About us
WHAT MATTERS TO US
Our priority? To offer Black and Brown people the opportunity to work with incredible and professional coaches of colour.
Being people of colour certainly does not mean that we are all the same - far from it! We are all wonderfully unique with unique challenges, ideas, goals and ways of working.
However, when working with a coach, shared experiences of being seen as 'different' simply because of the colour of our skin provides a safer, more open space to help us think and explore.
Whilst we are working to disrupt an industry that often lacks diversity, we believe that Coaches of Colour is truly for all; we know that an organisation thrives when we value our differences and we can all reach our potential.
Gary Rayneau & Elaine dela Cruz - Co-founders
WHO WE ARE
Hello and welcome! We are a growing collective of trained and accredited coaches of colour.
We're from differing backgrounds with different work experiences and we became coaches at different times in our lives for different reasons. What brings us together is our passion and excitement to make a positive difference in the workplace, particularly for marginalised communities.
We fundamentally believe that everyone is the expert in their own life and career. As coaches, our job is to facilitate our clients' thinking, give you the time and space to explore your situation, purposefully advocating for you whilst we do so.
When we're not coaching we're the type of people who run towards joy and connections with others; whether it's big belly laughter, having new experiences, meeting new people or celebrating life, food and music. Reach out to us and say hello!
THE TEAM
Elaine dela Cruz
Co-Founder, Executive Coach & Principal DEI Consultant
My aim is to make a positive difference by supporting clients to move forward authentically in a way that is right for them. My coaching approach offers a creative thinking space for reflection, exploring the world that we operate in, and recognising an individuals’ personal brilliance.
Gary Rayneau
Co-Founder, Executive Coach & Principal DEI Consultant
If you’re anything like me then you know how change and progression is so much more achievable when it comes from within rather than someone telling you what to do. My coaching style puts you in control, empowering you to find YOUR way to YOUR goals.
Emma Koubayssi
Head of Experience & Neurodiversity Coach
I make sure our coaches, clients and partners have the best experience possible and work hard to ensure they are happy, satisfied and then some. I’ve always been a #DifferentThinker passionate about neurodiversity, I celebrate my difference and coach and inspire clients who identify as neurodivergent.
Davina Rajoopillai
DEI Consultant
I believe we all hold power in our lived experiences, but I understand that sometimes as people of colour we don’t always have the tools to own it. I like to help clients' understand how their lived experiences can add value to their personal and professional journeys.
OUR COACHES
We’re proud to be working with some of the highest quality coaches in the industry. Every coach who joins Coaches of Colour undergoes a diligent accreditation process to ensure they possess the knowledge, skills and approach to excel in transformative coaching conversations. For our clients this means you can be confident that all of our coaches meet ethical and professional standards, creating creative, challenging, impactful spaces for employees to grow.
We’re unified by our passion for social justice and when it comes to making a positive difference in workplaces we don’t believe in compromising on quality. That’s why all our coaches have access to small group supervision and ongoing training support. Also we like to think we’re a bunch of fun loving, good vibes people…so get in touch if you'd like to find out more about us.
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Advita Patel
Coach & DEI Advocate
As an action orientated confidence and leadership coach, Advita helps people understand how to progress further in their career and address any barriers that may be holding them back.
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Alison Mackay
Executive Coach, Mentor & Consultant
Alison utilises coaching skills to create inclusive, psychologically safe spaces, enabling clients to understand their challenges, gain clarity and make meaningful changes for desired outcomes.
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Anouchka Burton
Personal & Professional Development Coach
Anouchka helps people advance by empowering them to break through barriers and claim a life where they can thrive.
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Arif Bobat
Leadership Coach & Facilitator
Gentle but provocative, Arif enjoys supporting clients who are struggling to make sense of their careers and where they want to go next.
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Derek Appau
Leadership & Career Development Coach
Derek accelerates the development of emerging talent, supports experienced business leaders and co-creates diverse, equitable forward-thinking cultures.
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Laura Fabunmi
Career and Wellbeing Coach
Passionate about workplace fulfilment, Laura supports professionals to break through what is holding them back and flourish in the workplace.
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Marshah Dixon-Terry
Executive Career Coach
Marshah is passionate about partnering with organisations to enable current and aspiring leaders from underrepresented groups to have happy, fulfilling and successful careers.
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Maureen Obatomi
Executive & Leadership Coach
A transformational, purpose-driven coach, Maureen works with ambitious leaders who feel stuck and are ready to focus on making radical change from the inside out.
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Michele Kingston-Malone
Coach Supervisor & Coach Mentor
For Michele supervision is a space to examine the grey areas of life which often fall through the cracks: ethics; values and human behaviours.
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Nishe Patel
Integrative Coach & Trainer
True partnership is central to Nishe’s approach, alongside a whole lot of kindness and encouragement to meet challenges head on.
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Pamela Leonce
Executive & Leadership Coach
Pamela’s mission is to give her clients the confidence to be their best self and remove the limiting beliefs that get in the way.
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Shez Iqbal
Coach & Leader Passionate About DEI
Shez creates and encourages a safe and courageous space for his clients to dig deep and evoke their full potential.
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Takako Elliott
BodyMind Maturation Coach
Takako helps you to heal from the tap root of your trauma, exploring what's keeping you stuck in repeated patterns that don't serve you.
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Tasneem Ali
Leadership Coach & Introvert Specialist
Tasneem is an Authentic Leadership Coach helping ambitious introverts get out of their own way and grow their career.
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Trudy Lewis
Executive Coach & Communication Consultant
Trudy aims to develop leaders, professionals, and their teams to be engaging, have impact and influence by mastering effective communication.
Think of privilege like money. Some people have lots, some have much less and we can spend it however we choose. Having privilege is never something to be ashamed of, but we need to be aware of it.
“Imagine what we could achieve if everyone spends a little of their privilege on someone else”
GIVING BACK
For every £1 we receive from our clients, 10% goes towards the Equitable Coaching Foundation, funding coaching and coaching training for people who are less privileged due to financial hardship, disability, race or ethnicity. Simply by working with us, your budgets are helping people in the community who wouldn't have access to coaching but still deserve the opportunity to unlock their full potential.