About

I’m Laura Barker. This is my story.

This is a story about a search – my search for meaning and purpose. I carefully considered my career at the time, Human Resources, and decided that a change from Human Resources to Project Management would be the ticket. It wasn’t. I explored teaching, facilitation, senior HR roles, volunteering, more education, and did lots of research. I felt lost and frustrated. My quest seemed elusive. I was “in my head,” making everything more complicated than necessary.

Laura smiling — **Laura Barker**, CPCC, ACC

Mind, body, heart, spirit – that is what makes us human. I had a regular yoga practice for over twenty years that taught me how the body informs the mind (and heart and spirit). I realized that by focusing only on the mind, I missed out on accessing information that would be available to me if only I listened to body, heart and spirit. I knew I wanted a kinder world, guided by The Golden Rule. I knew I was heart-based and intuitive in my thoughts and behaviour, despite denying this aspect of myself for years. I knew I was called to serve others through my primary passion, understanding human nature.

Then I had two separate conversations in which each person suggested I consider coaching. The first time I heard it, I dismissed it (I was still too much “in my head”). The second time landed differently. Boom! It felt good right away. Something had shifted and I knew this was what I was meant to do. Everything fell into place, quickly and effortlessly. I quit my project management job, enrolled in coach training with Co-Active Training Institute, co-founded a new charitable endeavour that reinforced kindness, and found a new HR job in a company that reflected my values. And all of this happened six months before the pandemic started, something that has changed each of us so profoundly.

Action flowed easily once I knew who I was and what I wanted, and suddenly I felt fully dynamic, engaged and alive. I realized I wanted to help others achieve the same clarity that I now enjoyed. To help others discover what makes life meaningful to them. To experience a life fully loved™.

Laura is a natural coach. Her probing and compassionate questions helped me learn about myself: my value system, interests, goals and strengths.
LM

I engaged Laura for coaching as I took on an expanded role leading an asset management company in Canada. As a female, I knew I would be a role model and had high expectations of myself. I was feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

In our first few coaching sessions we worked through exercises that allowed me to reflect on my purpose, leadership style and what mattered most to me. I continue to be grounded by the clarity I achieve in my coaching sessions – allowing me to be resilient and confident when challenges came my way.
OS

Laura’s coaching was a breath of fresh air and EXACTLY what I needed at that point of my life. I didn’t realize how impactful coaching was going to be, but by the end of the sessions together, I left feeling refreshed, inspired and genuinely curious about what my future held for me. Because of Laura and her coaching, I believe I became a better person – someone who is more open-minded, someone with a clearer focus, and someone who is willing to explore opportunities and possibilities far more than I ever did before.
VB