About Me
Personal Life
I am a wife, a mother and someone with a deep sense of wanderlust. I have lived in 2 continents, 4 countries, and a few cities. I love the thrill of discovering new places, and the promise of good artisan bread, will tempt me to travel far. I am an enthusiastic supporter of the SLOW living philosophy - a more organic, natural, conscious and purposeful way of living.
Professional Life
I am a Certified Process Professional Master- CPP Master 2014 (professional certification awarded by the BP Group), and a Sworn Interpreter for the High (Supreme) Court of South Africa (1988).
I spent almost 3 decades in the Financial Services Industry, in roles responsible for business innovation and change management, working on major organisational transformation programmes. In those roles, I was privileged to lead diverse multi-functional teams, and usually used coaching methods as a natural and instinctive way of achieving results through and with people.
I trained as a coach through the University of Pretoria’s business school (the Gordon Institute of Business Science, South Africa), where I completed the Professional Business Coaching Programme (2019); an ICF approved coaching programme. I am a registered member of the ICF.
My Coaching Philosophy
I believe that who we are is merely a disposition, a 'way of being' that has been shaped by our choices, beliefs and experiences and, as such, is capable of being examined and considered for how it may or may not serve us and our deepest aspirations. Self- reflection and introspection have always been my favourite structures for self-development. Long before I became a full-time coach, I was an active participant in the field of coaching, either by receiving coaching training, or by working to support others through their own journeys of change and personal development.
Whilst I am used to change, I am still usually ambivalent about big life changes. I have long had to learn to accept the inevitable anxiety and feeling of 'being lost' that are part of the process, and I push myself to try out the new things/ ways of being for how they might fit and serve my next evolution.
Testimonials
Minette
My coaching journey with Cristina has been life changing - yes it is a cliché but I had my biggest breakthrough in my life under her guidance. She has the ability to probe in the right place at the right time to uncover the root cause of what you are experiencing or feeling - you find the answers you are looking for yourself by being pushed just enough to uncover who you really are or want to become by navigating through decisions or challenges at work or in your personal life.
Jamie
I was never completely convinced of the value of coaching until I met Cristina. I had been struggling with goal setting for a while, and on recommendation, I decided to approach her and see whether she could help me. I can honestly say that it was the best decision I made! What really stood out for me was her calm, clear and structured approach, and her ability to 'look under the hood'. Through sometimes tough but always pertinent questions, she helped me uncover things that I would otherwise not have considered as relevant. Throughout the process, I always felt suppported, and I have walked away from this experience with much improved self-understanding.
Lisa
Cristina has really assisted me in coming to my own, she has the ability to focus on your individual strengths, but also to connect your strengths to that of the team to ensure you fit in perfectly as the puzzle piece that you are. She has an innate ability to see the potential in people and know that they are not yet fully formed but a work in progress. She looks for ways to challenge them so that they can grow to enable them to live to their fullest individual potential.
Trevor
I have known Cristina for several years, firstly working with her at Nedbank and then being coached by her as well. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Cristina is her desire to truly understand a person by listening to them and walking in their shoes. She is the definition of true cognitive empathy. During our coaching sessions, she was able to guide me in a way that felt truly natural and comfortable. Her questions were always throught provoking and allowed me to understand myself better. While our coaching journey was brief, I always felt a profound sense of calm after each session. Her passion for coaching is clearly evident. I cannot recommend her enough!
Natasha
I had the pleasure of working with Cristina just after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and she helped me navigate some difficult issues I was facing at work. Her guidance and expertise were invaluable in helping me shift my mindset and approach to these challenges. One of the things I appreciated most was her ability to help me see my situation in a different light. Rather than getting bogged down in the details of my circumstances, she encouraged me to think about the opportunities that were available to me and how I could capitalise on them. This was a refreshing perspective that gave me renewed energy and motivation to tackle my challenges head on while also preparing for the future. Another key takeaway from our sessions was the importance of drawing on my existing strengths and skills. She helped me identify areas where I was already excelling and showed me how I could leverage these strengths to overcome my obstacles. This was an empowering realisation that helped me build confidence in my ability to tackle new challenges moving forward. Overall, I would highly recommend Cristina's coaching to anyone looking to improve their professional outlook and approach. Her expertise, insight, and encouragement were instrumental in helping me navigate a difficult situation and emerge stronger and more confident on the other side.