Growing up in apartheid South Africa, I was surrounded by issues of race, of white privilege and white supremacy. The first election I was able to vote in was when Nelson Mandela became the President of our new Rainbow Nation in 1994. At the time I felt inclusive, respectful, kind and supportive towards people of colour, they were part of my daily life. However, my white privilege afforded me the option of “opting out,” and I often avoided uncomfortable conversations, framing it as a personality trait of avoiding confrontation. Moving to different countries on different continents exposed me to diverse cultures, and customs different to my own, but I now recognise how white-centric those spaces were.

Through my studies to become a life coach I became aware of my need to learn, and unlearn, the art of holding space for all people. This included people from different cultures, races, genders and ages. I was “called in” to do diversity, equity and inclusion work by racial equity coach, Annie Gichuru. While her guidance and teaching through her course Represented was invaluable, it is my responsibility to unpack my implicit bias, to accept the discomfort of my white fragility and to continue building the stamina to do this work. The lens on how I see the world has shifted and I no longer choose silence or acceptance thus siding with the oppressor and systems perpetuating injustice.

In my journey of transformation as I emerged from decades of mothering and navigating life across different countries, I uncovered the power of three core values that now guide my life and business: courage, connection and celebration. 

Embracing my value of courage means acknowledging my own privilege and stepping into uncomfortable conversations, no longer choosing to opt-out while knowing that it takes courage to fail, but mistakes are part of the growth process. Connection drives me to diversify my world, seeking out and learning from people of different backgrounds and ensuring my media consumption and learning sources reflect this diversity. Celebration is about honouring every individual’s uniqueness and changing the narrative around differences to one of inclusion and respect.

Through these values, I am committed to building an inclusive life and coaching practice where everyone feels valued, seen and celebrated. My journey is ongoing and I am dedicated to learning, unlearning and growing alongside my community and clients. Through investing my time and money in learning from diverse sources, adding my voice to conversations and regular reflection on my growth I will remain in-action with this work.