Name: Marie BriceTitle: Certified Professional Coach
Niche/Specialties: Expats, Women, Accompanying Spouses and Expat Relationships
Expat Experience: I have lived in 5 countries (New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, India and the USA), worked, travelled and played in 26 countries and have moved 22 times in 29 years.
Languages Spoken: Chronically monolingual unfortunately – English 
Life Experience: I was born in New Zealand and made Australia my home of choice many years ago so I know one day I will begin the repatriation challenges many expats face when they decide to stop their gypsy ways!
I trained as a teacher and have taught, lectured, trained and facilitated for over 20 years. Whilst living in Malaysia I gained a Masters in Social Science and then became a Certified Professional Coach during a later move to Houston. My passions include singing in a band and a choir, traveling (go figure!), climbing and trekking in the great outdoors (including Borneo, Mt Fuji and recently New Zealand), yoga, lifelong learning and really getting to know my fellow human beings. I truly understand every level of challenge that expats face.
My earliest expat memory is standing paralyzed with fear at a local Chinese Market because I lost sight of my husband and had absolutely no idea which way home was! Where had my tough managerial image and sense of self gone? It took me a while to claw it back but I have and if I can anyone can. believe me.
Accomplishments: Apart from giving birth to two amazing children I attained my Masters in Counseling and became a certified coach and sing in a classic rock band and the United Nations International Choir. I am thrilled to be a part of the newly launched (and developing) expaTView where Renee Lederman and I interview expats, experts and specialists in the global mobility field to help expat women rise above a life interrupted. I also set myself the challenge to write 365 blog tips in 365 days last year as a ‘practice what you preach’ objective – and actually did it.
What I Love About Working in This Niche: I believe expat women are an untapped resource. These vibrant, intelligent women have overcome many obstacles and challenges to live life as they do – plus they have the potential to make a huge difference all over the world because of who they are. Being part of that change process is simply exhilarating and my challenge is to help them see themselves the way I see them.
Coaching Style: To me it is all about the relationship – most people never get listened to or feel truly heard and understood. I think coaches could almost get by on heartfelt listening alone. Ask the hard questions, let silence do the heavy lifting and believe the client has the answers and you have all the right extraction tools.
Favorite Coaching Tool: I know I should say some NLP or ELP or QRST personality tool but quite simply it is acknowledgement and validation. I truly hear you, what you are experiencing is both real, and really tough, and it is taking its toll on you. You are certainly not the only one who has ever felt like this and you have begun the journey back.
Why Clients Choose Me As Their Coach: Because that’s the way it is meant to be.
A Tip for My Niche: Be yourself and learn to like who you are right now. You are powerful because you hold your family together even when all around you feels foreign. You can’t fix everything, you may never get used to where you are, but you can find the hidden gems and most importantly, you are not a bad person for not always appreciating this ‘wonderful opportunity life has presented you’.
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