Ep 57: Coaching Journeys: Accreditation, Solutions Focus, and AI with Janine Waldman

What does it really mean to be a “proper coach” today? In a world of shifting accreditation, rapidly changing technology, and evolving communities, the answer is anything but simple.In this episode, Sarah Bramall and Rebecca Daniel sit down with Janine Waldman, director and co-owner of The Solutions Focus and Membership Director of APEX (the Association for Professional Executive Coaching and Supervision), to explore coaching in the real world. Janine shares her journey from HR and L&D to solution-focused coaching, a practical, no-nonsense approach built on one idea: find what works and do more of it.They also tackle AI head-on. Not as a replacement, but as a sharp thinking partner that challenges assumptions and deepens reflection. The result? A candid, grounded conversation about staying human, relevant, and effective in a rapidly changing coaching landscape.Highlights:01:40 How Sarah first met Janine.03:39 How Janine discovered coaching.05:52 What is a "solutions focus" approach?08:17 Why does a “solution focus” approach create positive change for clients?09:30 Janine recommends her books “Positively Speaking” and “The Resilience Pocketbook” for coaches interested in solutions focus.12:16 Janine shares her excitement about using AI tools to reflect on and analyse her coaching practice.13:13 How AI can be a useful thinking partner but cautions against relying on it without human judgment.16:07 Coaching should be a distinct profession, accessible to people from varying backgrounds, not just psychologists.17:07 The importance of accreditation.19:36 Janine’s new role as membership director of APEX21:47 ICF membership, the value of community and learning from peers.24:20 The keys to essential professional growth: community, peer education and supervision.25:32 Two-word takeawaysKey Words: Coaching, coaching culture, positive psychology, wellbeing, resilience, group coaching, peer support, leadership development, strengths-based coaching, continuous development, internal coaching pool, community, professional growth, workplace wellbeing,​​Connect with us here:​Website:https://www.thecoachingcatalysts.com​Work with us:Find out more about our supervision service here: https://www.thecoachingcatalysts.com/collective Train to become a professional coach supervisor here: https://www.thecoachingcatalysts.com/supervision-diploma ​To book a call: https://tidycal.com/coachingcatalysts/explorationcall​For ICF mentoring see here: https://go.thecoachingcatalysts.com/icf-mentor-coaching Social Media:https://www.facebook.com/thecoachingcatalysts​https://www.instagram.com/thecoachingcatalysts_ ​https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecoachingcatalysts​Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbramallcoaching/​Rebecca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrebecca/​And our Whatsapp here:https://wa.me/15557022689About Janine WaldmanJanine is an executive coach and leadership consultant with first-hand experience of leading in complex, high-pressure environments across a 25-year career. Her background is in HR and OD roles, and she counts brands such as Accenture, Warner Brothers and BNP Paribas among her portfolio of clients.Janine is passionate about creating a confidential space for leaders to think clearly about how they’re perceived, their impact and what they want to shift. She’s a lifelong believer in people’s ability to surprise themselves, working in a direct and practical way to bring about lasting change.Connect with Janine:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastone01/Website: https://www.right.com/en/Produced by winteraudio.co.uk