Coach
Spotlight on… Roxanne
Howe-Murphy, Ed.D.
roxanne@lifewisecoaching.com
LifeWise
Learning Institute How
did you discover coaching?
I had been teaching at the university level for about 15 years
in an interdisciplinary area that has come to known as positive
psychology/wellness/applied philosophy and leadership. I decided
to leave full-time teaching because I felt a constant pull
to live my life "from the inside-out" and that meant
that some life changes were needed. As an independent, I starting
consulting and giving workshops on leadership, wellness, communications
and relationships, but they didn't really feel on track. I
was talking with a friend and colleague, and she said, "Roxanne,
why don't you become a coach? That's what you do anyway!"
I didn't know what coaching was, so I started exploring it,
and discovered that she was right—my basic approach to life
was very aligned with coaching philosophy and processes. I
realized that I naturally incorporated a coaching process
into my teaching, and I was already very familiar with life
and leadership issues. What
personal growth work did you do to help you become successful
as a coach?
I began consciously working on my self-growth long before
I became a coach. In the mid-80's, I went through a difficult
time, and that's when I started looking deeper inside. I worked with a wonderful Zen
teacher for some time, who helped me begin to take responsibility
for my path. I read constantly (some might say "ad nauseum"),
took retreats and classes with authentic teachers like Stephen
Levine, Ram Dass, Cheri Huber and others, and became involved
in spirituality in the workplace activities. But it was through the exploration
of the Enneagram that I experienced my greatest transformations.
And that continues to this day. I have been fortunate to be
involved in extensive study with two extraordinary teachers/authors/researchers
in the field, Don Riso and Russ Hudson. What
coach training have you had?
Because of my extensive background in working with people
one-on-one and in groups through my teaching (and previous
experience working in rehabilitation), I decided I wanted
to learn more business-oriented models,so I graduated from
Corporate Coach U. I became certified as a Speaking
Circle facilitator, and as a Riso-Hudson Enneagram teacher,
both of which have greatly influenced my coaching. Who
has coached you?
I've enjoyed extended formal coaching relationships with two
coaches: Jan Marie Dore coached me in building my business,
and Joel Rothaizer was instrumental in coaching me on important
personal dynamics. And, I'm fortunate to have a number of
phenomenal coaches in my personal/professional circle. We
often support one another through informal coaching. Do
you have a coaching specialty/niche?
I have 3 coaching niches: - Enneagram coaching
— I'm very fortunate to direct the Enneagram
Institute of the San Francisco Bay Area, which is an affiliate
of the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Institute
- Coaching and transformational
retreats for midlife women - Executive coaching,
primarily with leaders in nonprofit, and other mission-oriented
organizations - While I don't consider it
a formal niche, I frequently coach "coaches-in-training"
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