Franziska Birke

I'm a certified life and career coach with over 10 years of experience, specialising in helping mums find meaningful and flexible work they love, without the 'mum guilt'.

My expertise is in helping mothers who are returning to work after taking a break to raise their children and with those who are looking for a change in their current role. They often have questions like these:

• Who am I aside from being a mother?
• Is this really what I want to be doing? 
• How can I reach the next level, professionally?
• How do I find meaningful, flexible work that fits around my family?
• How do I get my old, confident self back?
• Can I be a good mum, have a fulfilling career AND thrive personally?

Navigating these questions can be a daunting and often lonely process. I strongly believe that no mother should ever have to go through this alone. That's where I come into the picture. I'm a very honest and open person with a great passion for this work. My approach is holistic, warm, and engaging. I help my clients feel safe, yet gently stretching and challenging them.

How can I help? 

We typically start with a free Discovery Call to understand your current situation and aspirations. We will also address any questions, challenges or concerns you might have.

If we are a good match, I will suggest a roadmap for the coaching process. I offer various coaching packages and use a variety of tools and methods to tailor sessions to your individual needs.

Here are some areas I can help you with:

• Get clear on what you want for your life and career and create a roadmap to get there
• Communicate what you want and what you have to offer
• Think outside the box and approach your career or job search with fresh, new perspectives
• Tips and effective strategies for your job search
• Second pair of eyes for job applications
• Sounding board in preparation for job interviews
• Get your confidence and “oomph” back, feeling invigorated and optimistic about the future
• ​Overcome the inner critics that keep you small and contained
• Getting your priorities right.

Our sessions can be conducted online or in person and are typically held weekly or bi-weekly. 

While the focus is mainly on your career, I often blend of both life and career coaching, because sometimes, some "life issues" need to be in place before the focus can shift to career matters.

Getting in touch

Thank you for visiting my profile. I understand that finding a coach can be overwhelming with the vast number of options available and the uncertainty of what will bring you the desired results. As a former client, I can relate to any concerns you may have.

If you have any questions or would like to get in touch, please feel free to reach out.  I am here to help you in any way I can with your career. The easiest way is to schedule a free, 30-minute Discovery CalI via the link below:

https://www.franziskabirke.com/discovery-call

You can also contact me via email or phone on 0790360 2579.

You've taken care of everyone else.
Now it is time to think about you.

I look forward to connecting with you.

Franziska.

I offer a variety of coaching packages to suit different needs, starting from a 2-hour Strategy Session to a 6-month package. Please check out my website for more information, prices and special offers:

http://www.franziskabirke.com/work-with-me-overview

I offer concessionary rates for people on low income or in difficult circumstances,  provided I have a coaching space available, for max. one client at any one time. Please contact me if you think this applies to you.

Praise from clients:
 
“Thank you so much for today’s strategy session. I gained a much sharper focus from speaking with you and definitely had a couple of lightbulb moments. You’ve given me some routes to explore and I am very grateful for that.”

Rani, London

*****

“I have hired Franziska to support me through a major career transition after I became a mother and realised I could not go back to my old job. She masterfully directed me through an incredible process of self-exploration that resulted in an ideal outcome - I was able to focus on my career options after assessing my strengths and weaknesses. I have developed a few independent projects I will be focusing on as a result of Franziska's council. I am so grateful for Franziska's wise and friendly coaching and comforting presence during this time. Without Franziska's guidance and expertise, I would not have been able to develop the mindset necessary to achieve my career goals. I can say without hesitation that my investment in her career coaching is the best investment I have ever made in myself.”

Antonina, London

*****

“Before meeting with you, I was at a pretty low point, faced with redundancy, and worried that I wouldn't be able to find a job that would be meaningful ever again. I felt aimless and confused about what comes next.

In the job search that followed, your advice and support were just invaluable - through one of the exercises that we went through I discovered the field that I wanted to move into. Having your encouragement helped me stick it out and not to let the worries get the better of me. We spent a lot of time really focusing on what is important to me as a person and professionally, which really paid off. I loved how you pulled me back from applying for jobs that weren't what I wanted. In addition, talking through what was blocking me in my job search you really helped remove a lot of self-imposed obstacles. My perfectionism for example or certain pressures that were more imagined than real.

Working with you brought home that I do have all these transferrable skills. I feel much calmer and more confident. It also, oddly, meant that I made peace with my past job. I don't think I could have done this search without a person in my corner, encouraging me to rest when I needed it, and cheering me on, especially before interviews. Your encouragement to think about how my job should fit in with my family life and children also meant that I had the confidence to negotiate flexible and hybrid working, which makes my life a lot easier.

I couldn't have asked for a better outcome: it took persistence and some time, but I am now working in the field I discovered, which does turn out to be an amazing fit for me. I have more opportunities for career progression and better benefits, there is more collaboration and emphasis on wellbeing at work than in my previous job - the job that I thought was the end of the world to lose when we first started working together."

Katharina, London