With over 35 years experience in organisation development, Sandra is a dedicated researcher of human behaviour both at an individual and systemic level. She defines her work as helping people get out of their own way, passionately believing in the untapped potential and limitless resources within every individual. Her mission is to support people in living richer, more fulfulling lives – both professionally and personally. Sandra works internationally as a consultant, teacher, coach, mentor and supervisor advocating for rigourouse development processes without rigid formulas.
Sandra Wilson, Business Coach, Mentor and Consultant
What inspired you to start Insightful Journey and how did these ideas evolve?
The simple answer to this question is that clients were showing me they needed something different from goal-focused coaching. I noticed the change in needs emerging at the onset of the pandemic. In March 2020, our professional and personal lives were transformed. The sudden shift to remote work forced us to rapidly adapt new ways of organizing the work environment, reshaping practices, and rethinking principles. The changes were immediate and profound. As the network society became an integral part of organisational life, the once-clear boundaries between home and work dissolved. Our homes turned into workplaces overnight, fundamentally altering how we functioned, both professionally and personally.
Lockdown imposed significant constraints on choice, freedom, identity, contact, and relationships. It also, consciously and unconsciously, reshaped expectations of leaders. As organisations are social systems, their culture is co-created by members through shared experiences and social interaction. We construct knowledge, develop beliefs, and shape reality through these exchanges. Day-to-day discussions and dialogues continuously reshape relationships in a fluid, dynamic way.
Human beings are inherently relational; we thrive on contact and connection, especially in environments that encourage discussion and meaningful dialogue. While interactive technology has kept us connected, we must ask: how does the virtual nature of work affect relationships, the psychological health, and emotional well-being of individuals within the social system? And how does this impact the overall health of the organization itself?
Adding to this is the rapid emergence of AI, which brings both challenges and opportunities. To thrive in this evolving landscape, leaders must leverage AI’s strengths, automating tasks, analysing data, and streamlining processes, while focusing their efforts on the human, emotional aspects of leadership. This shift calls for the development of three key intelligences: emotional, social, and adaptive. Ultimately, this is a journey of self-discovery, where leaders must grow not only in knowledge but in their capacity to understand and lead others through change.
At Insightful Journey, I take a holistic approach, integrating mindfulness with emotional, social and relational intelligence to create practical strategies for sustainable change and growth. I bring expertise and empathy to every interaction, cocreating a relationship with the client which supports them to grow and thrive.
What makes your approach to coaching and mentoring unique compared to others?
As a personal consultant, I offer a unique, holistic approach that blends psychodynamic principles with coaching and mentoring. I believe that every individual has untapped resources and limitless potential, often held back by unconscious patterns and beliefs. I help people get out of their own way, focussing on deepening self-awareness, self-regulation and transformation.
My work is rooted in psychodynamic theory, which delves into the power and influence of the unconscious mind. Many of our behaviours, decisions, and emotional responses are shaped by unconscious processes. These hidden aspects of the mind can hold us back from living fully and achieving our potential. I work in partnership with clients explore how these influences impact their lives, uncovering patterns, inner conflicts, and unresolved emotions that might be limiting their success.
My approach offers more than surface-level solutions. It allows the client to dig deep, tapping into the unconscious motivations that drive behaviour. I work with clients to move beyond surfacing limiting beliefs, helping the understand how these were formed, how they manifest behaviourally and how they help or hinder effectiveness. This approach helps create the conditions for lasting change, supporting the client to move forward with greater clarity, purpose, and confidence.
I provide a safe and protected space for clients to explore their identity as it manifests in their conscious and unconscious behaviours. My motivation for the work I do is help people live richer, fuller lives.
If you could change one thing about the industry you are part of, what would it be and why?
I think coaching industry is in urgent need of reform, starting with regulation. One of the key issues is the overwhelming number of titles coaches assign themselves: divorce coach, executive coach, life coach, resilience coach, the list goes on. What do these labels even mean? The lack of clarity confuses clients and undermines the credibility of the profession.
Even more concerning is the fact that many people call themselves coaches without proper training or qualifications. This lack of standardisation and accountability opens the door to unqualified individuals practicing with little oversight. We should take a lesson from psychotherapy, where rigorous training, accreditation, and regulation are non-negotiable. The coaching profession needs similar standards to protect clients and uphold the integrity of the field.
Another issue is the pervasive hubris within the coaching world. Too often, there is more emphasis on personal branding and income than on client outcomes and genuine transformation. Coaching should be focused on the client's growth and development, not the coach's financial success.
For the coaching industry to evolve and be taken seriously, it must prioritise regulation, professional standards, and client-centered outcomes over profit and prestige.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
There wasn’t a single defining moment in my life; rather, it was a series of key experiences and encounters that shaped my path. In my early twenties, I had a remarkable boss, one of only two people in my professional journey who truly believed in me. He stretched me in ways that were both nurturing and challenging, sometimes using provocative methods to push me beyond my comfort zone. Through his guidance, I began to develop self-belief and confidence.
The second pivotal figure was a Director of Human Resources who took a gentler approach. He encouraged me to embrace my natural skills and talents, telling me, “You don’t have to prove to me that you’re good. I already know. What you need is to accept it and stop fighting yourself.” That moment stayed with me, it was the first time someone helped me see that my self-doubt was holding me back.
Growing up, university wasn’t something kids from my background typically aspired to. My career adviser even told me to take any job I was offered, suggesting that in a few years, I’d likely be at home raising children. Unconsciously, I think the rebellious part of me set out to prove her wrong. My real learning journey began when I left school and took control of my education, refusing to accept the limited expectations others had for me.
While various educational programs contributed to my professional development, the most transformative experience has been the long and challenging path to becoming a Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (Organisational). That journey has shaped not only my career but also the person I’ve become and it continues to fuel my growth and development today.
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