Meet Amy Funkhouser Watkins

As our business has grown, so has our team, and we’re delighted to say that we now have coaches in more than one time zone!

Amy Funkhouser Watkins is based in Seattle, USA, but provides coaching across time zones, and often joins us for meetings in a brilliantly positive mood at a time that others might consider way too early!

1. So, what are you up to this week?

After a busy week with clients and design work, I’m very excited to get out and enjoy some spring weather working in the yard and maybe a hike. We’ve had a very, long winter and I feel like a bear coming out of the cave!

2. What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?

I have to pick one?!? I’m thrilled to be kicking off parental leave coaching with new clients right now. It’s such a special, magical time for parents, and I love being part of their journey as they take on new identities and depth in their lives.

I’m also doing some research in preparation for some sessions I’m leading soon and finding it joyous to immerse myself in wisdom. It’s a privilege to be both a learner and a teacher in service of my clients.

3. How are you finding your clients are coping with 2023?

There is a tremendous amount of grief and fear with so much uncertainty and change in the world. Many clients are exhausted from multiple rounds of change. Others are excited to be taking on new challenges but are not sure of their roles in so much flux and lack of clarity. I’m beginning to hear clients talk about taking the lead to find opportunity in the chaos which is encouraging as they find their resilience.

4. How do you help them?

With all of my clients, I lead with empathy and listening. I strive to create a safe space for them to explore what they’re experiencing and then tapping into their own agency to shift to what is possible. My approach is always customized to what a particular client needs – it might be releasing and starting to look for what’s next; it might be exploring their values and dreams to create a vision; it might be talking about how to practice self-compassion and curiosity if they’re stuck in an old story about themselves. 

5. Tell us a bit about your own background and experience

My corporate career started in marketing – in a variety of companies and industries and in every discipline of marketing. It gave me a well-rounded sense as to how to connect solutions with people’s needs. I consistently did that for the people I worked with as well – initiating programs and ideas to help create a better working environment.

The second half of my corporate career was spent at Microsoft where I leveraged my communications and marketing background to launch new products. My passion for people continued to grow, and eventually I led the communications, culture and business planning for a large, global team. It was such a perfect role for me that I had to leave the corporate world. One of my values is courage, and I wanted to take a leap toward my own development and become a coach! It’s been an amazing journey – I get to bring my experiences and continued learnings to my clients, and I’m honoured to be part of their journeys.

6. How do you draw upon it when coaching?

My own evolution as a leader in complex organizations and systems helps me understand what my clients may be experiencing themselves. The challenges and issues they are facing are always personal yet universal at the same time, and my background enables me to help my clients see things in a new way. The learnings I’ve had as a mom, stepmom, wife, friend, sister and daughter have also helped me be more empathetic and a better listener with my clients. I’m continually learning how to be a better human being which I try to draw on as I work with clients to explore and grow themselves.

7. How would you describe your coaching style?

I am so inspired by my clients’ stories of resilience, strength, compassion and potential. My style is to help them appreciate these stories for themselves and to draw upon their own resourcefulness. I provide a safe, empathetic container for my clients to reflect and share, and I help them explore new ways of thinking and feelings. I compassionately challenge and give them the space and grace to find the answers and insights they need.

8. What do you get up to, away from coaching?

I love to create so you may find me in the kitchen whipping up a feast for loved ones, at the pottery wheel making a mess of my tenth attempt to make a bowl, or dabbling with some watercolors. I also love to be outside enjoying a hike or beach with my family.

9. What are you looking forward to most?

I’m excited for some time with my family this summer – to be outside and enjoying loved ones will be so energizing!

10. What’s the one secret you think everyone should be aware of?

On my vision board that I see every day, it says “we all want to be heard”. Giving someone our undivided attention and active listening can change a relationship, a perspective, an insight for the better. It’s so simple, so powerful.