Congratulations to Sanina Iryna on winning second place in the “Inspiration for All” category of the COACHING.UP case competition!
See for yourself that this story is truly impressive.
Somehow, in my life, I have always been a leader, whether formally or informally, almost since kindergarten. It wasn’t something I actively pursued, but I was chosen—commander of the little Octobrist star group, pioneer squad leader, class komsorg (if you didn’t live in the USSR, you wouldn’t know what that is). During my teaching internship, I worked as a senior counselor at a children’s camp. Later, as an English teacher at a school, I became a homeroom teacher. Then, in 1992, I changed jobs and spent 16 years without managerial positions at the Swiss company Syngenta—one of the global leaders in agribusiness.
In 2008, my logistics department manager decided to continue his career in another position, and I informed the management in Basel that I wanted to become the head of the logistics department. My boss sent a coach from the UK to me in Kyiv! For two days, we worked on how I could understand my value in the new role, feel like myself without comparing myself to the previous manager, and build relationships with colleagues who had become my subordinates, as well as with other managers who had become my equals. Throughout my 11.5 years in the leadership position, I was a role model for an ideal leader in the eyes of my subordinates, according to their feedback.
In 2019, I retired, concluding my 26-year career at the Swiss company Syngenta, and started thinking about what else I wanted to do in life beyond being a wife, mother, grandmother, and mother-in-law.
I have always enjoyed being around people whose eyes light up, who dream and strive for growth, self-discovery, and self-improvement. I was happy to help such people achieve their goals on their journey to a better life in my former profession and as a leader of a large department in a major global corporation. So, it felt very natural and harmonious for me to continue this passion in my new profession as a coach, which became my third education at the age of 60.
I took a very deliberate approach to choosing a coaching school. In 2020, I reviewed five schools in Ukraine, listened to all the founders, and chose Andriy Nekrasov after his three-hour sales seminar—he impressed me the most with his sincerity and openness. At that time, only COACHING.UP offered an ACTP program (now Level 2), and I wanted to get certified by ICF as soon as possible and return to the corporate world in a new role as a coach. I started studying in late August 2020 in the 019 cohort. At the time, I had no idea where I would find clients, but I calculated mathematically that I needed ten long-term clients to accumulate my first 100 hours of practice and apply for ACC certification with ICF.
I started practicing immediately, even with barter contracts—three fellow students and I agreed on 12-session contracts, just as Andriy had shared from his own experience in the coaching business. I wrote on my social media that I had started studying to become a professional coach and would need support from acquaintances for practice. My first eight external clients responded and trusted me to introduce them to coaching for a symbolic “coffee money” fee! In March 2021, I completed my studies, was the first in my group to submit a coaching session for assessment with an external client (not a peer), and in April, I received my ACC ICF certification. After getting certified, I named my first official coaching service fee. I became an ICF member in October 2020, while still a student, because it was important for me to be in a professional environment.
I really enjoyed studying at COACHING.UP! My main trainer was Iryna Horbacheva, and Jean-François Cousin’s lectures were my first lessons from an MCC ICF Master Coach!
I completed all university programs available at the time:
International - Level Professional Coach, Coaching Up – International University of Coaching Development, ACTP Certificate, 130 hours, 24.03.2021
16 Live webinars (32 hours) from Jean-François Cousin, MCC ICF, 2020-2021
6 Live webinars (12 hours) from Davide Tambone, MCC ICF, 2020-2021
Coaching as Business, 47 workshops (94 hours), International University of Coaching Development, 2020-2021
Course of 18 Live demo sessions (36 hours) by Andrey Nekrasov, MCC ICF, 2021
Professional sales and work in long-term coaching contracts – 5 modules, 27 workshops (54 hours)
International - Level Mentor - Coach, Coaching Up – International University of Coaching Development, CCE ICF Certificate, 56 hours, September 2021 – February 2022
Course of 10 Live demo sessions (20 hours) by Jean-François Cousin, MCC ICF, February – June 2022
Basics of psychology in coaching, 16 workshops (32 hours)
In May 2022, I advanced my qualification to PCC ICF, having already accumulated 500+ hours of coaching practice. In June 2023, I was invited to join the university team as a mentor.
My mentees appreciate my high-level professionalism, attentiveness, depth, delicacy, generosity in sharing knowledge, structured and clear mentoring approach, high-quality progressive yet supportive work, empathy, and pleasant partnership-oriented communication.
In coaching, I specialize in leadership development, adaptation to new roles, and personal effectiveness for High Potentials in global corporations. My 57 clients work across 16 countries worldwide. Among my clients have been employees and mid-to-senior level managers from companies such as Syngenta, Advanta Seeds, Dechra Pharmaceuticals PCL, Google, Volvo, Group SEB, Global Logic, Deciem, Decathlon Ukraine, Kraft Heinz, and KWS Group.
For me, coaching is a philosophy of attention, respect, and trust. It is a collaborative effort to discover new thinking that inspires change. A coach is a thinking partner. Leaders, like all intelligent and reflective individuals, need a thinking partner. I am a coach who sees beauty and allows the client to shine with their own light.
Today, I have 970 hours of coaching practice and 160 hours of mentoring practice for coaches. I work at my own pace and with a comfortable workload at the age of 64. This year, I plan to train as an ICF assessor.
My advice for future coaches: believe in yourself, in your clients, and in coaching based on ICF standards!
Author: Sanina Iryna
Coach PCC ICF
Comments