Reflections on the 2025 UK ICF Series: Life Transitions & Resilience in a World of Change

Reflections on the 2025 UK ICF Series:

Life Transitions & Resilience in a World of Change

When the UK ICF series: Life Transitions & Resilience in a World of Change wrapped on 2nd April, it was with a sense of pride and privilege that we reflected on our experience of co-creating the 8 sessions with leading coaching practitioners. 

The theme couldn’t have been more timely. The truth is that we live in a world where the rate of change has accelerated drastically. And yet, however disruptive that may be, the most profound growth stems from unexpected circumstances. Uncertainty has a way of stretching us beyond what has gone before, requiring us to ideate, iterate and adapt at pace, and develop resilience and innovation along the way.

Each session touched on the usefulness of integrating a coaching mindset and skills when facing transitions, and gently nudged us to accept our vulnerabilities and imperfection, leverage our strengths in times of ambiguity, and foster connection through inclusion.

Some key takeaways emerged from each session:

🔵 Presence in coaching comes from holding the space for you to be you, and me to be me

🟢 Mindfulness is an inherent positive feature of coaching, and it can be developed

🟠 Change generates mourning, and acknowledging that grief is essential to let go and move on

🟣 Reinvention does not entail denial of the past but rather reconnecting to it

🔴 Accepting our imperfection involves discomfort yet ultimately leads to liberation and evolution

🟡 Career transitions involve complex internal experiences from which we can generate ways forward

🟤 Investing in relationships and networks while embracing challenges opens the path of possibility

⚫️ Transitions impact our sense of belonging as we enter new groups and systems

We want to emphasise our gratitude to our wise facilitators: Claire Pedrick, MCC, Dr. Ben Van Den Assem, Dr. Marcia Reynolds, Dr. Katia Vlachos, Karen Foy, MCC, Beatrice Zornek, PCC, Sarah Leach, PCC and Professor Rebecca Jones for sharing their invaluable learnings in such a generous and accessible manner, and for promptly responding to support the ICF community.

In designing dynamic and engaging professional and personal development, our participants play a significant role. We deeply appreciate the interaction from each and every person who attended, and wider thanks go to the high number of those who registered for the series. Investment in this offering influences the ripple effects long after. There is much value to be gained from coming together to shift perspective, pivot thinking and catalyse new behaviour. Providing Continuing Coach Education Units (CCEUs) is a small token of our recognition.

Please do inform us of what you would like to be considered for future provision - we want to best serve our members! 

Kirsty Knowles & Ana-Maria Chirila 

Professional Development Directorate