Our main objective here at the National Coach Academy is to enable aspiring coaches to reach their full professional potential. One of the most effective ways to educate students about the world of coaching is by offering them a window into the world of real, practicing coaches and showing them all the different ways coaches make a difference in the lives of their clients.
We hope today’s interview adds another insightful glimpse into the dynamic world of coaching.
Today we are interviewing Dr. Mensimah Shabazz. Dr. Shabazz is a Transformational Coach & Author based in Wethersfield, CT.
NCA: Can you describe your coaching practice and the kinds of clients you typically work with?
Mensimah: I have a transformational coaching, holistic practice, which provides coaching services that span from depression and grief counseling to work/life challenges, and beyond. Clients are able to experience practical, heart-centered processes that yield phenomenal results in many areas. I typically work with women, college-age students, although I have a few male clients. Group sessions focus on women’s empowerment.
NCA: What initially got you interested in this career path and what kind of degree or certifications did you need to complete, if any?
Mensimah: I have always had the natural interest in psychology. I have also the gift of intuition, which was evident in my early years. To gain indigenous wisdom and practices from my upbringing in Ghana, my mother and grandmother nurtured me. I, however, held in abeyance this natural gift and pursued other careers. In 1995, my health deteriorated and I lost the independence I valued so much. As written in my autobiography “Sankofa: Learning from Hindsight,” I had to go back and fetch my story in order to heal.
I use an all-encompassing coaching methodology, which creates revolutionary changes in the inner world of the client, consequently achieving success and joy in the outer world. This approach focuses on the spiritual and mystical aspects of the human experience.
I have a Master’s in Transpersonal Studies, (Transpersonal Psychology) and a Doctorate in Philosophy and Religion (Women’s Spirituality).
[Coaches] must do their own inner work in order to create their authentic and successful practice, because success would not depend on the number of clients one has, but rather on the quality of service.
NCA: What is the most rewarding part of your career?
Mensimah: From my own experience, I know that it takes hard work and commitment to change. The most rewarding part of my career is when I see clients begin the journey and see consistent, powerful, and transformational results—when they get “it.”
NCA: What is the most challenging aspect of the work that you do?
Mensimah: It takes time for clients to move from numbing status quo toward practices that generate inner clarity and renewed sense of wellness that aligns with their true nature. Patience is truly a virtue and it can be challenging to see clients struggle a bit or quit when they are about to shift.
NCA: Can you think of mentor who was most vital to your success as a coach? In what ways did this mentor help you to thrive in your career?
Mensimah: I have had several mentors. I believe that on this journey of healing and transformation, no one can achieve success alone. I met Dr. Jeanette Gagan, author of ”Journeying: Where Psychology and Shamanism Meet” in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the beginning of my healing journey and exploration. She authenticated my beliefs and exposure to sacred realms. That was extremely powerful.
NCA: Finally, what advice would you give someone looking to get started in the career path that you chose?
Mensimah: Firstly, they must do their own inner work in order to create their authentic and successful practice, because success would not depend on the number of clients one has, but rather on the quality of service.
