One-on-one conversational coaching for help you navigate life and leadership
Looking for a coach in Kelowna? Someone to help you think through some of the ideas and challenges you're facing? Book a free 20-minute intro call with Kevan at Co.school, to see if we're a good fit. If you'd like to learn more about what coaching is, or uncover more about Kevan/Co.school's coaching philosophy, this page is here to help.
How do you define “coaching”?
A coach is a thought-partner to help you figure out your life’s choices.
In a one-on-one-setting, in the course of a session or series of sessions, a coach creates the space to help you express your goals, explore what’s in your way, and make clear choices towards change.
The International Coaching Federation defines coaching this way:
“Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
It’s the work of helping you express what’s on your mind, so you can find your way forward towards new ways of living and being. Through the work of finding metaphors and analogies, noticing paradoxes and thinking traps, observing your own body language and shifts in tone, a coach will help you listen more closely to your own needs and hopes, so you can move forward with greater clarity.
As the ICF says, “The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity, and leadership.” It's conversational support and encouragement to help you reach your goals.
What is coaching not?
🚫 Not counselling. The valuable work of counselling helps patients unpack their past. Coaching looks towards the future, to help you make new choices, and doesn’t view you as a “patient with problems”, but as a whole person, with potential.
🚫 Not consulting. A consultant is an expert in a specific field, who is here to Tell You What To Do. Many business experts position themselves as coaches, because they want to sell you a method or an approach that depends on their expertise. The coaching I offer is centered on you and your goals, helping you uncover your own answers.
🚫 Not motivational speaking. Having somebody pump your tires and cheer you on is great. A coach can do that. But a coach will also challenge you, surprise you, or help you slow down.
🚫 Not peer coaching. A peer coach can be a great resource, but without the methodology and certification of ICF backing, conversations can end up feeling circular. To gain traction and truly level-up, ICF-certified coaching has more in the toolkit than standard peer coaching.
🚫 Not sports-style coaching. In athletics, a coach may assign a play, tell you a move, hold you accountable, give discipline, and in general, sculpt the player to fit the coach’s plan. Not here. This is about you retaining agency in your own life.
🚫 Not AI. While LLM-assisted coaching can help you process and organize your thoughts, it lacks “sacred witnessing.” Being seen by another soul is often where the real transformation happens, in the presence of a fellow human. Plus, AI
When is coaching most useful?
When you have a goal, but you’re not reaching it.
When you have a project, but you’re not making it.
When you have a dream, but you’re not doing it.
When you have a life, but you’re not living it.
Basically, when you’re stuck: When a new habit is needed, or more momentum, or a new perspective, or some encouragement. It’s for when you’re trying to get there, but you’re still here. When you need a creative spark to catch.
Is there an organizing body that certifies coaches?
Yes, the International Coaching Federation (ICF) is one of the globally-known certifying bodies for coaches. They hold a high standard for ensuring coaches go through proper training and education, and continue to follow the core competencies established by the ICF. To have an ICF certification means you have completed enough classroom hours of training, have conducted enough 1:1 coaching sessions, and have had some of these coaching sessions recorded and reviewed by another ICF certified coach. Some of the things you can expect from an ICF certified coach include:
- Maintaining strict confidentiality: All conversations will be considered off-the-record, private, and not for anybody else’s knowledge or consumption.
- Holding a high ethical standard: An ICF coach will be very careful to avoid conflicts of interest, avoid imbalances of power, avoid advice that over-reaches, stay within personal boundaries, and maintain respectful and professional standards.
- Cultivating trust and safety: ICF coaches will work hard to ensure a safe, supportive environment is built, that allows the client to share freely.
There are more elements that would make up an ICF coach, and also know that each coach will bring their own style, personality and approach towards helping you make the progress you need to make.
Who are Co.school's coaches?
Co.school's coaching services are currently offered by me, Kevan Gilbert. I am currently enrolled in training to be a Certified Impact Coach, accredited by the International Coaching Federation.
Can I learn more about Kevan’s training, as a coach?
Yes! In terms of ICF certification, I have completed 65 classroom hours of training. I have accumulated 30+ hours of coaching, and am working towards reaching the 100-hour baseline needed for full ICF certification.
Besides ICF certification, I have been trained in other leadership development methods too, including:
- Art of Hosting: Participatory dialogue for group settings
- Design thinking training, through THNK School of Creative Leadership: Creative problem solving for sticky innovation challenges
- Systems thinking training, through Barry Oshry’s Power + Systems: immersive experiences to help unlock breakthroughs in organizational life.
- Birkman Method, a trusted typology method and coaching approach
- Trauma-informed approaches, with Cedar + Sage strategies: Facilitation methods for creating safe spaces
In my career, I am a facilitator who has worked with clients for years in collaborative settings to help them meet their goals. I’ve worked with clients from diverse backgrounds, including:
- Professional service firms and design agencies
- Independent entrepreneurs and creatives
- Tech companies (including Shopify and Ubisoft)
- Social innovators and not-for-profit organizations, including Vancity Credit Union, Vancouver Foundation, and Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation
What do Kevan’s coaching clients say about him?
Derek hired me as a coach when he was navigating a turbulent time of leadership transition in the organization he was leading. He says:
“The depth of my coaching sessions with Kevan has been extraordinary. He helps me focus on what really matters and provides soaring encouragement from a place of grounded enthusiasm. I always leave our sessions feeling like I have a better grasp on my situation and meaningful ways forward.”
Fran was a coachee who sought help while trying to facilitate change from within a government organization. She says of her experience:
“Felt like a tectonic plate shifting in my mind. I started our journey talking about being a reluctant facilitator, maybe we've finally gotten to the root cause of that feeling! Your time and insights are so valuable to me.”
Alvin is an independent entrepreneur and multi-faceted creative. I provided support for him during a trying time of change and disruption that spanned employment, relationships and self. Alvin wrote:
“A zenmaster of space-holding and a sherpa of paradigm-shifting, Kevan brings broad (and somehow still nuanced) perspectives yet also cuts to the heart of what matters HERE and NOW with near surgical precision. I rarely see this kind of courage and kindness blended so coherently in the wild. Relentlessly, Kevan calls us out of frenzied, lonely, and silo’ed habits to re-inhabit our higher selves and reconnect with each other.”
Tim, a friend and software product lead I coached informally, offers this reflection:
“I used to do crappy projects at work all the time, but now, for the most part, I do things I am far more passionate about and better at. What happened? I’ll tell you what happened - Kevan Gilbert happened. He saw the good I was doing and encouraged it, and then pointed me to even better."
And what about Kevan as a person?
A few things about me:
- I lean strongly creative, and am into making music, writing, reading. I’ve self-published a couple books (on facilitation and creativity), and carry a high degree of empathy and sensitivity.
- I have a family: four kiddos (ages 7-14), with my partner Kendra. Our kiddos have diverse needs (including autism and ADHD), and we live on a farm outside of town, where we also raise chickens and sell eggs.
- I’ve started my own business, so I get the entrepreneurial journey, but don’t consider myself a “business person.” I am fluent in technology, but resistant to the current cultural waves of un-critical adoption.
Let’s say I wanted to get started: what happens?
First, let’s start with a conversation: a 20-minute hello to get to know each other, understand your goals, make sure you know what coaching is all about, before anything else. Use this link to book our first call. There is no charge.
After that, if we're a fit for each other, let's schedule our actual coaching sessions.
- How often? Ideally we’ll book a “season” of coaching at one time, to give you space to go deep on a topic area. Your rhythm might be once weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
- Where? If we’re co-located, let’s meet up in person, in Kelowna. My preference would be for finding a walking trail or loop that would last about an hour, and spend time outdoors (if the weather's good). There's great science about coaching in nature. Some options would include:
- Mill Creek Regional Park (near the Kangaroo Farm, by the airport)
- My own farm, walking through the back fields, and sitting by a picnic table or campfire
- Mission Creek Park: walking the greenway
- Rail Trail: pick a segment
- A walk by the lake
- Or heck, let's find a coffee shop somewhere, like Tackle Box.
Is there a virtual option? Yes, virtual sessions over video conferencing or phone are always possible. Be sure you’re joining from a comfortable, quiet, confidential environment. You can even join via phone, and take yourself for a walk in your own preferred environment.
