient probing around key thoughts not only highlighted my own stumbling blocks but also allowed me to identify quickly what the following sessions needed to address. Some of the exercises she encouraged was to reinforce my own learning and helped me identify ways to deal some of the challenges I faced at the time. I appreciate her ability to keep the sessions focused on what needed to be achieved. I find her pragmatism encouraging.

My coaching experience remains a positive one and Michele’s style is a definite contributor towards my coaching success.

Rosh Sundram

Head of Liquidity, Standard Bank

Michele’s coaching expertise extend beyond just the career aspects of personal development. She effectively and creatively brings together her experience in industrial psychology, consulting, mentoring and training to provide a coaching experience that is truly able to positively impact on every facet of the coachee’s life, depending on the individuals unique requirements and priorities for the coaching interaction. This allows for a truly needs-based approach to each coachee and indeed each interaction.

Michele is furthermore, highly skilled at facilitating the process whereby the coachee is able to question, construct and work on their personal priorities, aspirations and goals. This vitally contributes to a coaching experience which is accessible and productive for coachees from diverse backgrounds.

Michele’s coaching style is empowering whilst at the same time never crossing the line into being forceful. She expertly creates an environment in which the coachee is able to conceptualize and assume responsibility for their own goals and the manner in which they aim to achieve these goals. This means that outcomes from her coaching sessions are constructively internalised and thus sustainable for the coachee in the long term.

Finally, I highly recommend Michele as a coach and I am extremely fortunate to have been afforded the opportunity of being exposed to her expertise in this field for the fulfilment of my personal goals and aspirations.

Hilton Johnson

Principal at Synergy Global Consulting Ltd

How to start

• Book a free introductory session with me.
• Tell me about yourself and what you hope to achieve in coaching.
• Read: What coaching is and is not.