Hi, I'm Amanda.
Founder of The Courage Factory, entrepreneur, leadership coach, and eternal optimist dedicated to helping you unlock the courage you need to make your impact in the world.
How I Work
I work with individuals and organizations virtually or face-to-face
Leadership Coaching
Empower highly ambitious individuals to unlock their potential and activate their courage.
Leadership Development
Foster the development of skills and tools leaders need to reach their next level of leadership
Facilitation
Design and facilitate workshops and learning programs for teams and organizations
What Clients Are Saying
"Amanda has a knack for asking really powerful questions that lead you to your own solutions. What I’ve found from my time with Amanda is, she helps me see that I already know the answer to some of my biggest challenges. She guides me to my own solutions by holding space for me and asking questions that help me see things from a different perspective. She gets me out of my own head. She’s gifted at what she does. Five stars” Entrepreneur and Brand Coach, 20's
"Coaching with Amanda was a blast. I had not expected to get so much value out of only one session. Amanda's structured and very professional style, her smart way of asking just the right questions and seeing connections where I myself was blocked, helped me tons. I would always recommend it!" Entrepreneur and Consultant, 30's
"Amanda is an inspiring coach to work with. She provides a safe and supportive environment, and I trust her fully. I had been carrying some guilt around for a while, which blocked moving forwards. We spent time working on this and through her coaching, I could go much deeper. Felt a lightness and clarity after our sessions. Her coaching is a powerful experience. Business Owner, 30s
"Amanda came into my life as a breath of fresh air. Full of positive energy and indestructible faith in her own and my abilities. After a long time in a company of bullies and toxic working environments, she helped me remember and re-discover my true self. Amanda is very professional, genuine, insightful and empathetic. She "walks the talk" and makes working with her fun! If you are looking for inspiration, energy boost and/or to reorganize your thoughts and goals - the Courage Factory is what you need. Amanda will pour all she has (and some more) into you and you will come out on the other end feeling empowered, secure and overflowing with excitement for what the future holds!" Project Manager, 30's
"Your coaching style is very powerful - pushing me and pushing me. I didn't even know what coaching was and you pushed me to come up with answers on my own. So powerful" Senior Executive, 60's
“Amanda Parker offers a toolbox of skills that help identify and unblock self-limiting set of beliefs. Her natural curiosity, her engaging warmth and her abundant enthusiasm make her a great coach to work with. Amanda is mindful of time and diligent with commitment. I would highly recommend her as a coach.” Screenwriter, 30s
Professional Experience
MayCoach & Company
Director Product Design & Global Business Development
Designed and facilitated leadership development learning journeys, cultural transformation initiatives, and skills training programs for international and multi-lateral organizations. Sought out growth and business development opportunities with new clients.
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Latest Engagements
Amanda has engaged with a wide range of leading organizations globally, including:
Ride Berlin
Founder and Brand Vision & Values
World Bank Group
Female Leadership Development
IE Business School - Singapore
Leading Virtual Teams Masterclass
Deutsche Telekom
Leadership in Digital Transformation
WWF International
Growth & Fundraising Strategy Program
Nokia
Innovation & Behavioral Change
World Economic Forum
Team Cohesion & Collaboration
Deutsche Telekom
Improved Leadership Skills & Culture
Zalando
Coaching Skills for Leaders
WWF Germany
Organizational Development
UNICEF
Culture Change & Empowerment
Coaching Clients
Personal, leadership, and executive coaching
Dojo Bali
Coaching Skills for Leaders
About Me
I started my career as a project manager in advertising - working on financial services and pharmaceutical clients. I loved my colleagues, and I loved the excitement of living a fresh-out-of-college life in NYC, but I kept finding a lack of connection to my work. Throughout my NYC years, I tried to engage with my passions through company initiatives, volunteering, donating, but I knew deep down that I wasn't living my purpose and felt immensely unsatisfied each and every day. So I chose to leave behind a stable career and chase my dreams to work with and protect animals - a lifelong passion of mine.
I applied to every organization I could think of, research, or cajole a discussion with. And while I had some interviews, I kept hitting the same roadblock, "You have no experience." I was disappointed, but not deterred - so instead of applying for full-time jobs, I started looking for long-term volunteering. The opportunity to volunteer with WWF Paraguay came along at just the right moment, and I didn't think twice before accepting. Finally, an opportunity to merge my Latin American Studies degree and my undying passion for animals and nature. In June 2010, I boarded a flight which would ultimately change the course of my life.
After six months in Paraguay, I was offered the chance to move with WWF to Berlin to manage conservation projects in South America. Again, I followed the doors as they opened to lead the way to my future. While I still felt nervous at all the changes and moving around, I knew in my heart that I was coming closer and closer to my core values and purpose.
My time at WWF was spent in project management and fundraising, until I had the opportunity to lead a training program to support local offices to improve their fundraising skills. I jumped at the chance to learn as much as I could about what the most dire needs were, and to build a program tailored to fill this gap. The first day I stood in front of the room in Asuncion, Paraguay I was so nervous I could feel my stomach threatening to digest its neighboring organs. But the moment I began to speak, I felt an exhilarating rush wash through me, and the thrill of being in front of the room to support others in their development took hold.
It is from this place that I decided to take my career in a different direction. I moved slowly, but surely, away from Project Management and into Organizational Development - always coming closer to the goal of supporting others in their growth and development. I continued to build the fundraising program while starting an Executive MBA with IE Business School in Madrid. It was at the same time that I began an In-House Coach accreditation through WWF International, and also received a fellowship with The Coaching Fellowship to receive professional coaching to support my own impact in the world.
I was hooked - on learning, on development, on growth, on coaching, on finding my purpose, on living my values, and on striving to open the eyes of everyone around me to the value of coaching and continued development. I knew I needed to spread my wings well beyond my comfort zone and used my studies as a launchpad to a career in Leadership Development.
For the last year, I worked as the Director of Product Design in a leadership development consultancy in Berlin. Through in-depth analysis of clients' needs, I designed learning programs, team workshops, and various other interventions to support growth, development, and leadership in our clients. I then had the privilege to facilitate many of these programs alongside some of the industry's best leadership development professionals and coaches. The role provided me the opportunity to dive head-on into a field I truly love and to learn the ins and outs of the industry, all while creating value for our clients.
My experience in instructional design, facilitation, and managing client relationships has now lead me to the next phase of my life as an entrepreneur. My passion for learning and personal development, and the fulfillment I get from supporting others to find their own life path and sense of fulfillment, has lead me to found The Courage Factory. The Courage Factory offers unique solutions to empower leaders and teams, through coaching, leadership development, and facilitation.
Today you can find me in Berlin where I am working hard to take The Courage Factory to the next level.
© 2016