MEET THE BOARD
SOPHIE BRUAS
Advisory Committee
- ICF PCC Level Accredited Coach
- Certified Coach Supervisor & Mentor Coach
- Transactional Analysis Practioner
- Academy of Executive Coaching EA Faculty
Accumulating over 1600h of coach practice and 600h coach supervision and mentoring, Sophie is an experienced coach. She has developed her career in various international contexts for the past 30 years, leading large teams of individuals in multi-cultural settings, building her ability in coaching across cultures.
Strongly influenced by Humanistic and Constructivist philosophies Sophie’s coaching emphasis strong relationships, applying a very direct communication style she uses a co-creative approach to learning where she looks for deep lasting solutions that impact her client’s whole being. To support her client change process, she applies a systemic coaching approach acknowledging the complexity and interconnectivity of the personal, professional, social or/and spiritual life elements.
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Sophie has supported the professional development of many executives in leading companies in various sectors that include Financial Services, Telecommunication, FMCGs, NGO’s, Media, UN, Education, Diplomats, Energy and Environmental sectors. She understands the challenges related to simultaneously living, working, raising a family and developing a balanced, and fulfilling career.
EMILY JONES
Client Committee
-ICF Certified Trauma Informed Coach
- PCC Level Accredited Trauma Informed Coach
- Certified Verdant Corporate Resiliency &
Leadership Resiliency Trainer
Emily Jones is an Trauma Coach who supports individuals and professionals by utilizing trauma informed care to build a foundation of personal emotional understanding, burnout and strengths based resilience.
With 10 years of experience in the mental health field Emily has worked with various populations including military families, corporate clients, individuals with medical trauma, and refugee aid workers. Emily uses aspects of somatic therapy and neuro-linguistic programming to support high need populations with their individualized needs.
Emily is accredited as a PCC level Trauma Informed Coach through the International Coaching Federation and is on the board of CoachActivism as the head of the Clients Committee. She is also a Verdant Certified Resiliency Trainer and Leadership Resiliency Trainer. Formerly she worked for 4+ years directly with special needs children and adults with high emotional disturbances. She holds a Bachelors in International Studies from the University of Oregon.
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GRAHAM WOOD
Communications Committee
- Academy of Executive Coaching (AoEC),
- UK Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching
- Accredited Associate Executive Coach, AoEC
- Accredited in coaching for Resiliance
Graham is an empathetic Executive Coach. He has previously served as CEO to the East Africa Community for the Aga Khan Foundation, as Chief Global Programme Officer for the US based non profit Pact and is currently working on private sector development in the sports sector in Kenya, while serving on the Board of Directors of a Kenyan Foundation and Friends of Nairobi National Park. He also works pro bono for CoachActivism, an organization providing coaching to those working with refugees.
Having lived in seven countries and with work experience in many more, Graham is interested in how people navigate complex, matrixed organizations in multicultural settings and challenging life situations. He is passionate about diversity and pluralism and works well with people and organizations in transition, something he has considerable experience of.
Graham has worked in 2022 with clients from the Aga Khan University, a leading Kenya interior design company, Reach, a global health organization, a leader in the LGBT+ space in the global south ,NEVS models, AMREF, Gatsby Trust and University College London.
SASHA NGINJA
Communications Committee
- Conflict, Risk and Security Expert
- Executive Coach
- Security Analyst and Consultant
A Security and Risk Specialist with over 10 years’ experience in security, risk and conflict management in sub-Saharan Africa, Sasha is invested in improving and facilitating safer operating environments.
Sasha has a background in psychology, having worked early on in his career with those struggling with drug addiction and alcoholism, then moving into security and risk management in sub-Saharan Africa, where he worked for over 15 years for both the private sector and not-for-profit organisations.
Sasha utilizes his background to create security for businesses and organizations including Risk management, crisis management through developing and implementing country-wide emergency protocols, participating in real-time management of crises, as well as
leadership training. He creates and provides trainings for both management and security teams in both the private and public sector.
Sasha recently moved to Copenhagen, and then New York and is looking to use his experience in psychology and coaching to work with young people. He claims to do a ‘mean chicken curry’.
ZUZANA MUKUMAYI FILIPOVÁ
Internal Coordinator
-ICF ACC Level Accredited Coach
- Certified IASTI Solution-Focused Practitioner
- Certified Positive Intelligence Coach
Zuzana is Productivity and Habit Change Coach specializing in productivity coaching of entrepreneurs and individuals navigating diverse intercultural
environments, having supported 100+ individuals from 25+ countries.
With over 10 years of experience in international development and humanitarian aid, Zuzana has brings in the skills in project management, team leadership, monitoring and evaluation or networking and representation, having worked with international NGOs in Africa and Asia.
Zuzana combines her humanitarian background, coaching experience and her personal journey living in 7 countries across 3 continents for over 15 years. She
holds a Master Degree from Masaryk University, Czech Republic and currently lives in Zambia with her husband and son.
Zuzana loves experimenting with becoming her best self – in entrepreneurship, fitness and life. She is also a TEDx Speaker and Podcast host, and loves planting
flowers, reading, travelling and being vegetarian for more than twenty years.