About The Guests:

This roundtable features five members of the Courageous Coach community:

• Amy Wilkinson – A down-to-earth, real-talk advocate for ditching coaching snobbery and embracing imperfection.
• Jane Gilham – Speaks powerfully about grief, transition, and finding courage in life’s hardest seasons.
• Donna Ward-Higgs – Brings heartfelt insight into the power of safety, self-awareness, and returning to community as a restorative act.
• Kathryn Smith – Shares her reflections from inside the NHS and academia, anchoring herself in the idea that she’s already enough.
• Gayle Tong – Champions the idea of community without comparison, and of learning who you truly are beyond corporate life.

And of course, your host Melissa Hague, whose vision, vulnerability and human-first ethos shape the Courageous Coach experience.

About The Episode:

In this heartwarming, laughter-filled, and deeply honest roundtable, host Melissa Hague is joined by five founding members of the Courageous Coach community: Amy Wilkinson, Jane Gilham, Donna Ward-Higgs, Kathryn, and Gayle Tong. What started as an experiment became a powerful conversation about what community really means in the context of coaching beyond credentials, beyond branding, and into what it means to simply be human together.

This episode explores the behind-the-scenes of building a values-led coaching practice while staying anchored in authenticity, connection, and courage. Expect real talk, no polish, and a powerful reminder that you're not alone on the path.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Community isn’t noisy, it’s nourishing: The Courageous Coach community isn't about constant WhatsApp pings or forced interaction. It’s a space to ebb and flow, show up when you need to, and know someone’s got your back without the pressure to perform.
• Courage is contagious (and deeply human): When one coach dares to be vulnerable, it opens the door for others to drop the mask. These conversations are rooted in real-life grief, identity shifts, imposter syndrome, and the courage to keep showing up anyway.
• We are humans first, coaches second: The magic of this community lies in not needing to posture. There’s no model-off, badge flex, or acronyms-as-armour. Coaching here starts with humanity, not hierarchy.
• You’re already enough, and still becoming: Many of the coaches speak openly about comparison, chasing qualifications, and wondering, “Am I doing this right?” The consensus? You grow as a coach by being yourself, not by collecting more letters after your name.
• Ongoing development is an anchor, not a tick-box: Whether it’s returning to a gathering, revisiting the programme themes, or simply staying connected, the work of being a courageous coach isn’t one-and-done. It's lifelong, evolving, and sustained by community.

Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach Program

If these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.

You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coaches 

Connect with Melissa

Come and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.

Support the Podcast:

• Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.
• Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.

Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.