Testimonials From Graduates Who Were New To Professional Coaching
Chris Roberts
"It’s opened my eyes actually to all different types of coaching and that was part of the reason why I chose to go on the Optimus course. When you do it in a corporate environment, typically, you come across Grow and some of the other more basic, more transactional type models, whereas having the opportunity to learn about things like positive psychology and neuroscience and transactional analysis and how that all links into how you can approach stuff as a coach has made a huge difference." To listen to the full testimonial play the video
Chloe Hilliard
"The reason I chose Optimus was really because it is very practical. You get a lot of experience on the course, as opposed to some other courses. which are very much more theoretical and I didn't feel would give me a lot of experience, especially as I was a new coach and I really wanted to immerse myself in the whole experience"
To listen to the full testimonial play the video
Lex Showunmi
"I've been coaching other people in my business for those nine years but officially got my qualification to coach with Optimus this year. I wanted to understand coaching and different aspects of coaching beyond what I was organically doing and get tools and I guess a bit more of an understanding of what actual coaching was and one of the biggest things that came out of that was that the the element of pure coaching, where you're just asking questions. So it was really important that I did this course so that my knowledge was expanded and I could coach better." To listen to the full testimonial play the video
Maxine Howells
"The quality of the training in the evening sessions, I think, goes without saying it is really high quality. The feedback that's given through the different observations that we've done has. been the first time in a number of years that I've actually received feedback on some elements of my performance that I've really relished and wanted to go with and use it as a drive to improve. and it's had a really positive impact. The thing that Optimus has really brought is opening my eyes to the business side of the work. and the marketing Q and A has been hugely valuable to me." To listen to the full testimonial play the video
Tess Nixon Spiller
"As well as the breadth and depth of the learning experience at Optimus, it was very practical, tactical steps that have enabled me to fairly quickly set up those background processes. So how I onboard new clients from contracting, to discovery calls, to follow-up emails, all the way through to how I outboard them at the end of the process and I now feel that without having a very complicated, expensive business set up, I have enough to offer a really professional service through all those stages of the customer journey and I think the combination of drop in workshops with bespoke mentoring really enables you to do that very well." To listen to the full testimonial play the video
Kelly Keating
"I probably didn't appreciate at the time how great Optimus is in actually getting you ready for your accreditation. So the training hours, the mentoring and everything that was all inclusive in the diploma price compared to other coaches I've spoken to since that have had to then go on and buy those extras bolt ons, so, for me, those are two really special reasons to to go with Optimus, that and a fantastic cohort that is maintained off the back of it as well. So for me, as I mentioned, I'm growing my business on a part time basis." To listen to the full testimonial play the video
Lyndsey Linford
"So coaching and Optimus got recommended to me by my own coach, my life coach, and so I joined the free taster session back in March 2022 and I was really impressed with the way they taught and explained positive psychology, neuroscience, and just raising my own self awareness.. I decided to train as a coach because I've seen the positive impact that coaching had on my life, and I wanted to pass onto other women who may have felt that they felt a bit lost in life and weren't sure on how to make the big moves in life to be where they wanted to be.""I would definitely say go for the level one because it's just a great introduction to coaching as someone who has never done any training in coaching before. It's really given me a good foundation of knowledge and a good starting ground to work from" To listen to the full testimonial play the video
Louise Roberts
That support after you finish actually doing your coaching. I think that's been really, really helpful for me. Like, I don't just qualify and then go out into the big world so to speak, but there's actually more when you have the support with Optimus. So I think the business aspect has been really, really helpful for me because what it's done is really allowed me to really structure and really see what I need to do, the steps that I need to take in order to be the most effective. The knowledge that I actually have acquired from the Optimus team and from doing the program has allowed me really to relay what I have to offer, and then they literally want to sign up with me. I think I'm definitely a lot more confident in my abilities now. The Optimus cohort as well has been really, really kind of, you know, inspiring to me. To listen to the full testimonial play the video
“Before I started the coach training I was looking to refresh and develop my coaching skills and get a recognised qualification. The part of the coach training that I most enjoyed has been putting coaching into practice within the sessions and observing others coaching (Ruth and my peers). Now that I am further along the coach training, I already feel more confident and 100% sure I have chosen the right thing. A transformation that I'm most proud of is that I am a better coach.
The part of the coach training that I most enjoyed has been getting to know the other students, reading and learning about the different models. Now that I am further along the coach training, I already feel more confident in my abilities and knowledge of coaching. A transformation that I'm most proud of is getting comfortable with talking within groups.”
What made you sign up to the coach training?
"I got into coaching last year and I knew that I wanted to get a qualification. I did look at other programs, but when I had the consultation with you I realized everything I was looking for is all blended in your course and I thought it was the right thing for me to do.
On the course, I literally come out of every session thinking "wow lightbulb moment". It's been so great because I've discovered a lot about myself.
I am not only learning tools about how to help other people. I'm learning tools to help myself.
When I need some self-coaching I can definitely do that and every week I learned something new for me to add.
It is helping me a lot from my previous business when I was coaching with no tools. Now I have more tools in my bag than I could ever ask for."
What would you say to someone considering signing up?
"If you're looking for something that's not going to just only help your clients, but help you as well, I would definitely sign up for it. It's helped me in more ways than one, in terms of all the different tools that we're learning different methods that we’re learning.
I'm self-coaching myself every day and I'm finding that I'm actually becoming a better person by using the tools from the course that I'm learning.
I love the Community. If you want just more than a course, more than a community, then definitely sign up."
“I can 110% recommend Ruth's coach training. It came at a perfect time for me as I was looking to branch out with the services I offered clients and it has worked out really well.
The sessions were well-timed and well-paced, with the right amount of support and feedback. I was part of a fantastic cohort of women I found the online format engaging and convenient. With lots of opportunities to work with Ruth and others on the course, as well as mentoring sessions, we were able to learn a huge amount over the seven-month duration.
If you are looking for a coaching course that really delivers and a trainer who cares, this is it!”
“I did my due diligence before I signed up for the Kudzi Coach Academy. I spoke to people who had been on other courses but the one thing that kept coming up was that to be properly accredited you had to fork out more money after the course. I wanted an all-in-one accreditated course with someone who was respected in the industry.
I spoke to Ruth and I had a chat with many of the alumni; every single one of them was glowing about the course and extremely positive. I am on the course now and it has been a great experience.
I have grown as a person, not just the coaching knowledge but everything else that comes with it. I almost don't recognise myself. I am a different person and I will be a different person by the time I finish with the confidence to go out into the world as a credible coach.
The community and support in the groups is great, the coaching triads where we coach and get feedback on our coaching is priceless, we get coaching practice every week and the course is continually improving.
100% Just do it.”
“I decided to take this qualification so that I could legitimately and confidently say that I was a professional coach. I have learned that not only are there numerous approaches and countless tools that can be used to coach clients but the real skill is learning how and when to use them on a client by client basis.
I have met and I train with 8 amazing women and we learn so much from each other. The course is intensive and demanding but the camaraderie and practice make it hugely enjoyable.
I would strongly recommend this course for anyone who is serious about coaching. By this, I mean someone who is willing to fully engage and commit to 6-8 months of intensive training with Ruth who has so much experience as well as the prerequisite qualifications to provide such an in-depth course.”
“The part of the coach training that I most enjoyed has been getting to know the other students, reading and learning about the different models. Now that I am further along the coach training, I already feel more confident in my abilities and knowledge of coaching. A transformation that I'm most proud of is getting comfortable with talking within groups.”
What made you sign up to the coach training?
“When I was looking for coach training there was a lot out there to choose from. I felt overwhelmed looking at all of the programs and didn't know what to go for. After speaking to someone who knew you, recommended you and us having a call, I immediately felt that you were the right choice – as I felt that you were invested in me and my success.”
What's your experience been like so far in the program?
“When I joined the course I was a beginner and I have grown so much already in such a short space of time. I think this is down to the training and the support you get on the course; For example my amazing mentor Sandra, the sessions and the community. I can't sing your praises highly enough! The course is absolute value for money and I believe it is life-changing.
It is the sort of thing which works whether you are a beginner or more experienced: I see people on the course who have been coaching for years and want to upscale. It great to see the variety of backgrounds and experience.”
“Before I started the coach training I was a little lost, I didn't know how much confidence or belief in myself I had lost. I knew learning to help other lost people would help me find my voice again.
The part of the coach training that I have most enjoyed has been the trios and my work with my peer coach. Now that I am further along in my coach training, I already feel stronger, more empowered, and excited for my future. There is still a little splash of nervousness, but I know that will eventually fade the more people I help with my coaching!
The transformation that I'm most proud of is the jump I did off the diving board to get here in the first place and the focus to still with this magical process!
I decided to do this course because I felt I had lost my way, lost myself being a mother to my two boys. I wanted something for me, something that would also serve others, so here I am, loving every minute!”
What made you sign up to the coach training?
“I was actually signed up with another training provider when your advert popped up, I think from the coaching Community about the training. And the more I looked at the content that your course provided the more I was convinced I’d signed up with the wrong one.
It includes things on positive Psychology and Neuroscience, but also the practical business element side because it's not great learning to be a fantastic coach, if you don't actually know how to market yourself and then run and sustain a business.
Then I was hooked. I cancelled the other training and hopped on board with you for the October cohort.”
What's your experience been like so far in the program?
“Fantastic right from the start, right from that sort of first initial contact. It's been exciting getting books through the post, and those books have quite literally changed my life. They are at the top of my reading list now.
And then the course content is really thorough. The trainers are just great people, and they're all there to help.
One of the things that I really love the most is how much coaching practice we do as part of the training. Then we are ready to take that out into real life and it doesn't feel scary. It doesn't feel daunting. It just feels natural because we're practising so much of it through the sessions which I think is really important.
We go into these Triad groups and we formed such lovely relationships across those groups that it's really nice.
I should probably mention how amazing everyone that's in the cohort is. It's nice to go and see them every week and to watch people progress.
It’s also really nice having that blend of people at different levels.”
What about the mentoring sessions?
“Oh my goodness. How could I not mention my mentor? I have Lucy Power and oh my goodness! I feel so lucky to have Lucy as my mentor because she's just an incredible woman. When you look at her bio and her career it’s inspirational, it really is and when you spend time in those mentoring sessions with her it unlocks so much.
It's fantastic.”
What's going on for you business-wise?
“So I have set up my business, which is coaching personal and professional development and I work with leaders right from future leaders into emerging leaders and also those semi-established leaders.
This has just been incredible for me. Because it gives me the skills, the knowledge, and the confidence I need. I've been on an incredible journey myself throughout this coach training that I think if I wasn't on, I wouldn't be able to serve my clients anywhere near as well as I do which is really powerful, really great.”
What would you say to somebody he was thinking to sign up for February?
“Let's start with whether I sign up with Ruth or do I sign it with someone else? Do your research and I will be shocked if your research throws up something that looks better than Ruth’s course because I did a lot of research!”
So in terms of should I be trained or should I not be trained?
“It's something that I actually feel quite strongly about. Now before signing up with you (because I was thinking about moving to coaching), I'd probably read a good six to eight books about coaching but it's still nothing like the training and also the training allows you to become accredited.
It allows you to become insured which is really really important. It helps to elevate the status of the industry. We've invested the time and the money in ourselves in preparing ourselves better and to be able to serve our clients properly.
I would just say go for it. Honestly, you won't regret it. It's such a diverse curriculum. It's a really supportive environment. You can get access to the coaching Hub as well, which is full of incredible resources to make use of. You know, that in itself is invaluable.
So Go for it. What have you got to lose?”
“As a dating coach I wasn’t sure if an ICF accredited training would be useful for my clients, nor did I understand what it would involve. If I’m honest, I was afraid that the course would be a wasted investment, that it would take over my life and that it might even be boring!I was already working as a dating coach for an award-winning matchmaking company and had trained elsewhere, yet my background left me wondering whether I was in a position to best serve my well-educated clients. I didn’t want to be an average coach; I wanted to be excellent. I craved more evidence-based techniques and approaches to add to my business, but I was struggling to figure out what route to take.After mulling it over for weeks, speaking to students who were already on the course, and lightly ‘observing’ Ruth Kudzi on social media, I decided to speak with her directly. Having discussed my fears I was still sitting on the fence. She gently joked that I was a dating coach struggling to commit. Ruth was right. Unwilling to let my risk-averse nature get the better of me, I signed up immediately.Training with Optimus was a brilliant investment. For myself, my clients, and for my relationship too. I’m no longer anxious about needing to have all the answers and it’s enhanced my self-awareness and professionalism. I’ve seamlessly incorporated my new skills with my clients and the feedback has been staggering.”