Judith Korsgren is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her strength of character and passion for coaching.

Her journey began in the heart of social work and expanded across continents, cultures, and callings. From the vibrant streets of Paraguay to the stillness of personal surrender, she has learned that transformation is rarely linear, but always possible.

Her clients don’t just get a coach, they gain a compassionate witness, a thoughtful challenger, and a partner in growth. With structured tools, a unique framework, and a heart attuned to each individual, she creates a space where even the quietest voice is heard.

Her coaching isn’t about fixing, it’s about honoring each person’s voice, even when it’s been silenced by grief, doubt, or dramatic life change. She brings her full self into every session: her curiosity, her faith, her improvisational spirit, and a deeply held belief in growth that lasts. Whether through metaphor, cultural sensitivity, or raw presence, she makes sure each client gets growth that is real, deep, and sustainable. Here is what she said…

Meet Life Coach Judith Korsgren:

Name: Judith Korsgren

Pillar: The Spirit, The Mind, The Heart

Who is this coach for: Anyone who wants to have someone in their corner chearing for them and guiding them navigate transitions with clarity aligned with their purpose.

How they can help: By using a structured coaching framework called “the funnel”, active listening, asking powerful questions, and creating a supporting environment.

First of all, how are you and your family doing after these Pandemic times?

I lost my husband suddenly just before the pandemic, which was a profound shock for me and my children.

We moved back from Paraguay to Sweden shortly after, so it was a period of immense personal transition for us.

Navigating grief, relocation, and global uncertainty all at once was a deep and shaping experience.

How did the coronavirus pandemic affect your clients? Did it affect you at all?

I was already going through massive transitions, so the pandemic maybe didn’t have as much of an impact for me as people living more “stable lives.”

I had also been working a considerable amount of time online, so working digitally wasn’t a challenge, it actually continued quite seamlessly.

My own grief and the move back to Sweden had a greater impact on me personally than the pandemic itself.

For clients, the experience varied.

Extroverts struggled with connection and validation but also used the time to (RE)evaluate life choices.

Introverts often thrived, enjoying the quiet and introspection.

What continues to matter deeply is recognizing the long term mental health impact, especially on young people and those in heavily quarantined areas.

What are the biggest lessons that you learned in this pandemic?

I think I knew this before, but maybe I deepened my understanding of the deep importance of living in small, authentic, and vulnerable communities, even online.

If we were ever uncertain of this, surely the pandemic reminded us, at least for a short while, about what is truly important.

The environment took a deep breath of relief.

Material things became less important.

The reality of world injustice was seen more clearly.

The solidarity within struggling communities lifted to the surface.

In Sweden, we appreciated the closeness to nature as never before and recognized a greater need for physical contact and presence when we were limited in this, especially at the end of life or other forms of suffering.

We can, as a species, get creative very quickly when necessary.

The Origin:

Tell us about you, your career, how you started with your coaching career?

I have a degree in social work, and throughout my life, I’ve been passionate about helping people move forward when they get “stuck.”

The Spanish phrase “Salir adelante” (which means “to move forward” and also “to move out of”) has become a guiding principle and the name of my company.

My husband first introduced me to the concept of coaching.

What started as me tagging along to coach training became a profound calling.

By 2016, we had become certified coaches with 200+ hours in cross cultural contexts.

I was hooked.

Coaching allows me to walk alongside people without taking responsibility for them.

It’s a powerful tool for leadership development and personal transformation.

I began working with Paraguayans (church leaders and everyday people, many without formal education) and soon expanded to training others in coaching skills.

The impact was transformative, and since then, I’ve worked with people across nearly every continent.

I’m innately curious about people, their stories, and their perspectives.

Coaching lets me learn and grow constantly.

I also love all forms of improvisation, dance, theater, song… it’s how I experience life.

My faith is another key driver.

I believe in a God who created a rich diversity of people and cultures and invites us into His presence and purposes.

What was your biggest obstacle that you had to overcome in your life that made you who you are today?

There have been many visible challenges in my life, grief, cross cultural transitions, relocations, but perhaps the greatest battles were internal: questions of identity, belonging, self doubt, and whether I even had a right to use my voice.

The defining moment of my life was choosing to surrender to Jesus.

Being fully loved and accepted changed everything.

It’s the root of my love for people, my curiosity, and my drive to create space at the table for every voice, not just the loudest ones.

Living in three countries (UK, Sweden, Paraguay) has also shaped me, building resilience and adaptability.

Every transition is a challenge, it is at the same time both an obstacle and a springboard.

Finding myself suddenly single after 28 years of marriage.

Returning to Sweden (not my native country) as a widow.

Imagining myself starting a business and taking the leap to become freelance )that’s still pretty new, to be honest, and continues to challenge me).

Full disclosure, I am now living with a cancer diagnosis.

The Coaching Style:

How do you innovate with coaching your clients?

I love using metaphors, images, and stories.

They open up creativity, reduce pressure, and invite the brain to see new possibilities.

It’s a playful yet powerful way to unlock deeper insight and transformation.

But everything we bring when coaching should come as a gift, suggestions held lightly for the other to take, change, or discard.

What’s unique about your coaching approach?

Well, anything I say will most probably have been said before.

So the simplest thing to say is that what makes my approach unique is, ME.

No one brings exactly what I bring.

The synergy between me and my clients is unique to each relationship.

I’m deeply curious, compassionate, and genuinely believe in the person in front of me.

My coaching is grounded in presence, deep listening, and curiosity… core elements of powerful transformation.

But I have these deep beliefs and values, so I am digging for treasure and looking for connection with purpose.

Particularly for people going through major transitions (often unexpected or undesired), I’ve got you!

We can often find counselors at these times to help us through it, but the questions about life purpose in times of transition often get missed… they don’t if you work with me.

And finally, coaching tends to have a Western bias…

It seriously doesn’t have to be that way, and it won’t if you work with me.

What benefits do your clients get after working with you?

Growth.

Real, lasting, personal growth.

Someone in their corner holding space and cheering them on.

One client, reflecting on his experience, said he had received great executive coaching in the past, but this was the first time he felt he’d truly grown as a person and that that growth would most probably be lasting.

That’s the transformation I aim for: growth that’s deep and sustainable.

You will grow and you will discover what is really important, the non negotiables and buried resources to help you navigate life.

Do you use any specific tools to be efficient with your clients?

Yes, I use a structured coaching framework (what I call “the funnel”), along with a variety of tools focused on life purpose, transition navigation, and cultural intelligence.

We begin with clear agreements and check in on goals regularly.

I also provide tools tailored to the client’s needs as they arise.

BUT these are gifts offered and adapted, we need to be in agreement about where we are going and what the client needs from their coach that they will not do on their own.

The Impact:

If you had a super megaphone that, when you speak into, the whole world will hear your message, what would you say?

Can I preach Jesus?

Honestly, that’s what I’d use the megaphone for!

But honestly, I’d rather be like Jesus and sit on a hill and have a conversation and ask some vital questions such as:

1. What are you building your life on?
2. What foundation will hold through the storms of this beautiful and broken world?
3. How are you showing up at this moment?
4. How does the world we live in need you to show up?
5. How does who you esteem to be and what you do match up?

And then maybe “Wow! You are so beautiful!”

And to the world, my advice would be:

Learn how to listen.

What is the greatest lesson you have learned in your life?

There is treasure in every situation.

When you entrust your circumstances to God, He can weave good from them, not always in the way you expect, but in ways that bring real transformation.

Presence and purpose are always available.

You may ask “why,” but more important is the assurance that you are not alone, and the hope that things won’t stay this way forever.

Faith gives you the eyes to find the treasure in even the hardest seasons.

We need each other.

It’s not always easy, but it’s better together.

But back to the “why”… the big why is not “why is this happening to me?” but “WHY am I doing this?”

Without clarity on why, the ground you stand on can often get shaky.

Your final thoughts?

I read recently someone who wrote that “coach” is not a noun but a verb, and I agree.

It’s a widely misused and misunderstood concept, and maybe we need to find new words to describe it.

Thank you, ICF and EMCC, for bringing international standards and ethics to this trade!

But I also believe that someone who coaches needs to have “the heart of a coach”…

To really deeply believe in the person before them, not just what they bring to the coaching relationship but also what they can become.

If you think you know where you are going, then you are most probably already lost.

You need to know with each person you meet, that you know nothing.

Maybe this is where true listening begins.

Where Can You Find Judith Korsgren?

If you liked this interview and if you would love to achieve a personal transformation that’s deep and sustainable while having someone in your corner cheering for you, schedule a FREE consultation call here and see how Coach Judith can assist you.

You can find all about her services here.

You can also reach out to her via WABYA.

If you’d like to peak a glimpse into her coaching, follow her Facebook profile.

And if you’d like to connect more personally with her, you can do that through LinkedIn or by sending her a direct message on her Email [email protected]. It was an honor having this interview with her.