Spotlight: Sylvie Maury

1 - Where are you from, and how did you choose to live in Middle Tennessee?

I was born in France and moved to the U.S. at 18 with my family. I went to college in TX and CA and have lived in France, Brazil, and Canada. I moved to Tennessee from Canada six years ago, happy to be closer to my parents, living now a few hours away. Tennessee is a beautiful state, with lots of greenery, hills, and four seasons. My younger son loves his school, so I might just be here for a while, and I love it!

2 - What is your professional background, and why did you become a coach?

Before becoming a coach, I was an executive for international corporations in the fashion industry. I worked in Paris, France, and NYC and traveled the world to find ideas and suppliers. This job needed initiative and creativity. I loved working globally with people from different cultures. I found it fascinating to adapt to their ways of doing business.

My professional life changed after I had my children. They were struggling in school, and were diagnosed with A.D.H.D. I decided to find ways to help them to learn differently. I read books on neuroscience, neuroplasticity, and learning and the brain. This moment changed the way I understood learning and change. I helped my children learn playfully, using all parts of their brains. I used nutrition, physical exercises, colors, songs, and visuals to increase their neural activity in the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s executive center.

Years later, I remembered these learnings and used them day after day to survive an extremely stressful time. It worked! I was doing great. I decided to find out what happened in my body and mind. I wanted to understand the science behind it all. What made me resilient? I got an Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching certificate from the same college where I got my Masters’ degree. My next step was to get my ICF certification which I got a year later. I am now an ACC coach!

3 - How did you choose your specialty area?

I am now a Resilience and Wellness Coach. I learned the science behind resilience and wellness through my experience and my research and I am still in school continuing this research, hoping to get a doctoral degree. Resilience and wellness are my passion. I feel that I can help others increase their resilience and live healthier and more meaningful lives.

4 -What are the greatest challenges and greatest rewards of your career?

The greatest challenge was starting my coaching practice at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a way, it was the perfect timing as our world became virtual. I had always wanted to meet my clients online, especially as I was hoping to coach clients worldwide. So, I started coaching clients overwhelmed by the pressures of the pandemic, some suffering from burnout.

The greatest rewards are each one of my coaching sessions. I learn so much from my clients, and they seem to learn a lot from our coaching relationship. I love learning and not knowing and approach each session with curiosity. My clients are so creative! I have found what I was meant to do and just love it.

5- What is something that most ICFTN members would be surprised to learn about you?

After college, I backpacked South America with a friend. In Brazil, I discovered a store in Rio de Janeiro selling beautiful cotton clothing. I bluffed my way to their factory, designed a clothing line with them, returned to the U.S., learned Portuguese, and started importing my clothing line to Texas.

6- How do you enjoy spending your free time?

I love spending time with friends, family, and my two dogs. I love any kind of Arts, and spending time in nature, but I also need to have fun and try to make time for that!