Investing in People: Beyond Financial Coaching
In her previous job as a financial consultant, Edwina Woo, in her late 30s, helped clients plan to reach their financial goals. However, she soon noticed many clients who, despite their financial means, faced significant challenges due to past experiences. Recognising that mindset issues could undermine even the best financial plans, Edwina was inspired to enrol in NTUC LearningHub’s Khrysalis Coaching Series programme to better support her clients.
The programme was a series of three modules, which gave Edwina the opportunity to learn from three seasoned trainers. Being practising coaches themselves, they provided her with insights into the practical aspects of a coaching, such as active listening and crafting insightful questions. The hands-on coaching practices with fellow coursemates further enriched her experience, as she applies the skills she learnt, like utilising questioning techniques to help coachees problem solve. Edwina shares that the programme has been one of the most memorable courses she had ever taken, as she came to realise how coaching can truly allow a person to develop to their full potential.
Upon completing the modules, she had to clock the required coaching hours to be eligible for the credential exam. With the help of trainers who created a platform for learners to practice peer coaching, and subsequently through leveraging her network to find a flexible coaching job, she managed to fulfil the total hours needed. Stepping out of her comfort zone was a significant challenge, but the nerves lessened with each coaching session, and eventually, Edwina found herself ready to sit for the required exam. Her hard work paid off and she was officially credentialled as an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach (ACC).
Imbued with confidence, she kickstarted her own financial wellness coaching business, merging her decade-long financial experience with her newfound coaching skills. Today, Edwina empowers others to take charge of their financial and personal well-being as a Financial Wellness Coach. Unlike simply following a structured process to help clients achieve a financial goal, as she did in financial consulting, her one-to-one sessions and specialised workshops focus more on the emotional and behavioural aspects of money.
Recalling a client whose anxiety about finances precluded him from financial planning altogether, Edwina shared that rather than starting with numbers as she might have done before, she utilised coaching techniques to create a safe space for him to work through his fears. Through small, manageable steps, he eventually gained the confidence to take control of his finances. As Edwina put it, “That shift didn’t just impact his money habits, it gave him back a sense of agency in his life.”
Even as she continues to grow her business, her thirst for learning is far from quenched, with plans to further her knowledge in areas like positive psychology. Ultimately, Edwina believes in one core principle: that lifelong learning is an attitude everyone should possess.
You Might Like This
Blog 3: First Blog Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since 1966, when designers at Letraset and James Mosley, the librarian at St Bride Printing Library in London, took a 1914 Cicero translation and scrambled it to make dummy text for Letraset's Body Type sheets.
Brewing a New Chapter Through Lifelong Learning
Sheena brings more than a decade of experience in the retail and education sector, where she managed multiple retail outlets specialising in educational toys and oversaw day-to-day operations. Over time, she began to notice a shift. Customers were increasingly seeking more unique and experience-driven products, while the retail landscape itself was becoming more competitive and fast-changing. At the same time, Sheena observed a growing interest in more mindful and natural lifestyle products, which sparked her curiosity about opportunities within the Food & Beverages (F&B) space. With her experience largely rooted in traditional brick-and-mortar retail, Sheena made a deliberate decision to pursue her lifelong interest in F&B entrepreneurship. Inspired by her passion for floral and herbal infusions and her desire to create a brand of her own, she enrolled in the Flavourful Ventures: A Journey Into F&B Entrepreneurship course at NTUC LearningHub to turn her vision into a reality. Returning to the classroom was initially a challenge for Sheena, as she had not studied for a long time and found some of the learning processes unfamiliar. However, with guidance from her trainers and support from her classmates, she gradually adapted and grew more confident throughout the course. Throughout the programme, Sheena gained practical exposure to key aspects of building and managing an F&B business, including identifying business opportunities, product development, branding and bringing products into the market. The hands-on learning experience also gave her greater insight into creativity, innovation and customer engagement within the F&B industry. Beyond equipping her with practical entrepreneurial skills, the programme also broadened her perspective on what it takes to build and sustain a business in today’s competitive landscape. Sheena eventually went on to start her own tea brand, Tea Therapy Singapore, offering a distinct range of caffeine-free, unsweetened and 100% natural floral tea blooms. Through the course, she was able to turn a long-standing personal interest into something more tangible, gaining the confidence and practical knowledge needed to pursue her passion in the F&B space. The course also gave her a supportive space to experiment, learn from mistakes and grow her confidence as a first-time digital business owner. Today, she manages the business end-to-end, from sourcing raw materials to product design, branding and online sales, applying the skills and knowledge gained from the programme to shape and grow her business. Through the journey of building her brand, Sheena also came to appreciate the importance of lifelong learning, adaptability and continuously upgrading herself to stay relevant in an evolving business landscape. Looking ahead, Sheena remains committed to lifelong learning as she continues to grow both professionally and as a business owner, and plans to further develop her skills through NTUC LearningHub courses, including public speaking. Reflecting on her journey, she shares, “Learning is a lifelong journey. When we continue upgrading ourselves and apply what we learn, we can turn our passion into new opportunities.”
Taking the Next Step: A Mid-Career Digital Journey
At 49, Farizan has built a steady career in the services industry where she has worked for the past four years as a Sales Admin Executive, overseeing sales coordination, purchasing, logistics and finance support. Working closely with multiple departments, she ensures smooth daily operations and keeps workflows running efficiently within her organisation. While working hard to establish herself as a dependable, meticulous and consistent teammate, she could never shake the persistent feeling that she could further streamline her work processes by expanding her skillsets. As businesses moved deeper into digital transformation, Farizan took a step back to reflect on how she could remain relevant in Singapore’s highly competitive and dynamic economy. Through her own research on social media, she began to see the potential of technology to enhance efficiency and productivity in her daily responsibilities. Determined not to let comfort and familiarity stagnate her professional development, she seized the opportunity and enrolled in the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP) Digital Marketing Specialist course at NTUC LearningHub after chancing upon it online. The structured and industry-relevant curriculum gave Farizan clearer insight into how digital strategies translate into real business impact. It also helped her better understand how campaigns are planned, executed and measured in today’s digital landscape. Farizan gained practical knowledge in digital marketing strategies, search engine optimisation (SEO), online copywriting, campaign analytics and online campaign management, areas she had always been curious about but had not had the opportunity to explore in her previous scope of work. The guidance from experienced trainers and the unique insights shared by coursemates from diverse industries further enriched her learning experience. By embracing the intensity of the knowledge-filled course, she was able to bring together the different concepts she had learned through the programme’s capstone project and apply them in a practical digital marketing scenario. Building on what she learned from the course, Farizan now approaches her role with a broader perspective. While she continues her core operational responsibilities, she has also taken on expanded responsibilities at work, supporting digital marketing initiatives, assisting in online campaign coordination and contributing insights to enhance customer engagement. These opportunities to apply her new skills have not only allowed her to add greater value to her team but has also strengthened her confidence in navigating change. This step forward marks just one of many in her journey of self-improvement and lifelong learning. Shortly after completing the programme, she began exploring other courses to further develop her data analytics capabilities, such as the Retail (SF): Data Science Fundamentals course. Recognising that others may still be on the fence about taking the first step, she shares, a mindset she now carries beyond the workplace and even onto the stage as a performer, “Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Learning new skills may feel challenging at first, but it opens new opportunities and builds confidence.”