The biggest obstacle to learning something new is the belief that you already know it.

Take care of your needs, so you can better provide for those that matter.

MY story

I come from a large family and from a young age I would always be the mediator, when my siblings or parents had their battles. Back then, I felt out of my depth, but over time have realised that  we all need some kind of support system in place when the going gets tough. The smallest of fights can leave us replaying events in our minds, wishing we could have spoken up. Not only my family, but also my friends would often come to me for advice, advice about what they should study, what career they should pursue or even what to do in a challenging relationship. After I gave my advice, they sometimes did the opposite and even though this frustrated me at the time, I learned that people don’t like to be told what to do. In fact, it’s much more empowering to come to solutions yourself. 

My first time abroad was when I was 18, working as a soccer coach in America, and my second time was moving to South Korea to teach English soon after university. I did both of these on my own with very little support or advice. When embarking on both experiences, there was plenty of uncertainty and anxiety, because in both cases I had very little money and not even a phone. I ended up having the time of my life and learned that sometimes going with your gut is the best way to make decisions. The more we think about some choices, the more pitfalls we see and the less likely we are to take actionFast forward a few years, I ended up in Malta teaching air traffic controllers. When finishing up the course, one student said in class, “James, you’re not a teacher…(long uncomfortable pause)…you’re a coach!”. At times I had felt imposter syndrome, but to be fair, everyone I’ve met has admitted feeling like that at some point in their lives. At the end of the day, you just have to show up and have confidence in yourself.

When Covid 19 hit, I chose to specialise in wellbeing for teachers in Vietnam. My work was well received at multiple international conferences and I won an award for the most engaging presentation. The prize was an all-inclusive trip to Australia and an invitation to speak at a major management conference in Sydney where I spoke in front of 1,250 people. I had palpitations every time I thought about my presentation, so I started thinking of excuses not to attend. Eventually, I chose to ignore my inner monkeys, and went ahead with it. Up until the very moment I came off the stage, my heart was racing but I realised something. My body reacts in the same way when I’m scared as it does when I’m really excited, but it really depends on mindset. When viewed from a fixed mindset, we focus on fears, whereas a growth mindset allows us to test our potential.  

For the past few years, I have been coaching adults on their career paths. As a careers mentor at a university, I have helped numerous adults explore various career options, craft job applications, practice interviewing and secure employment (even outside of their field). 15 years of living around the world has given me the chance to work with people from various backgrounds and cultures and honed my expertise in cultivating personal and professional development. This experience has taught me that having a sense of purpose drives both motivation and performance, allowing one to achieve their full potential.  

 

 

Why Choose Me?

Whatever situation you are in, I promise to trigger a perspective shift. This will get you unstuck, so you can move forward and make the changes you want. 

I promise to listen, without judgment or criticism. At the same time, I will help you clarify what you need and provide accountability to keep you on track.

I hold every individual with unwavering positive regard, creating a safe and supportive environment for personal exploration and transformation.

While it’s easy to fixate on problems at hand, I promise to reframe them, so they are both manageable and actionable. Balance is key to sustainable change.

Through active listening and effective communication, I build genuine connections and trust with clients. If you are open and honest with your fears, beliefs and worries, change will be easier to navigate.

The strategies I use are based on scientific research that has been proven to improve performance, confidence and overall wellbeing. While there is no one size fits all solution to unique situations, I will tailor approaches to suit your needs. 

MY mission

I guide individuals and groups in their career journeys, particularly those who feel stuck, disengaged, or looking to transition into a different field of work. I specialize in the art of resilience and career development coaching, and I’m here to guide you through these challenges.

The employment market is more turbulent than ever, so developing transferrable skills is crucial to remain attractive to potential employers. Being confident in one’s abilities and attributes is also key to finding a career that will enable one to flourish. 

With a blend of design thinking and positive psychology, I empower individuals like you to develop the skills and mindset needed to move forward confidently. I specialise in uncovering hidden opportunities for professional growth, helping you see problems as stepping stones to success, and crafting a roadmap for a transformative and flourishing career.

Being an accredited practitioner of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council means my coaching is ethical, professional and under regular supervision.

 

Tue Trieu (Web Developer / Project Manager)

“A good coach is different from a good teacher. A good teacher answers your questions. A good coach, on the other hand, guides you towards your own answers. James doesn’t have all the answers but what he does have are things far more important – patience and compassion. He’s a gifted listener, able to quickly pinpoint individual needs and goals. He’s a master at asking pertinent questions – questions that you should be asking yourself but could never find the right words. Above all, he is positive and supportive, giving encouragement throughout the discovery process. He might not have the answers to your questions, but he can and will guide you towards the path to answering your own. In that sense, James is a brilliant coach and I highly recommend him.”

Calle Andersson (Co Founder & COO at Cturtle)

“I had a great experience overall being coached by James. He opened me up to new concepts of self-reflection and, more importantly, how to put these strategies into practice in my daily life and work. It was very interesting to reflect on the different Character Strengths to determine which concepts are the most important and true to me and how they define me as a person. It allowed me to think more objectively about myself, how I make decisions, and how all of it impacts my daily life and social situations. I highly encourage anyone reading this to work with James as your coach! It was a very rewarding experience that opened my eyes to many new aspects of both myself and the world around me. Thanks a lot for your hard work and passion for coaching and guiding other humans; I’m sure you will continue to make a significant difference in the lives of your coachees.”

Jane Le (Founder of RMIT Vietnam Mind Club)

“Thank you for being my mentor for 3 months through the Career Mentoring program. Before meeting you, I was still hesitant about taking the first step in working on an interview. But thanks to your advice, I became more confident to do my best, not only to ace my interview but also to find out my strengths which I can work on for the future. Our discussions helped me learnt a lot and expand my knowledge and perspectives. And you are always very patient and supportive as a mentor, and I was really grateful to receive your help.”

Nguyen Pham (Junior Technical Support Engineer)

“I have had the pleasure of knowing James for the past five months, and I have been consistently impressed with his dedication. James is an excellent mentor being able to provide both practical advice and emotional support. He has a deep understanding of the challenges that young professionals face, and he is always willing to offer guidance and encouragement. James is also a great listener, and he is always willing to take the time to understand my individual needs and goals”

Eric Asato (Career Consulting Manager)

“I highly recommend James as a proactive life-long learner and empathetic listener. James has volunteered as a Career Mentor since 2021, sharing his expertise in Positive Psychology, Education, and Career Development Learning in workshops, panels, career consultations, and mentoring over 20 university students. We ran Thriving Online Workshops to support colleagues’ wellbeing during Covid19.”

Mary perez (new initiatives program manager)

I got to experience James’ coaching first-hand and as it was my first experience I quickly felt comfortable, guided, and paid attention to. James’ sessions varied with different activities, reflection and discussion points. There were no feelings of judgment rather opportunities to relate to each other and go deeper into the significance of what we discovered through the exercises and exchanges in the sessions. James helped me to discover and align values I had and was a great sounding board for the changes and goals I wanted to make, helping me to be more mindful and accountable with my actions.

I have facilitated wellbeing training and workshops in Australia, Vietnam and Cambodia, both face to face and virtually.

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