Maria Chulkstan is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her experience and vast array of techniques under her belt. But most of all, we were struck by her strong passion and belief in what she is doing. Her approach is aimed at individuals, groups and teams. She is a certified coach but she is also collaborating with Ignite Global to help those who want to become a coach get certified. She helps people find out who they really are, what they really want out of life, and how to get rid of the limiting beliefs that are holding them back. Here is what she said.

Meet Life Coach Maria Chulkstan:

Name: Maria Chulkstan
Pillar: The Spirit
Who is this coach for: Anyone who wants to discover who they really are, what they really want out of life, and how to become a positive change agents in their teams, communities, and families.
How they can help: By using various techniques like emotional hygiene instruments, CBT (ABCD model), DiSC assessments, systemic coaching, but most of all it’s about the connection se establishes.

First of all, how are you and your family doing in these Pandemic times?

Because I live abroad, away from my family, I have not seen them for the last 3 years. 2020 made me realize how much I love them and care about them.

How does the coronavirus pandemic affect your clients? Did it affect you at all?

If before the pandemic my clients brought about the topics of achievement, since the pandemic started, they has shifted towards the introspection and self discovery.

Just like my clients, I took 2020 as an opportunity to explore and rediscover myself.

What are the biggest lessons that you learned in this pandemic?

That all people have their own story, their own pain and challenges. Therefore, our assumptions about the reasons for people’s words and behavior will only remain assumptions.

No one can 100% understand what you are going through because nobody is YOU, just like you can never totally understand what others are experiencing.

This understanding can remove a huge burden from your shoulders. You do not have to understand someone completely and, on the other hand, you cannot expect others to guess what is happening in your life.

Another realization was how we lose ourselves in this age of technology and instant gratification.

Because many things these days are easily available, we don’t have patience to wait for something we want. We want it here and now.

When we don’t get what we want, we get easily frustrated and often angry. We are either anxious about the future or regretful about the past, not being able to enjoy the present moment.

The Origin:

Tell us about you, your career, how you started with your coaching career?

I am an educator, a learning and development professional, and a manager with more than 14 years of experience. Coaching is a natural expansion of my skills. I do believe that knowledge is power, but coaching is a superpower. It takes working with people to a new level.

I got certified as a professional coach out of sheer curiosity and never regretted it. Now I not only coach individuals, teams and groups, but also collaborate with Ignite Global, a worldwide ICF Coaching Training Provider, to deliver a boutique Professional Coaching Mastery Certification to those who want to become a professional coach and ignite positive change in the world.

I do believe that coaches make this world a better place, one person, one leader and one workplace at a time. I am passionate about interpersonal relationships, diversity, inclusion, equity, belonging and wellbeing in the workplace.

I help leaders to become positive change agents in their teams, organizations and communities and organizations to retain the best talents.

What was your biggest obstacle that you had to overcome in your life that made you who you are today?

The biggest challenge in my life was to start trusting myself no matter what people around me (including my family, friends, the society and the world) think and say.

Believing my inner voice against all odds and standing my ground was hard because I had to say goodbye not only to my old beliefs, but also to some people in my life.

The Coaching Style:

How do you innovate with coaching your clients?

During every coaching conversation, I cocreate with my clients, I challenge them, I help them unleash their authenticity.

What’s unique about your coaching approach?

Even though, in general, my coaching approach is aligned with the ICF (International Coaching Federation) standards, every session is tailor made based on the client’s needs and wants.

What benefits do your clients get after working with you?

It is my mission to help my clients discover who they really are, what they really want in life, and what they are truly capable of achieving.

With my assistance, they detect and bust their limiting beliefs and road blocks that keep them stuck and unable to make important decisions.

Do you use any specific tools to be efficient with your clients?

My toolbox includes emotional hygiene instruments, CBT (ABCD model), DiSC assessments, systemic coaching etc.

Above all, it is not about the techniques, but connection, safe and nonjudgmental space I hold for my clients.

The Impact:

If you had a super megaphone that, when you speak into, the whole world will hear your message, what would you say?

“You are worthy. You are loved. You are unique.”

What is the greatest lesson you have learned in your life?

That every challenge gives us a chance to learn something and improve our life and the life of others.

If you take it as a lesson, failure can teach you what you lack at the moment to achieve what you want. It doesn’t mean that you will never get it.

Your final thoughts?

It is never too late to change your direction no matter if it is a slight or a radical change.

It takes courage to get out of your comfort zone, to swim against the current and to challenge your reality.

After all, whether you do something or not, it is your conscious choice.

Where Can You Find Maria Chulkstan?

If you liked this interview and you would love to find out what you really want out of life, what your true potential as a positive change agent is, then go to https://heart-core-coaching.com/ to see how Maria can help you.

There you will find everything you need to know and you’ll discover what next steps you should take. It was an honor having this interview with her.