About

Hi! Welcome! My name’s Natalia.

I’m an accountability and mindset coach. I’m also a Preferred PSYCH-K® Facilitator and an intuitive artist.

Described by clients as having “Compassion with insight.”

What does that mean for you?

I don’t tell you what to do.
You’ve done all the courses and training. And unless you’re a newbie, you generally know what you need to do to grow your business and create a more lasting, meaningful impact. But somehow, you don’t get around to doing it.

I help you:

• get out of your own way to achieve success on your own terms
• clear any resistance, procrastination and self-sabotaging habits
• keep and deliver on your own promises
• make sure that you’re clear on what you want
• do the right things to achieve your goals (it’s so easy to fall into the busy work trap)
• identify and embed beliefs and strategies that set you up for success
• tap into your own inner wisdom, guidance and creative genius
• become more inspired and motivated to do the work you’re here to do.
• build your confidence to be more visible in the world and leave a lasting impact and legacy

“Natalia is a gentle presence, ready with a listening ear, wise words, and creative ideas to assist a sole entrepreneur in a developing business.”
Frances Smith, Shine Your Light Learning

I’ve been where you are.

I know what it’s like to run oneself ragged doing all the things. I’m a recovering perfectionist and Type A personality. I followed all the ‘rules’, set all the goals and worked really hard to make things happen. But no matter what I achieved, nothing was ever good enough. Failure or saying ‘no’ was never an option.

I kept shifting the goal posts on myself, demanding more. My self-talk ticker tape was on constant repeat that I should be doing more, doing better. And then after a series of major life events, I got tired of living and working this way.

I now use a kinder and gentler approach to getting things done. I make sure to be clear about my intentions first so that I’m already vetting what gets onto my ‘to do’ list. I use my 20 years of strategic planning experience but in a way to capitalises on my visual and kinaesthetic thinking strengths. I also trust my own body and energy levels to guide me on what to do next. Because funnily enough when I harness my strengths, do things I enjoy and make me feel good, I create better results. Self-care is not just something that I pay lip service to any more (especially after the recent years we’ve had). I have learnt that when I fill up my tank I have more to give to my business, my clients and others.

I see myself as a lantern bearer, a believing mirror and permission slip. 

I shine a light so that people can see where their heart is calling them. I do not tell people what to do nor give them cookie cutter strategies. I want people to connect to their own inner wisdom and creativity before taking action. I am also good at seeing people’s strengths and potential, as well as their ability to fulfil their heart’s desires (and reflect this back to them like a mirror). I support people to follow their hearts and their dreams. Sometimes they are waiting for some sort of permission and just need someone, like me, to believe in them and their abilities before taking action.

I’d love to shine that light and hold a space for you to create a work and life that feels more like you, plays to your strengths and supports your values and lifestyle.

“You mightn’t be clear about what you’re seeking or needing to help you move forward with your business/professional life. Natalia helps you to find clarity in yourself and provides nurturing support and practical tools and ways of thinking to make it all happen… It’s more personal development that strengthens your own/professional self, builds clarity and confidence, which in turn leads you to clarify these business goals and strategies.”
Alice Woodruff, Active City

My work is underpinned by heart-centred creativity, self-care and the mind-body-spirit connection.

My intuitive mandala drawing is an essential part of my accountability offerings. (Drawing mandalas is an ancient spiritual and artistic practice of developing patterns and shapes within a circle.) I send out Mandala Inspiration Personalised Card Readings to clients, share weekly inspo images and messages with my Inspo Mail list, and highlight energetic themes regularly for my Inspiration Club members and 1on1 Clarity and Accountability Clients. See more in the Mandala Gallery.

When we use colour, symbols, metaphor and imagery, we tap into our right-brained, more holistic, big-picture and intuitive thinking.

Also, when we lose ourselves in a creative act, we relax, have fun, quieten the outside world (and maybe even the mind chatter), become more present, and reconnect to that deeper part of ourselves.

Read more about picking the right types of thinking for your task and why I use creative processes, such as drawing, collage, story and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, to get you thinking more laterally when you do your visioning and planning. We then use linear thinking tools, which we’re more accustomed to (like lists, ranking, and scheduling) to implement and take action on our plans.

I use creative and brain integration tools so you can nail these 3 essential elements (read more here):

1. Your Intentions – to set focused and meaningful goals

2. Your Actions – keeping you on track and doing the right actions towards your goals

3. Your Beliefs – supporting your mindset to increase your self-belief and confidence, rewire your stress responses, and eliminate any limiting beliefs and resistance.

So, you can be more clear, more confident and magnetic in running your business, achieving success and making a positive impact on your own terms.

How do you know if you’re in the right place?

You’re here to make a positive difference.

You don’t want to just go through the motions at work.

You want to feel inspired and be passionate about what you do.

And you want to have a successful business, while getting fabulous results for your clients.

FYI you don’t need to see yourself as ‘creative’ (although I do. We’re all innately creative. We just express it in different ways and degrees.)

If you’re not achieving the things you want in your life, I would definitely recommend having a session with Natalia. You’ll walk away with a new sense of confidence, clarity and belief that anything is possible.
Sandra Buckley – InSync Business Connections

I’d love to support you if you’re:

• feeling stuck or lost
• overwhelmed
• tired or burnt out
• unclear or have ‘muddy’ thinking
• frustrated, angry, bitter or disappointed
• doing all the things but still not getting anywhere – like the wheels are turning, but you’re still stuck in the mud
• you’re procrastinating on actions that would get you out there and more visible in the world
• sensitive and/or want to be led by your heart and inner authority
• a visual thinker and/or prefer ‘getting your hands dirty’ in order to learn new things
• sick of following traditional goal setting and planning techniques that get boring or don’t give you results over the longer term
• open to a more intuitive, kinder and gentler way of doing things that ultimately feel right to you, rather because you should or someone told you to.

If you’re a visual thinker/learner, Natalia is the perfect coach. Life gets simpler and better with each session!
Cathy O’D

What qualifies me to do this?

I have almost 30 years of strategic planning, project management, stakeholder engagement, and workshop facilitation expertise together with my art practice and creativity training.

In my previous working life, I worked in strategic planning, policy and project development within the public and private sector. I had extensive experience in running cross-government and multi-stakeholder projects, ‘joining the dots’ and working across various disciplines, interest areas and departments to produce more holistic, inclusive and shared solutions. I also presented and published many research reports and conference papers.

My best ‘pinch me moment was going to Berlin in 2000 to represent Australia at the Youth Forum on “Sustainable Urban Development”, URBAN21 Global Conference (one of the world’s most influential conference events for sustainable urban development to help shape better cities). So, thrilling to be in the audience for the opening by Kofi Annan (then Secretary-General of the United Nations). Quite surreal (and slightly intimidating) to know that whatever came out of my mouth during our panel discussion was being translated into up-teen languages.

Through Inner Creative, I have worked with various clients ranging from local government, not-for-profit community groups, and small business, such as Manningham City Council and Boroondara City Council (as a sub-contractor), Stonnington Toy Library, and LightFM community radio station.

I tailor my workshops and presentations to the clients’ desired outcomes and audience’s needs. I’ve been invited to present, run workshops and judge award categories at various conferences and retreats.

You can watch previously recorded presentations and interviews, and listen to my podcast guest spots on the Events and Speaking Page.

I won’t bore you with every single training and course I’ve done in coaching, training, creativity, management, leadership, facilitation, and communication. These are the big, main ones:

• Master of Social Science (Environment And Planning)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Hons)
• Bachelor of Arts – majoring in English LIt with a visual arts minor
• Certificate lV in Training and Assessment (TAE40110), subsequently updated with ‘Address adult language, literacy and numeracy skills’ unit (TAELLN411)
• PSYCH-K® Master Facilitator Workshop
• PSYCH-K® Advanced Integration Workshop
• LEGO SERIOUS PLAY™ Facilitator Training

Still curious about who I am? OK some fun facts for you :-).

If I’m not working, I am… thinking about new offers or ideas for Inner Creative. OK. Truly :-). I also love:

• going for walks around the neighbourhood to scope out house renos/design, snap pics of flowers and trees in local parks, or head further afield on a bush/nature walk.
• watching irreverent comedy, behind-the-scenes doco’s, and foreign TV shows (completely obsessed with anything on Sissi of Austria, chateau renovating and sisters behaving badly)
• learning new things and listening to podcast interviews – My current faves: Wildcard, Smartless, and Real Human Design Stories. Fingers crossed for new releases of Beautiful Writers Podcast and Norah Jones Playing Along.
• belting out tunes in my car (don’t care if I’m alone or not – I may only hum if my kids’s friends are also in the car with us)
• drawing and doing crafty/fix it type projects
• reading – I switch between Kindle and soft-covers from the library. The book that changes me for the better every time I read it: Alice Walker’s “The Temple of My Familiar”.
• taking my family out on excursions (when they let me). We have teenagers now, so they no longer want to go to the playground, zoo, museum or art gallery. They may indulge me with the occasional flick after a food bribe. Luckily, my husband still likes to go travelling and visiting galleries and museums with me.

I’m at my most ‘me’ when I’m…facilitating a workshop or a PSYCH-K® session; drawing mandalas; and dancing (the ultimate feeling when you’re completely one with the music and everything else disappears).

My top 5 character strengths are: 1) Love of Learning; 2) Curiosity and interest in the world; 3) Creativity, ingenuity, and originality; 4) Industry, diligence, and perseverance; 5) Kindness and generosity. (See my strengths described using LEGO® Serious Play here.)

I’m a sucker for: crystals and nice smelling candles. And often use them to set intentions and create focus in my work. But I don’t like giving away my power to something outside of myself to make my decisions nor using them as a crutch for taking action. Instead, I tap into how my body is feeling (our bodies and stress responses do not lie) and tune into my inner wisdom (I can help you do this too).

When I was little, I wanted to be an Angel when I grew up. As a teenager, I realised that this wasn’t possible so wanted to be a Muse instead, and then after ‘The Matrix’ came out I wanted to be an Oracle. My Fantasy Escape career during Uni undergrad was becoming a Florist or an Art Curator. I now know how much work that all is so now content myself in bringing these elements into my current business.

I was born a cat person (and had 4 cats growing up), but have broadened my horizons to appreciate dogs too. My family inherited Moby the border collie from my Mum and he lived with us during his twilight years. He was one of my greatest teachers about unconditional love.

My favourite treats: Popcorn, any type of cheese or potato-based dish (depending on my mood and craving for salt 🙂 ) My family can tell there’s something wrong if I refuse mashed potato.

I have a love/hate relationship with personality descriptors and systems. They can provide relief (‘Oh yay I’m not just a weirdo’) but can sometimes box us in to feeling like we need to be or operate in a certain way. I can be described as:

• ENFP
• Aquarius sun, Leo moon, Gemini rising
• 5/2 Emotional Projector

Want to learn more about what it would be like to work with me? I’d also love to get to know you better too.

Here are a few options:

1. Set up a 1hr 1on1 Breakthrough Brainstorming Session to tackle an important task or project that you’re avoiding or procrastinating on. You’ll leave with less stress, a fresh perspective, feeling like ‘I’ve got this!’ and knowing exactly what to do next. (Get $100 credit if you subsequently take up a Clarity and Accountability Support Package, the Inspiration Club Accountability Group or the PSYCH-K® Transformation Package ).

2. Book a 75min Transform Stress and Thinking Patterns using PSYCH-K®  to remove any blocks around your goals, transform stress around a particular situation, or discover insights underlying a condition or situation that keeps repeating itself.  (Get $100 credit if you subsequently take up a Clarity and Accountability Support Package, the Inspiration Club Accountability Group or the PSYCH-K® Transformation Package ).

3. Sign up to my Inspo Mail and get to know me through my weekly emails that aim to uplift, inspire and give you useful tips to support you in realising your goals. It also comes with the free Harness Your Creativity Characteristics e-book to help you be more creative based on how you like to work.

It’s never too late to work out how to get to where you want to be.

You’re also welcome to browse around my website and online shop :-). Check out the following links to my Resource Pages. Happy reading!

Unlock your inspiration. Live and work in a way that feels right and true for you. Be the person you came here to be.