Lovely to meet you - My name is steph
Aussie with a Worldly Perspective: Originally from Australia, I’ve been deeply immersed in Berlin's dynamic startup scene for over a decade. Throughout this time I have had the pleasure and privilege to extensively travel, open up markets spanning from Australia to Benelux to Greece, and to meet a wonderful array of people from all over the world. Due to this, I’ve gained invaluable insights into how different cultures think and behave and what drives them in a professional context.
Passionate People and Relationship Developer: Leading diverse teams (both in terms of size and function) across continents, I've not only honed my intercultural, relationship and strategic skills but also developed a strong and unwavering passion for nurturing talent. I get a lot of energy and joy in supporting people’s growth, unlocking their potential and guiding them to achieve extensive personal and professional growth.
Training, Coaching and Learning Enthusiast: My commitment (or obsession) to personal growth and all the joys of learning and discovering new things extends beyond one-on-one interactions. I've hosted a variety of workshops, events, and learning sessions, across a broad spectrum of topics - from communication to building self-awareness, managing our minds and priorities at work to negotiation tactics. This deep-seated passion for supporting and developing people is what propelled me into the world of coaching.
My experience and credentials
My experience
For as long as I can remember I have had a passion for people and supporting their growth and development. This has shown up in multiple ways throughout my life. I studied Commerce majoring in Human resource management and minoring in psychology at Macquarie University in Sydney. This was down to the fact I had a curiosity about training and thought this was the best way to explore this in a business sense (I did not want to be a teacher!). Following the completion of my degree, I made my way to Berlin in 2012 as a fresh young woman knowing hardly anyone and with no job. This was both extremely daunting and incredibly exciting.
I soon landed a position at GetYourGuide, back when it was a tiny startup full of chaos, and excitement and a small and mighty team of 40. This meant a culture of high growth, high pressure and endless firefighting. It was a lot of ‘figuring it out as you go’, taking on additional tasks and projects and pivoting. Even early in my career, I saw my passion for development show up time and time again. I constantly ended up taking on additional projects focused on team happiness, leading onboarding programmes or trainings, as well as hosting workshops and events. I loved doing this and it gave me so much energy. In the initial years, these tasks were not my core job, however, they eventually led me to people management where I fell in love.
Following this, I had the pleasure of working across a variety of teams and functions. In 2016, at the age of 26, I returned to Australia and set up the Sydney office, activating the Australian & New Zealand markets and growing a thriving team. In 2019 I made my way back to Berlin to take over the reigns of the Northern/Central/Southern European sales team, scaling things from 5 people to 12, setting up the Amsterdam office and hiring a manager there. During covid I stepped up and took over the Content Operations team, stretching myself to lead 21 direct reports and get us through the turmoils of 2020. This was one of the hardest and most fulfilling years of my career to date. As of today, I am in the People team, driving forward our Leadership development strategy supporting all people managers and acting as a sparring partner to our executives.
Throughout my journey, I've either been thrown into or willingly dived into various projects across departments, from sales to connectivity and supply operations to marketing. This exposure has granted me a holistic perspective on how different functions and teams operate, think, and breathe. It's deepened my understanding of what drives teams and individuals, as well as the barriers that can hinder their success, engagement, and performance.
However, this path wasn't a seamless journey filled with unwavering confidence. I grappled with a persistent inner critic, one of constant doubt, questioning my worth and capabilities. Battling this voice, coupled with anxiety and a persistent feeling of inadequacy, was a prominent challenge. Yet, these struggles, combined with an insatiable desire to grow and learn, compelled me to look inward. I sought ways to thrive, to shift my perspective, and to harness my fears as catalysts for positive, compassionate growth. My growth mindset became a powerful tool, reinforcing the belief that I could evolve and empower others to do the same.
This journey, paired with my passion for nurturing individuals, unlocking their potential, and amplifying their value, has continually propelled me forward and ignited my desire to coach.
Credentials
Bachelor of Commerce - Majoring in Human Resource Management & minor in Psychology - Macquarie University Sydney (2012)
International Coach Academy - Professional Certified Coach (completion date April 2024)
The Art of Leading Teams - Kevin Groen (2017)
Akimbo: Art of Storytelling & Brainstorm road (2022 & 2023)
The Thrive Programme (2021)
Thousands of books, podcasts and articles
