The birth of MAMA
MAMA Coaching was developed after it was clear there was not adequate support for women to address the complex changes that occur when we become parents. Our resources, our priorities, our values and our ambitions all shift in subtle but important ways; taking stock of this felt essential.
Our team of coaches have worked with hundreds of mothers at various stages of their career. We are all mothers, and we have all experienced first-hand the challenges and opportunities of returning to work after having a family.
Feelings of guilt, vulnerability, burnout and reduced self-confidence were the product of the split between professional and parent. MAMA was born to address managing such important – but competing – parts of our lives.
We know that it is possible to thrive as a working mother.
Our backgrounds span a range of sectors, including education, corporate, start-ups and the charity sector. This means we are well-placed to work with any individual, or company who sees the value in supporting their parents to be at their best.
Since the COVID pandemic, it feels increasingly necessary to lift mothers up and to acknowledge the immense juggle of working parenthood. The MAMA community aims to add momentum to the movement for greater gender equality in the workplace and enable mothers to bloom in whatever context they want.
Our coaches
Alice Ballantine Dykes
Founding Director, Coach & Mother
Before Alice had her children, she spent nearly 20 years in education as a Teacher and Consultant. She trained as an Executive & Personal Coach with Barefoot Coaching shortly before the birth of her second child.
As everything around her changed, she recognised her need for a non-judgemental and supportive space to explore her own professional choices going forward. If she needed that kind of opportunity – who else did too?
MAMA Coaching was started to create the time and space for mothers – in particular those who want to make active, positive choices about what their lives look and feel like.
Losing her own mother young, Alice has chosen to celebrate mothers as a way of honouring her beloved own. Now a mother to two girls, she is also interested in how things have changed throughout the generations – and what opportunity might look like as her daughters grow into adults.
A creative, warm and curious person, Alice really enjoys finding ways to connect to other mothers and explore what it means to live a fulfilled life. She loves learning how to build a business and thrives on being able to design a working life that plays to her strengths and to parent in the way she wants.
Nic Willcocks
Associate Coach, Programme Author & Mother
Like most women, Nic wears a number of different hats, and has spent many years working out how to do justice to each role, whilst staying true to her values and nurturing her own needs and interests.
An experienced Coach and Facilitator, Nic loves what MAMA Coaching offers mothers – valuable and necessary time and space to focus on self care and development, whilst growing their network of supportive relationships.
Nic also runs coaching circles for parents, facilitates workshops on areas such as imposter phenomenon and resilience, and works with a variety of individuals with a desire to focus on personal or professional development.
Through her work she enables others to uncover their resourcefulness, creativity and resilience in pursuit of a life that works well for them.
Anouk Van Den Eijnde
Associate Coach, Programme Author & Mother
Anouk works as a career and life coach, helping people to tune in and trust their inner foundations in order to move forwards with personal or professional changes.
She has spent over 15 years working in tech, start-up and non-profit sectors, most recently at Google leading community for Google Maps.
Always passionate about nurturing people, and driven by creating meaningful experiences. Anouk has a variety of skills from managing teams, setting up a woman’s mentoring scheme, initiating a local women’s circle and leading a program to help young people enter the workforce.
Having reached a point of burnout working full time with two young kids, she regularly works with people to slow down, reconnect with what nourishes them, aligning with their values and their creativity.
Mothers weave the social fabric of our society. They are not celebrated or valued as much as they should be for the hard graft of parenting. Bringing them together to share experiences, normalise anxiety, build confidence and support each other is a pleasure and a privilege.
What our MAMA’s are saying
“I’m struck by how confident and engaged I now feel with what I’m doing in my work. I literally feel I can achieve anything I want”
– Clare, Consultant & Mother
“I would very much recommend this coaching if you are struggling to figure out the best way forward. It really helps in building confidence, finding clarity and most of all some space to invest in you!”
– Kate, Counsellor & Mother
“I honestly can’t even begin to say how much of a difference coaching makes. I swear Alice is a miracle worker.”
– Hayley, Teacher & Mother
“A great and loving experience, full of wisdom, thoughtfulness and capacity for big dreams. I’d highly recommend this programme to create confidence, vision, perspective & community. Thanks so much.”
– Hannah, Business Owner & Mother