Hi, I’m Carine De Bruyn.
I’m a personal development and leadership coach with a B.Comm in Economics, Industrial & Clinical Psychology, and an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. I’m an accredited Ontological Coach, hold an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential with the International Coaching Federation, as well as a certification as a John Maxwell transformation and leadership coach.I’m deeply passionate about the art and science of human growth — exploring how ontology, systems psychology, emotional well-being, and spiritual and relational maturity come together to shape impactful leadership and thriving organisations.Proudly South African and Swiss, I now call Geneva home, where I live with my husband and our two young adult daughters. When I’m not coaching, you’ll find me enjoying life’s simple pleasures — sharing a delicious meal with friends, walking the Swiss countryside with our Golden Retriever, or enjoying moments with my family, reading or travelling.
What is ontological coaching?
Most coaching focuses on what you do, goals, strategies, and actions.
Ontological coaching focuses on who you are being while you do them.
The word ontological refers to being. This approach recognises that our results are shaped not only by actions, but by how we see the world and how we show up moment to moment. Ontological coaching works across three interconnected domains:
Language – how we speak, listen, and create meaning
Moods & Emotions – how we feel, relate, and respond
Body – how posture, presence, and movement influence confidence, resilience
By learning to observe ourselves differently across these domains, new possibilities emerge, and from them, new actions. The result is more effective conversations, more productive emotional states, and a more resourceful way of showing up, supporting stronger relationships, clearer decisions, and sustainable shifts.