Coaching Testimonials
For over a decade I have empowered leaders from science to architecture to nonprofits to transform their leadership and lives.
"As a scientist, I have to admit that I came to coaching with a degree of skepticism. It seemed to me like something that wasn’t very scientific, more of a loosey-goosey feel-good kind of thing. However, Farhana blew that skepticism out of the water in our first session. She has a very deep intuition about people, to the point where she can diagnose your emotional state over the phone. At the same time, she’s had a lot of training in the scientific principles behind how our brains work, and what de-rails our “better angels”. It was this remarkable blend of intuition about people coupled with science-based techniques that allowed me to trust very quickly that she knew what she was doing. I loved how she explained things to me, like the brain science behind some of her exercises, and I always felt that what she was doing had a purpose (even if it felt uncomfortable or wasn’t clear at the time).
Through my coaching sessions, I definitely feel like I experienced a qualitative leap in my own leadership abilities. I felt a shift from being reactive / triggered in certain situations, to becoming more observant, curious and self-contained. I learned so much about my strengths, and feel a greater sense of confidence and autonomy. It’s hard to put into words, but I really feel like this has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I have a tremendous amount of gratitude and respect for Farhana, and I can’t speak highly enough of her coaching practice!"
- Susan G.
DrPH (Doctor of Public Health);
Project Specialist, Evidence-Based Practice
San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.
Through my coaching sessions, I definitely feel like I experienced a qualitative leap in my own leadership abilities. I felt a shift from being reactive / triggered in certain situations, to becoming more observant, curious and self-contained. I learned so much about my strengths, and feel a greater sense of confidence and autonomy. It’s hard to put into words, but I really feel like this has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I have a tremendous amount of gratitude and respect for Farhana, and I can’t speak highly enough of her coaching practice!"
- Susan G.
DrPH (Doctor of Public Health);
Project Specialist, Evidence-Based Practice
San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.
"I met Farhana while in the midst of a major career transition as I prepared to take on a position. My goals were to build confidence and hone my skills in managing relationships across many different personality styles. Farhana helped me to identify my strengths and behaviors as a leader and to gain insight into how my particular style is perceived by people with different personalities. This was perhaps the most helpful part of coaching, identifying my ‘comfort zone’ of managing people, and learning how to come out of this zone to meet the needs of different personalities, particularly the direct, forceful and results-oriented personalities of scientists.
As a result of coaching with Farhana, I feel more confident in my leadership, less reactive and able to communicate more effectively, even in contentious situations. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Farhana and looked forward to our bi-weekly sessions. Thanks to her support and guidance I feel prepared to take on the challenges of my new position. I would highly recommend Farhana to anyone who wants to discover their strengths, and become a confident and effective leader."
- Astrid Ruefli
PhD, Cell Biology, Cancer Immunology
Vice President Tumor Biology, Pfizer
California, U.S.A.
As a result of coaching with Farhana, I feel more confident in my leadership, less reactive and able to communicate more effectively, even in contentious situations. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Farhana and looked forward to our bi-weekly sessions. Thanks to her support and guidance I feel prepared to take on the challenges of my new position. I would highly recommend Farhana to anyone who wants to discover their strengths, and become a confident and effective leader."
- Astrid Ruefli
PhD, Cell Biology, Cancer Immunology
Vice President Tumor Biology, Pfizer
California, U.S.A.
"I had been struggling to find happiness in the ownership of my own architecture firm. What was once a dream had turned into a nightmare. I was overworked, overwhelmed and lost in the sense of not knowing what to do next to “create” a business. I had spent the past 5 years of business ownership being a “yes-man” and taking on any project that came my way. Whatever my clients wanted me to do, I did it. I also believed that I needed to decrease my fees to get work. I was miserable and realized that I placed work above my family and myself.
Coaching with Farhana has been extremely fulfilling. She took the time to get to know me and helped me develop in a way that best suited me. The coaching helped me find balance between my family and my career. It helped me be much happier and less stressed with all that running a firm brings. I now have purpose in being a leader. I understand my self-worth and the value of my experience and firm. I am no longer lost…. I have a direction that I want to take my firm and its associates.
I said to my wife recently that it’s unfortunate I’m halfway through my coaching program with Farhana and that I wanted to continue working with her indefinitely. Her immediate response was "I see what she’s done for you and your quality of life and she deserves 4 times what you pay her. You’ve completely changed and you’re happy. You keep going with her."
Farhana has helped to greatly improve the quality of my life! Thank you, Farhana. It truly is an honor to have been helped by you."
Michael Carney
AIA, NCARB, ALA
Principal and Founder
Studio Carney Architecture Inc.
Palatine, IL, U.S.A.
Coaching with Farhana has been extremely fulfilling. She took the time to get to know me and helped me develop in a way that best suited me. The coaching helped me find balance between my family and my career. It helped me be much happier and less stressed with all that running a firm brings. I now have purpose in being a leader. I understand my self-worth and the value of my experience and firm. I am no longer lost…. I have a direction that I want to take my firm and its associates.
I said to my wife recently that it’s unfortunate I’m halfway through my coaching program with Farhana and that I wanted to continue working with her indefinitely. Her immediate response was "I see what she’s done for you and your quality of life and she deserves 4 times what you pay her. You’ve completely changed and you’re happy. You keep going with her."
Farhana has helped to greatly improve the quality of my life! Thank you, Farhana. It truly is an honor to have been helped by you."
Michael Carney
AIA, NCARB, ALA
Principal and Founder
Studio Carney Architecture Inc.
Palatine, IL, U.S.A.
"I contacted Farhana at the beginning of a major career transition when I was feeling unsure of the way forward. My meetings with Farhana were like talking with a wise and experienced friend who really cared about me and the outcome of our conversations. She used exercises that helped me to realize and articulate the path that I was passionate about and, when I was uncomfortable, didn’t let me rationalize my way into an easier path. Farhana not only listens to your words, but she hears your intentions and helps you to articulate what is in your heart. As a result of our work together, I am now on my way to fulfilling a dream and feeling confident that this is the path that I was meant to follow.
Farhana is a talented coach and an inspiring individual."
- Kathleen Justice
California Licensed Architect
Principal, Local Studio Architecture
Mill Valley, CA, U.S.A.
Farhana is a talented coach and an inspiring individual."
- Kathleen Justice
California Licensed Architect
Principal, Local Studio Architecture
Mill Valley, CA, U.S.A.
"My experience with Farhana and Surf Life Executive Coaching was extremely positive. Farhana's temperament, strategic mind and use of neuroscience was very helpful in making decisions and creating a vision for myself and organization as a non-profit leader. Her ability to help divine what is important and what is not, and then set goals around those priorities was instrumental in my personal and organizational growth. I would recommend her services to anyone who is seeking to grow as an individual and as a leader. My only regret was not having enough time with her."
- Nik Strong-Cvetich
Executive Director, Save the Waves Coalition
Davenport, CA, U.S.A.
- Nik Strong-Cvetich
Executive Director, Save the Waves Coalition
Davenport, CA, U.S.A.
“I knew from our first introductory session that working with Farhana would be exactly what I needed to explore my life purpose, deepen my leadership skills and work toward transitioning to a new career path of starting a social enterprise. Her experience as an innovative social entrepreneur and commitment to social justice initially brought me to her practice.
When I first started with Farhana, I was immobilized by my self-doubt. It undermined my ability to move forward and believe in my own potential to do important change work in the world. Her powerful mix of generative questions, guided visualization, and mind/body knowledge supported transformative breakthroughs for me. I was able to access my own inner knowing and began to eliminate the self-doubt. I learned to trust my intuition and how to envision a new path forward.
Working with Farhana was truly a transformative experience. I have so much gratitude and love for her and the work she is doing in this world. I am now more grounded, confident and truly fearless as I follow my life purpose and launch into a new phase of work in my life.”
- Cristy Chung
Consultant, Pushing Practice and Strategy, Luminare Group
Free Radical: Working to create the future we want to live in
Oakland, CA, U.S.A.
When I first started with Farhana, I was immobilized by my self-doubt. It undermined my ability to move forward and believe in my own potential to do important change work in the world. Her powerful mix of generative questions, guided visualization, and mind/body knowledge supported transformative breakthroughs for me. I was able to access my own inner knowing and began to eliminate the self-doubt. I learned to trust my intuition and how to envision a new path forward.
Working with Farhana was truly a transformative experience. I have so much gratitude and love for her and the work she is doing in this world. I am now more grounded, confident and truly fearless as I follow my life purpose and launch into a new phase of work in my life.”
- Cristy Chung
Consultant, Pushing Practice and Strategy, Luminare Group
Free Radical: Working to create the future we want to live in
Oakland, CA, U.S.A.