In this episode of The Making of a Coach, Tobi talks with Nami, founder of HappyTeams and an expert group facilitator. Nami shares her journey from studying politics at LSE to running international retreats focused on team dynamics, conflict resolution, and leadership. With experience across Japan, Laos, the US, and Indonesia, she offers insights on bridging silos, cultural sensitivity, and the distinction between facilitation and coaching. Tune in to learn how Nami helps global teams build connection and collaboration through purposeful retreats and innovative tools.

Chapters00:00 Introduction and Initial Struggles

00:32 Nami Ishihara's Journey

04:34 Cultural Insights and Personal Growth

08:32 Discovering Facilitation

38:31 Understanding Belbin Team Roles

43:33 The Belbin Workshop Experience

47:37 Applying Belbin Insights in Real Life

56:38 Navigating the Business of Coaching

Links:

Nami's website: https://www.happyteams1.com/about

Nami on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nami73ishihara/

The metaFox Coaching Tools Handbook: https://metafox.eu/products/coaching-tools-pdf

Learn more about the IAF - https://www.iaf-world.org/site/professional/cpf

Learn more about the Belbin Team Roles - https://www.belbin.com/