Entering the coaching profession in Sept 2024 was both an act of courage and uncertainty for me. Coming from a marginalized village in Kenya, coaching was a relatively new concept, unfamiliar in both language and practice. I began this journey as a student under the supervision of Dr. Tunde, carrying not only curiosity and hope, but also significant personal and contextual challenges.

Throughout the year, I navigated complex realities, ongoing health concerns that affected my mental and emotional wellbeing, professional pressures, and the weight of responsibilities within my environment. There were moments when I questioned my capacity to hold space for others while I was still learning to hold myself. I often wondered how I would manage the demands of training, practice, and life unfolding around me.  

Supervision became a critical ethical anchor for me. Through the consistent guidance and presence of Dr Tunde, I experienced supervision not as correction, but as a reflective, supportive and developmental partnership, fully aligned with the ICF Code of Ethics. I learned the importance of self-awareness, recognizing when my personal experiences could influence my coaching presence, and taking responsibility to manage these through reflection, supervision and self-care.

As the year progressed, my worldview began to shift. Coaching training, coupled with ethical supervision, opened my mind to new ways of seeing people, problems and possibilities. I learned to listen beyond words, to remain curious rather than judgmental, and to trust the client’s resourcefulness (principles that mirror the ICF Core competencies). Most importantly, I learned that ethical coaching begins with the coach’s inner work.

Supervision helped me normalize vulnerability without allowing it to interfere with professional boundaries. I became more intentional about confidentiality, cultural humility, and power-driven dynamics, particularly given my context and lived experiences. I learned to seek support early, honor my limits and uphold client welfare above all else, a central commitment o the ICF Code of Ethics.

By the end of 2025, I did not emerge without challenges, but I emerged transformed. I became a more grounded, reflective, and ethically conscious coach. I now appreciate that coaching is not about having answers, but about being present, accountable and aligned. My experience affirmed that with the right supervision, ethical guidance, and support, coaches from marginalized contexts can thrive, contribute meaningfully to the profession, and hold space with integrity.

This journey has strengthened my commitment to ethical practice, ongoing supervision, and lifelong learning, not only as professional requirements, but as acts of responsibility to my clients, my community and coaching profession.

By Salome Wasike

Kenya