This year’s theme, Indigenous and African Wisdom in Coaching Research: Beyond Borders, brought together a formidable mix of practitioners, psychologists and academics.

What stood out most was the abundance of thought, practice, lived experience and research knowledge being shared. The energy in the room was palpable.

My key takeaway was this:

All voices need to be heard in coaching psychology research.

The field cannot be limited to a narrow set of perspectives if it is serious about supporting people across different identities, communities and contexts.

With community at the heart of what I took away, Ubuntu was a key focus throughout the conference:

You are, therefore I am.

This reinforced something I want to embed more intentionally into my coaching practice, further research and the change programmes I am involved in. Seeing and hearing each other should be a foundational principle, not an afterthought.

Being in South Africa while learning more about the 1976 Soweto Uprising couldn't be more powerful. It was a reminder that voice often comes at a cost, and that those of us with access, privilege and community have a responsibility to amplify the voices of the giants who came before us.

The employment challenges facing young people in South Africa also mirrored some of what we are seeing in the UK concerning digital transformation, identity and future potential. It reminded me of the urgency around the work still to be done across career transition, employability and inclusive coaching practice.

Ubuntu as an epistemological framework feels even more deeply relevant to coaching and transition work, particularly across diverse global communities.

The work continues, and I am looking forward to what comes next.

Please follow the fantastic work of Black Voices in Coaching Research Conferences to keep up with their brilliant work.

More reflections to come!.