I am a wife, and mom of two. I am also a woman of colour born into a time where your value and worth was determined by the colour of your skin, but I had the privilege of having been taught by teachers who did not stick to curriculum prescribed in my “gutter” education, and their investment ignited in me curiosity and a love for learning. I entered the University of Cape Town (UCT), as South Africa was on the cusp of democracy, and where opportunities for people of colour were no longer limited. I graduated in 1996, with a Psychology and Law Degree. I knew I wanted to help people, but I no longer believed that law was the vehicle to do so. And for the next few years, it felt as if I was bouncing from one career to another, in my pursuit of answers to the question “Why am I here?”

My purpose became clearer with each step I took out of my comfort zone, and sometimes with the risks I took, motivated by the underlying conviction that there has to be more to my life than a career. With each step I took into the “unknown”, my purpose came into the light as. I followed the clues that have always been lurking in the shadows - my dissatisfaction with the status quo of inequality and unfairness and human suffering as a result of injustice. A dissatisfaction that resided within me, due to the fact that things weren’t as they should be.

I am a career and leadership coach with a deep passion for wisdom and helping leaders across the globe find clarity by uncovering the stories they’ve built about themselves. It fills me with fulfillment to guide others in recognizing and reshaping these narratives, as I watch them move from a place of struggle to one of increased clarity, confidence, and transformative change that brings more inner peace to their lives.

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to achieve many milestones—leading impactful large-scale communication projects, advancing in various organizations, and building a successful private international coaching practice. But what truly matters to me is the inner journey I’ve embarked on, confronting and taming my own inner struggles, allowing me to become a kinder individual with greater mental freedom. My journey inward has been crucial in shaping who I am today and how I approach my work.

Hi - I'm Amy. I'm a therapist and writer. But mostly, I'm a human learning to slow down and sink into a gentler existence. For as long as I can remember, I've rushed. I've moved through the world at a pace, figuratively and literally, that didn't allow me to be truly present with anything. My mom would, and often still does, remind me, "Slow down, Amy."

I can now hold this part of myself a little more tenderly; I was outrunning discomfort, anxiety, fear of the unknown, and emotions that I never quite had the words to name. How human of me. One of my favorite artists has a print that says, "We've been having feelings for years - they are perfectly safe." Cultivating safety within ourselves is a practice. And the intention is not to perfect the practice, but simply to exist within it.

I'm Alfreda, a coach, educator, proud Pittsburgher living in Baltimore, gardener, poet, and life-long learner with a passion for helping leaders thrive as whole human beings.

Throughout my career, I've been a high-achiever and made many pivots to accelerate my career. I started my in IT then moved into IT project management, then organizational change, and eventually management consulting.

Eventually, I saw the toll that constant striving can take. A serious illness was the wake-up call that I needed to prioritize self-care and find a more sustainable way of being. This prompted an inner journey of personal growth and transformation.

I'm a mother, coach, facilitator, and teacher who is passionate about supporting people reconnecting to the fullness and wholeness of their hearts.

From a young age, I've cared deeply about the thoughts, emotions, and experiences of others around me- be it a close friend, the bus driver, or even fictional characters in films and books.

This often led to me being the mini "therapist" of my friend group, often up until 2 am on high school nights talking with my friends about the pains in their lives. I think some part of me always knew I was meant to work with people.

My life story is about youthful promise, unfulfilled potential, temporary success, catastrophic illness, and spiritual awakening.

A sudden heart attack and rare lung complication led to a hopeless summer clinging to life in the ICU. In the end, I went on a faith journey that led to a remarkable recovery and long-lasting redemption.