Sarah Blackford, FLP Trainer
I’m a qualified careers adviser and coach (MA, Warwick University) with a background in scientific research and publishing. A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, I specialise in providing career development education to doctoral and early career researchers and have been delivering career workshops and one-to-one career coaching for over 20 years in research institutions, universities, EU consortia and DTPs. My training is inclusive and aims to provide a space for informing, reflecting and action-planning in key aspects related to academic and non-academic career planning. As a registered career practitioner with the Career Development Institute and the Association for Graduate Careers Services (AGCAS), my training and coaching services are in compliance with a nationally recognised ethical code of practice.
Dr. Verity Elston, FLP Coach
With a taste for exploring the world and all that it offers, and a love of understanding a little better how its people find their way, I bring it all together to help people figure out that gnarly question asked of historians, physicists, biologists and philosophers: sure it’s fascinating, but what’ll you do with that PhD?
I build on my knowledge and experience to advise, train and coach doctoral candidates and postdocs on their career path. I lead and develop professional training programmes with an eye to the tools a PhD needs and how best they’ll learn. And because the learning is never done, I continue to research, manage and analyse the qualitative and quantitative data, building effective advice based on real practice.
Dr. Maddalena Fumagalli, FLP Trainer
For over 15 years, I engaged in interdisciplinary research, advocacy and policy on marine conservation in Europe, North Africa and New Zealand, until the drive to better understand and promote healthier academic experiences and workplaces became overpowering.
Since 2020 – strong of acquired competences in personal development coaching, mental health first aid and personal writing for wellbeing – I have been bringing early career researchers safe, individual and collective spaces for self-reflective and action-oriented coaching and training on personal health and wellbeing, especially in relation to the challenges of toxic workplace cultures, mobility, parenthood and non-linear career paths.
My interventions combine evidence-based informative presentations and activities to guide participants in uncovering, affirming and celebrating own needs, resources, visions and actionable solutions.
Prof. Dr. Jamie Gloor, FLP Trainer
A behavioral social scientist with nearly 2 decades of research , teaching, and speaking experience across 4 continents, Jamie Gloor (Dr. oec) hails from the U.S. but has spent the last 10 years in Switzerland. Passionate about rigorous research and positive impact in the areas of DEI, leadership, social sustainability, and humor. Jamie Gloor energizes countless students, leaders, and organizations with her sought-after research, workshops, and keynotes via her current professorial role at the University of St. Gallen school of management and her evidence-informed consulting start up.
Magda Kern, FLP Trainer
Magda Kern, psychologist, public speaking trainer, and PCC ICF coach. Head of Speakers at TEDxZurich. A graduate of the economics university and postgraduate studies in life and business coaching. She has extensive stage experience – for many years, she has performed in the Cuban musical “Conoce mi Cuba,” won song festivals, and sang at concerts and conferences. In 2021, she was selected as one of the world’s 11 best public speaking coaches. She also has extensive media experience – due to her professional activity, she has given more than a hundred interviews in the press, television, and radio. From childhood, she performed on stage, studying at the 1st and 2nd degree of a music school (jazz vocal and cello). She runs three companies, all of them in the field of education. Lately, she has started teaching students the art of public speaking.
Afi Sika Kuzeawu, FLP Trainer
Economics Msc, Certified systemic Coach, Music B.A., Psychology Msc (trng)
With a passion for creation, and a motivation for true fulfilment in life, I help people figure out what would be the right ingredients for them to experience an inspired and brilliant professional life. I draw on my knowledge and my personal experience to coach students, doctoral candidates and professionals in the course of their career decisions. As a creative consultant, I also work with entrepreneurs and public institutions to help them design and develop concepts out of their ideas, so that these can be implemented in the real world.
Dr. Ingrid Le Duc, FLP Coach
I am committed and passionate for furthering Academic Development as a profession that intersects current educational standards with researchers’ and teachers’ real concerns.
Being exposed to a variety of academic cultures in Latin America and Europe, I grew a particular interest in understanding learning and its behavior taking into consideration how learning may be influenced by external and societal factors.
My Bachelor is in Psychology, from UNAM in Mexico City, my PhD is in Social Psychology from the London School of Economics and Political Science. I also trained in brief counselling.
For over 15 years, I have worked in Higher Education as a consultant doing personal and group coaching and training for academics. I am a Pedagogical Advisor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Teaching Support Centre (CAPE) and a Lecturer at the University of Bern in Switzerland.
Recently, I built on the courage to take on the leadership of what I believe, are key initiatives to improve STEM education. My current projects themes are: mental health and well-being in the workplace as well as inclusion, diversity and masculinities.
I am a mother of two, and am fluent in Spanish, English and French.
Susanne Matuschek, FLP Trainer
Susanne Matuschek on her way through different countries and jobs (e.g. University of Konstanz; private industry; Funding Programme Manager, Career Division, SNSF) and founder of own company MATUSCHEK CONSULTING (e.g. workshops, coaching). She can be considered as an outstanding expert in research funding, networks & successful networking.
I’m a Cognitive Psychologist and works as Learning Specialist and Executive Coach at IMD. Her coaching activities cover work with teams and individuals from international organizations. She works globally with customers from various industry sectors and governments.
As a molecular scientist with over 15 years of experience in academic research, I am passionate about training early career scientists to develop their full potential. After holding a group leader position at the ETH-Zurich, I’ve started a career as a medical writer and strategy manager in non-profit organizations. I have a wide experience in organizing workshops and training programs that help researchers to improve their scientific communication and leadership skills. Another important part of my work involves supporting scientists to translate research projects into innovative solutions that address the needs of the industry market. My interventions combine lectures and hands-on activities where participants can reflect on their own needs and find practical solutions that can guide them in their future career steps.
Sibyl Schaedeli, FLP Coach and Trainer
I work as a lecturer, writer, executive coach and consultant. She is specialized in leadership and career development with a main focus on power and status games. Sibyl Schädeli has long-standing leadership experience in the Swiss Federal Administration and in the healthcare sector. Her main clients come from universities, hospitals, diplomacy and politics
Dr. Sarah Shephard, FLP Coach and Trainer
My background: Dr. sc. nat. ETH, biochemist; I worked for almost 20 years a researcher in toxicology & pharmacology (cancer research). During this time also performed as asinger (classically trained soprano), and completed 3 yr post-graduate training in Organisational Development & Coaching. Since 2000: I have a private practice offering coaching and seminars in leadership, communication and career development for scientists and academics throughout Switzerland. In addition, I hold a 50 % position as faculty developer for professors at ETH. Over the years, I have deepened my coaching practice through training in mindfulness, trauma healing and other advanced coaching methods.
My coaching speciality: focusses on mastering the challenges – both professional and personal – of the world of research and academia, particularly for women in STEM fields. Coaching themes are as widely spread as: i) leadership & self-leadership skills, ii) time & stress management, mindfulness, work-life balance, dual career couples, iii) grant applications, job applications & job interviews in academia, iv) supervising a research group, negotiations & conflict, v) imposter syndrome, building self-confidence, vi) stage presence, etc.
I am involved in coaching women in Mentoring programmes for academics at all levels, from PhD students, through Post-docs, to young Professors, all the way up to Deans and Department Heads.
My coaching approach: is known as “transformational coaching“. The goal is empowerment, to help people lead lives that are more authentic and rewarding. Often it involves helping people gain skills to help them get beyond places where they are “stuck”. I believe in a holistic approach to coaching, valuing the interconnections between mind, body, emotions and spirit in our well-being.
Dr. Beatrice Sigrist, FLP Coach
I am skilled in creating stimulating, trusting, and
insightful relationships with women leaders at all levels to help them unleash
their potential with more energy, confidence, and courage.
I earned her PH.D. in Business Administration form the University
of Basel and Geneva. She also holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from the
Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris.
I am a certified professional coach by the
International Coach Federation (ICF) and a member of ICF Switzerland as well as
a board member of the Swiss Expert Network on Burnout.
Dr. Lille Springall, FLP Coach and Trainer
Work & Organizational Psychologist, ICF Certified Coach, Board Certified Hypnotherapist, Certified Naturopath, Yoga therapist & Ayurvedic Practitioner. American & Swiss trained.
I have over 12 years of experience as a Research Scientist and combine my scientific and academic knowledge with my extensive training and experience in Coaching, Hypnotherapy, Human, Natural Medicine and as a working mother. During my 17 years working as a Holistic Coach, I have enabled, and continue to enable, hundreds of clients in the business world and in academia to achieve their goals, as well as to build successful and fulfilling lives using a truly holistic approach.
Nir Zalts, FLP Coach and Trainer
Passionate about learning, I have been coaching individuals and groups since 1992. My experience in Switzerland and abroad, combined with my university training in business psychology, enables me to adopt a pragmatic approach that helps my clients to make rapid progress. From 2013, I shifted my focus to the field of education. I now work partly at the HEP in Lausanne, while maintaining my independent practice. I’m currently co-director of the DAS coaching course.
What’s dearest to my heart is helping individuals and groups to unleash their potential, giving them a new impetus to face up to challenges and unblock complex situations. This approach gives meaning to my professional life. I also draw on my experience as a sportsman, basketball coach and sports club manager.
I’ve been going through the mid-life transition for around ten years now. In-depth reflection on myself and my relationships with others has led me to make some fundamental changes in my life. I now want to build on the richness of these experiences to offer ‘mid-life coaching’.