Over the years I have been lucky to work with several people across borders and industries. On this page you´ll find a collection of testimonials from some of those successful relationships.
I wanted to share a bit about my experience working with a coach, which was made possible through the support of Van Oord, my employer. Transitioning into a new country and a new role in such an international environment brought excitement, but also a need for balance and direction. That’s where coaching came in.
Choosing Eli as my coach was natural - her journey resonated with me, and her story inspired me. From the outset, Eli’s guidance felt genuine and insightful. Eli often reminded me to ‘connect to my heart.’ This simple yet profound advice became a mantra for me, guiding me through moments of uncertainty and helping me tap into my inner wisdom. She helped me not only chart a clearer career path but also find ways to blend my work and personal life more harmoniously.
Eli’s approach, drawn from her own experiences, felt authentic and relatable. Her support gave me the confidence and tools I needed to face challenges head-on and pursue my goals with renewed energy.
I can’t thank Eli enough for her invaluable support. I wholeheartedly recommend coaching to anyone seeking clarity and balance in their professional and personal life - it can truly make a difference.
In 2023 I embarked on a new chapter of my career with a role that entailed a large team and significantly different roles and responsibilities. Whilst I was ready to take on the challenge, it was not without trepidation as I stepped out of my comfort zone. As a mentor myself, I was aware of the benefits of talking to a neutral professional and it occurred to me that it would be good to start this career chapter with a mentor or coach of my own.
I had met Eli through WISTA Norway and gravitated to her positive energy and authenticity. With a full career’s worth of experience in the maritime industry, her views and reflections were clearly anchored in a relevant reality. So when I decided to seek coaching support, there was only ever one person to ask: Eli!
Eli through 2023 was my sparring partner as I honed my leadership values and style. She was my challenger, advisor and personal cheerleader as I navigated my new role. She was a warm smile, a kind ear and a voice of reason as I took turns up and down the rollercoaster of feelings – yes, there are many feelings to acknowledge and embrace if one is to be a people focused leader, we must start with ourselves.
I will be forever grateful for having Eli’s coaching support during this pivotal period of my career. As more women step into leadership roles in the maritime industry, I do hope that they can be as fortunate as myself to benefit from a wonderful coach such as Eli.
Career Coaching
About two years ago, ambitious as I am,
I wanted to excel my career and remove some of my self-doubt.
The question was how? 🤔
I decided to find a personal career coach to have someone to discuss my objectives with and find the right path to achieve my goals. That’s when I met Eli.
Me and Eli had a few sessions together, that generated a lot of value for me. She created a safe space where I could be honest.
One session, she said we needed to get up and we headed to a bigger room. She told me to introduce myself and make a stand, and I did that, again and again - until I could do it with confidence in both my voice and body language without feeling goofy or silly.
Key takeaways from my experience:
- You have to slow down to speed up (Eli’s very own slogan that I still use)
- Be honest and clear about what you want
- Body language really does matter
- It’s okay to say no, or walk away
But the main thing I’m left with, is that you need to step out of your comfort zone to grow! 🚀
Is there something you get anxious or nervous thinking about doing?
My challenge to you is DO IT! 🙌
Looking for a devoted professional to guide your career? Are you exploring new paths, or refocusing your current goals? I found Eli’s approach, guidance, and insight to be the perfect combination of championing and challenging me in my process, and I highly recommend Eli Gjesdal for anyone looking to invest time and energy in digging deeper into their goals and career path.
I had the pleasure to work with Eli and have her guidance as a career coach while seeking to re-think my career goals and make some firm choices on the next steps. Eli is encouraging and insightful, and she won't be afraid to challenge you while being contagiously passionate about supporting your journey. I gained more clarity and confidence in my vision for my career as well as personal growth, which quite quickly manifested in new opportunities and direction.
One to One
Eli has been my mentor for the past year and let me tell you it has been an exciting, challenging & developing journey! She is a devoted mentor, with so much positive energy – always ready to provide feedback and support. I have been pushed outside my comfort zone, been handed efficient tools and applauded. It is very clear to me that Eli’s persona, background, and knowledge makes her a great contributor to any team. Her coaching skills will make you blossom!
Eli have been my coach for about 8 months, and she has helped me to make major changes to my life. She is supportive, but also know when she must challenge you to go out of your comfort zone. She is very motivating; she follows up on my challenges and gives honest feedback.
What I have achieved:
- started feeling good about myself
- after many years as single I now got the confidence to start dating again
- I now manage to prioritize myself and put myself first
- I also got the courage to start looking for a new job
I will highly recommend Eli to be your coach because maybe you also can get the life you want.
"Firstly, Eli offers her clients flexibility to joggle through their everyday routines and unforeseen circumstances. She has a wealth of experience and time spent with her is light, warming, yet change-driven. Expect personalised sessions from Eli and not a replica.
For 6-months Eli and I walked on an unique journey with a defined short-term and long-term goals. I wanted to be challenged, re-evaluate and execute those goals with different perspectives, and together we built on it in a safe environment. In every session, Eli brings her full loving sparkling personality. ","Eli adapts very well with her clients and consciously reflects as the session progresses along. She invests time to get a vivid image of who her client is. "
"I always looked forward to my sessions with Eli. The discovery session is one of the highlights. You get to slow down, reflect on those critical aspects of your journey, purpose and strategically re-position yourself.
I got the power to stand up for myself. I am happy that I could find the life path that I always wanted and redirected my life in the correct path.
Eli is an amazing coach and I had the honor of working with her during one of the most challenging periods of my life.
The struggles, the fears and doubts faded session by session and I got back my power, my confidence and faith thanks to Eli and her coaching techniques.
I’m proud of our journey together and very happy with the results: getting the job that I wanted.
Thank you, Eli!🙏❤️
Speaker Coach
I enlisted Eli as a speech coach, in preparation for a work presentation. Following merely three sessions, I transformed from being somewhat apprehensive about presentations to now deriving pleasure from them. Eli provided a wealth of valuable tips and feedback, encompassing both voice modulation and body language, enabling me to thoroughly prepare for the presentation. Moreover, I gained practical tools on how to navigate instances of forgetfulness or verbal missteps during presentations. Undoubtedly, a judicious investment.
It was my privilege to work with Eli in the Speaker Coaching Team for TEDx Stavanger. Eli is a resourceful, decisive and committed individual who can be relied upon to deliver. She is also a highly effective and supportive coach and brought great energy to the coaching of a diverse cohort of speakers. Eli adapted quickly to the demands of speaker coaching and gave great support and feedback. A highly effective member of any team, I have no hesitation in giving Eli my highest recommendation.
Speaking
I had the privilege of hosting Eli Gjesdal as one of the distinguished speakers and panellists at the Intermodal Europe - Women Working Lunch session in 2023 and her impact was profound. Eli's narrative of her professional journey was not just a recollection of events; it was a compelling journey of resilience, determination and triumph.
Eli eloquently shared the challenges she encountered throughout her career and the tenacity she exhibited to navigate and overcome them. Her journey was not without hurdles, yet she approached each obstacle with unwavering resolve, emerging stronger and more determined than ever.
What truly resonated with the audience was Eli's genuine passion for the maritime sector. As she recounted her experiences, her love for the industry shone through, igniting a spark of inspiration in all of us. Her storytelling was captivating, drawing us into her world and allowing us to experience the highs and lows of her remarkable journey.
Eli Gjesdal is more than just a speaker; she is a beacon of inspiration. It was an honour to have her on the panel and her impact will undoubtedly resonate with the attendees for many years.
Why work with Eli?
Apparent from the several testimonials presented on this page, Eli is a coach and partner that truly brings out the best in people. Let Eli help you find your inner fire!
Your Spark, Your Fire, Your Success!
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