Hello! I’m Anneke.

My early exposure to ideas around self-awareness gave me a starting point for pulling out of the river current to “smell the flowers” again. My introduction to life coaching was also fundamental to positive changes I’ve made in my life. Having someone listening to me deeply, supporting me fully, and challenging me to take actions and push through resistance was an amazing experience.

Since moving into life coaching, I have often wondered, What if someone had challenged me with this question 10 years ago? What if someone was supporting me to more deeply connect with my own values 5 years ago? Would my life look different now?

My hypothetical answer is a resounding YES! I can think back to pivotal moments when I allowed external forces, including the urge to please others, to pull me away from my own core. A life coach would have given me the space and process to pause and choose my own true direction. She would have empowered me to find my own wisdom.

These experiences motivate me to be that person for you. Coaching is my way of giving back, of supporting other people before they get caught in the river current that’s heading toward the waterfall.

As the world seems to be spinning faster and faster, and that spinning sometimes pulls us away from our own centers and knowing, I am drawn to coaching as my path forward. I care deeply about this work because in a world where things feel topsy-turvy, I choose hope and human connection. I believe that authentic, deep connections are hopeful, healing, and energizing.

Your story is fascinating to me. I’ve always loved listening to people and learning about what’s below the surface. I thrive on deep conversations and connections. When I ask questions, it’s because I’m genuinely curious about the answers.

My Journey

Much of my early life was spent with my family as part of an intentional community where self-awareness was a main focus. While I’ve had many adventures since then, in some ways I’ve come full circle.

Connections with people, a commitment to social justice, passion for learning, and the value of being in nature are consistent themes in my life. They have led me on a journey focused on curiosity and creating learning experiences for people.

Sometimes when things happen incrementally, they are hard to notice. There was a time when my life felt balanced and I had time to stop and “smell the flowers.” Then one day I woke up and realized that here I was in this river of life and the current was taking me for a ride. I wasn’t entirely sure how I got from smelling the flowers to caught in the current, but I did know that I wanted to be able to pause. I wanted to stop at the river bank, take a breath, and reevaluate where I was going.

My Professional Background

After 25 years in teaching and educational leadership, I’ve shifted gears to bring my curiosity and passion for learning to life in a different way.

For me, teaching and coaching are both closely connected and vastly different. Curiosity, creativity, and connection, along with deep roots in neuroscience, are essential to both. However, while teaching focuses on learning the specified content, coaching is more about creating space and structure to bring your own natural knowing to the surface.

I hold an Advanced Certificate in Coaching Practice from Mindful Talent Coaching Academy and am a member of the Association for Coaching. Additionally, I have New York State Teaching, School Building Leader, and School District Leader Certifications.