Testimonials

"I started working with Abby as my coach in March 2024 as part of a women’s leadership development program. Initially, I didn’t know what I needed to be coached on. Abby asked provocative questions, making me dig deep within, which was, at times uncomfortable. With her help, I realized that some of my feelings about myself and my behaviors weren’t a direct reflection of me in the workplace, but also a reflection of my experiences growing up. Those “ah-ha” moments sometimes brought about laughter and other times made me realize I was carrying baggage that I needed to let go of. Much of what she helped me realize is that I struggle with asking others for help/support. In addition, Abby helped me work through a few work related issues. There was one urgent request I made for a conversation and she made herself available. Whether my issues were about how I wanted to show up, or if the issues touched on racism or sexism, Abby guided me to figure out how or if I wanted to respond. From there we talked through the dialogue that would occur. She always gave me reading material related to a particular topic we were discussing, not for follow-up, but for reference or reflection. As my initial sessions came to an end, I realized I needed more time with her and was approved for additional sessions to work on flushing out my “Core Commitments” and what that looks like. I appreciate Abby’s “warm and easy” demeanor. She is thoughtful and insightful and really encouraged me to continue being myself and to know that it is okay for me to ask for help or support."

"I had the privilege of working with Abby in a previous role a few years ago. Finding myself in a new role, and in a new country with a recently diagnosed autoimmune disease, I was looking for someone to help me answer questions that I was struggling to even formulate, let alone answer. Abby’s name came up repeatedly, and for good reason. What stands out about my coaching experience is that Abby has a remarkable ability to dig deep, ask questions where you wonder where it’s going until it hits you, and to uncover what’s really going on instead of what you think is going on. Her technique is highly personal, gentle but unafraid, and unrelenting in focus. It’s not too much to say that Abby fundamentally changed the way I relate to myself, the way I answer questions that are important to me, the way I think about work-life balance, and the way I imagine change to now be rooted in radical incrementalism. I’ve learned practices that I will carry with me into other spaces in my life. It’s why I recommend Abby without hesitation."

"My experience working with Abby far exceeded my expectations. I came into our first session thinking I was at a crossroads in my professional career where I needed to choose a path where each seemed like a one-way door. Abby dug so much deeper and really made me discover that this was in actuality internal conflicts of the different parts of myself trying to speak up. Our conversations have really inspired me to think bigger, and to approach how I see my professional and personal self with more curiosity and openness rather than risk aversion and building safety nets. Abby was able to do this without overtly telling me but thru probing with a lot of great questions that made me think hard about myself. She’s really built up my muscles of self-reflection and mindfulness and has made me much more inspired and accountable. Our dialogues have been been so productive because starting from day 1, she’s cultivated a very safe and warm environment where I’ve immediately felt comfortable to open up in ways I never really had to anyone. This really highlights her expertise as a professional coach and incredible listener. I’m so grateful for this experience and hands down highly recommend Abby!"

"I had the pleasure of working with Abby through a women’s leadership program offered by my employer. She is an exceptional professional coach who transformed my approach to navigating difficult situations within my team. Her techniques for grounding and staying centered were incredibly effective, and her calming energy made it easy to relate to her and think clearly. I initially sought her guidance with a few specific goals in mind, but her insightful coaching helped me uncover and address several underlying issues that were affecting my team’s performance. I am grateful for her support and highly recommend her to anyone seeking to improve their professional and personal well-being."

"My sessions with Abby came at a juncture in my life and career. I wasn't exactly sure what I was searching for but the sessions I had with Abby provided me with a safe space to reflect on where I was and the types of questions I should be asking myself to help me move forward in my career and personal life. Her approach is relaxed but provides a framework to reflect on where you are, who you are and where you want to go. She helped me flip the meaning of words and concepts on their head, challenged me where I needed to be challenged and encouraged me where I had self-doubt. By the end of our sessions, I was sad to walk away from someone who had given me so much. A lasting impact indeed."

"I have had the pleasure of working closely with Abby as part of a Women’s Leadership Development Program offered by Chevron. Abby has a wealth of experience. She is dedicated and inspired me to bring my best-self every time we met. She started me on the practice of positioning and centering before the beginning of each session which turned out be a very valuable technique. I have gone on to explore the technique further and have incorporated it into my daily routine. One of Abby’s qualities is the ability to create a supportive environment. This enabled me to open-up and overcome personal and work challenges, and to develop effective strategies for growth. She demonstrated empathy, patience, and understanding throughout the process. As a result of the coaching sessions, I am calmer and more balanced. She has brought about a transformative impact on my life. I would highly recommend Abby as a coach to anyone looking to improve themselves in a positive way."

"Working with Abby for six months was a transformative experience for both me and my business. Starting my business solo and then growing a team presented new challenges that I wasn't fully prepared for. Abby’s coaching was the support I needed to become a better leader. Through our sessions, I discovered a lot about myself, identifying both my strengths and areas for improvement. Abby has a wonderful ability to highlight these insights positively, turning every challenge into an opportunity for growth. Her positivity is infectious, but it’s her knack for digging into the core issues and providing fresh perspectives that truly set her apart. I always felt well supported, even when she was challenging me! I am incredibly grateful for Abby’s guidance and would highly recommend her to anyone looking to enhance their leadership."

"I was fortunate to have the opportunity for 1:1 coaching through a company leadership program designed specifically for women.  I have worked with personal coaches before from companies like Korn Ferry and BetterUp. All of the coaches brought value and helped me put action plans in place to progress my goals.  Due to an unfortunate illness, I met Abby at a time when I was really doubting whether I would be able to attain my career goals.  I had gone from being at the top of my game with 30 years’ experience to not knowing if I was going to be able to continue my job. I had worked hard over the previous year to get back physically.  When it came time to select a coach, I picked Abby because of her background in mental health.  I knew I had focused all of my efforts on physical recovery, but in order to keep making progress I would have to find new ways of working.  Abby listened to my challenges and helped me design my path forward.  I enjoyed our time together because I knew it would be a time of discovery.  Abby suggested metaphors that were personal to my experiences which really helped me better understand what I needed to do.  She also promoted “gentle curiosity” which allowed me to continue to search for solutions while being gentle on myself by not dwelling on it too much.  This was a better approach for my personality than the other well intended support I’d been given to “not think about it”.  I appreciate Abby’s approach and kind heart.  She takes genuine interest in her clients and helps them navigate their own journey while giving enough rudder support for continuous progress.  I have already seen improvements at work and at home by implementing the new ways of being that we designed together.  It feels great to bounce forward!"

"I have never had an experience of executive coaching prior to this and didn't know what to expect. Abby was so wonderful that I now cannot imagine not going through this experience as a new manager. Abby was incredibly thoughtful in how she approached our sessions and consistently helped me to frame my experiences in a way that made sense and helped me to grow. Being able to not only talk through the challenges I was facing professionally, but also personally, and how that all encompasses how you show up was something that flipped a switch for me in how I view a lot of things. I honestly encourage anyone who is looking for help in taking their career by their hands to grab this opportunity."

"Abby took the time to understand me as a person, and made me feel seen and heard. She managed to build a trusting relationship with me quickly, even though our sessions took place on Zoom, on opposite ends of the world. Abby helped decipher my challenges, thoughts and feelings into actionable developmental objectives, and gently guided me and held me accountable through my coaching journey, by listening intently and asking challenging questions. Abby is positive, optimistic and helped shift my perspective on many things we discussed. Many months on, I regularly refer back to my coaching notes and think about the conversations we had when facing professional and personal situations. She undoubtedly left a lasting impression on my life and career!"

"I started my journey with Abby quite soon after taking on a new leadership role. Abby was nothing but warm and encouraging, creating a safe place to share comfortably and openly. Through the process, my thinking was challenged and I was able to see my leadership style through a new lens.  Abby created clarity through uncertainty and equipped me with practical tools to assist me in furthering my growth not only as a leader but my life holistically."

 

"The six sessions I spent with Abby were some of the most valuable and rewarding hours I’ve spent investing in myself and my career. Abby had a wonderful way of drilling down to the core of even the most poorly articulated reflections and succinctly offering back to me insights about myself and my way of being in the world that I had tried and failed to express or understand. Armed with this knowledge, I was able to understand why I was facing certain challenges and how I could work to overcome them. Abby provided me with a perfectly tailored coaching program that held me accountable and ensured I put into practice the tools and techniques for improvement we had discussed in our sessions."

 

"Working with Abby has been an exceptionally enjoyable, challenging and valuable experience. We covered important and pivotal aspects of my career and personal development, and I found her approach perfectly balanced the dynamics of support, guidance, challenge and wisdom. I recommend working with her to anyone looking for holistic professional development and I hope to work with her again in the future." 

“Abby got involved with our organisation in 2016 when we started working on our first leadership development programme. As a startup, we often looked to partner with strong external experts to help us develop our business into the successful online education provider it is today. We looked to bring excellence through enabling real people connections instead of following stock standard approaches when it came to investing in our most valuable asset, our people. And Abby helped in exactly doing that. Identifying skills people already possessed but needed to work with a coach to understand how to unearth and apply them whether in their professional or personal lives. In 2020, a particularly difficult year for everyone across the globe as we faced the beginning of the global coronavirus pandemic, Abby coached me personally. I have had executive coaching before, but Abby's approach is very different to what I have experienced before. She doesn't shy away from the harder conversations – things that may be blocking you from understanding your blind spots and how to manage them better. Abby was a source of consistent support throughout 2020, a clear sounding board and a trusted partner in navigating complex relational issues within the workplace and outside of the workplace. I will always appreciate the time I had with Abby and I will highly recommend her as an executive coach."

"My relationship with Abby developed as part of a Leadership Program sponsored by my company.  I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from virtual coaching, but I can attest that Abby has an incredibly inclusive presence that helped me to quickly feel comfortable sharing.  She is very adaptive to individuals and provided the opportunity for structure in the sessions, which I greatly appreciated as it helped me to prepare for the conversations and to ensure we were touching on the topics that I felt were critical.  Abby has a distinct ability to reflect your persona in a non-threatening way – through her observations and engagement. I was able to identify those parts of my leadership presence that I felt served me well and other parts that I wanted to adjust.  She helped me to gain insights and set realistic goals for shifting my approach as well as identifying simple practices to help me build better leadership habits. Abby was able to create and cultivate an open and honest environment where we found plenty of time for laughter, even while exploring some very introspective challenges.  I am excited to continue my coaching relationship with Abby, and I would absolutely recommend her as a professional coach."

 

“When Jon Stewart paid tribute to Bruce Springsteen at the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors he concluded with the following words: “But that is not the power of Bruce Springsteen. It is that whenever I see Bruce Springsteen do anything, he empties the tank, every time.” I fell in love with Springsteen when I was a student and I have lived by the “empty the tank” mantra ever since. It’s rewarding but exhausting. Every now and then the tank runs dry. For years I managed to find fuel on my own. And then, out of nowhere, the ability to refuel independently disappeared. I hesitantly started looking for help and after thorough research, I found Abby. Abby met me where I was. In the middle of the desert, looking for a road out. From the outset, she provided a unique perspective. There’s many roads out, but the one I choose needs to have filling stations along the route. Abby helped me find that route and filled my tank with new insight, perspective and philosophy. I have never met anyone like Abby. She is an oasis in the middle of the dessert. Her approach is professional beyond the norm. She is well read and has the ability to challenge conventional and unconventional wisdom in a robust and respectful manner. She is a coaching Rockstar and the E-Street band behind many Springsteens’. If you are looking to journey with someone that knows how to read a map, Abby Malan may be just the person for you."

“I've worked with Abby in a one on one, team and leadership program capacity. In every instance I have felt supported, challenged and encouraged. Abby has the ability to 'hold up a mirror' in a unique and inclusive way. Her approach is intentional and patient, ensuring every person in the room (whether face to face or virtual) feels included without feeling pressured. I have benefited greatly, both personally and professionally, from the time I have spent with Abby and would highly recommend her consultancy!"

“I was fortunate enough to have a Three-Part Coaching Conversation with Abby in the past few months. Three sessions isn't a lot and in some cases it would take you at least three sessions to build rapport, especially over Zoom. However, Abby has this unique ability to make you feel comfortable and safe. Abby has a warm and inviting presence that encourages you to open up and dig into what you want to work on. I often struggle to open up to people so it was testament to Abby and her abilities that I was able to be open and honest from the first session. Abby provided a space to listen and question which resulted in wonderful practical tools for me to take away into my professional and personal life. I am grateful for the sessions we had together and I know that this won't be the end to our journey. I am looking forward to continuing growing & stretching myself in Abby's presence."