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Certified Coaching Foundations Programme

Become an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate coach. A Transformative Learning Experience, part of the Solvay Executive MBA Portfolio.

 
Enrolments are now open! Start your application below. 

Location

Duration

-

Frequency

Language

Tuition

Application deadline

Programme start:

3

JUL

Info session

Certified Coaching Foundations Programme
Online

12:30 - 13:30
Leading Belgian Business School
Logo EMBA Solvay (FT + QS) (600 x 79 px) (2)-1

Who

Who is the programme aimed at?

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 Ready to transform your leadership by mastering the human dimension of performance? Do you want to deepen your self-awareness and navigate complex relational dynamics with more impact and presence? Or are you looking for the coaching tools to unlock your team’s potential and drive sustainable business results



Key admissions criteria

  • Higher Education Diploma (Bachelor/ Master/ Other)
  • Minimum 3 years of professional experience
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with proficiency in English.

Benefits

Why the Certified Coach Foundations?

Your individual and collective benefits

Individual 
Collective

Acquire essential coaching mindsets, techniques, and ethics that make you a trusted conversation partner in any context.

Explore personal patterns, develop emotional intelligence, and grow into a more authentic, resilient professional.

Gain an internationally recognised credential (ICF Level 1) that boosts credibility and expands your career path as a coach or people leader.

Empower leaders and employees to hold meaningful conversations that inspire ownership and accountability.

Equip team members with tools to navigate feedback, conflict, and change with openness and respect.

Build internal coaching capacity that supports talent development, engagement, and continuous growth across the organisation.

Curriculum

Overview & Modules

The Certified Coaching Foundations Programme (ICF Level 1) is an immersive, practice-driven journey designed to build skilled, confident coaches ready to make an impact at both individual and organisational levels. This programme serves as the official foundation for those aiming for the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential.

Over 8 intensive days — spread across 5 months — learners develop a solid foundation in coaching mindsets, ethical practice, and advanced coaching techniques. Each module blends theory, live practice, and supervision to ensure immediate application in professional contexts.

  • Total Contact Hours: 60h of accredited training.
  • Credential Readiness: Includes the mandatory 10 hours of mentor coaching (7h group sessions + 3h individual mentoring) required for the ICF ACC application.
  • Format: A hybrid blend of face-to-face sessions at Solvay Brussels School (SBS) and interactive online sessions.
Module 1
Embody a Coaching Mindset

Cultivate openness, curiosity, and self-awareness. Learn to use your own presence as a tool in coaching interactions.

Module 2
Demonstrate Ethical Practice

Master coaching standards and ethics. Structure clear, goal-oriented conversations and develop a robust intake process.

Module 3
Co-create the Relationship

Establish clear coaching agreements and boundaries. Explore the role of the coach within business contexts and supervision tools.

Module 4
Cultivate Trust and Safety

Create a secure, respectful environment for honest dialogue. Practice techniques for setting healthy boundaries and building mutual trust.

Module 5
Maintain Presence

Stay fully present and grounded. Learn techniques for sharp confrontation, reframing, and handling emotional dynamics.

Module 6
Communicate Effectively

Develop deep listening and powerful questioning skills. Practice silence, mirroring, and uncovering hidden information.

Module 7
Cultivate Learning and Growth

Turn insights into actionable goals. Explore change dynamics, competency development, and effective action planning.

Module 8
Prepare for Certification

Consolidate your knowledge and skills through a written test and competency-based coaching supervision, with official feedback to support your ICF application.

 
Your output

Learning Objectives

Emerge from your Certified Coaching Foundations Programme equipped with the skills, vision, and confidence to coach at the highest level.

Champion

Demonstrate Professional Coaching Ethics and Mindset

  • Apply ICF ethical guidelines and professional standards in all coaching contexts.
  • Demonstrate self-awareness and emotional regulation in service of the client.
  • Evaluate one’s coaching practice through reflection and feedback to foster ongoing development.
Champion

Establish and Sustain Effective Coaching Relationships

  • Formulate clear coaching agreements that define scope, roles, and responsibilities.
  • Create a safe, inclusive coaching space through empathy, respect, and authenticity.
  • Maintain presence by actively responding to client needs with openness and confidence.
Champion

Facilitate Client Insight and Forward Action

  • Interpret client verbal and non-verbal cues to deepen understanding.
  • Use powerful questioning and reframing to stimulate client insight.
  • Design actionable strategies and accountability structures that support client progress.
More tools under (y)our belt. 

The pillars of learning

By the end of the programme, you’ll not only master core coaching skills but also gain the confidence and credentials to inspire growth in yourself, your teams, and your organisation.

Academic Tools
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Engaging in-person workshops at Solvay Brussels School

Learn directly from seasoned executive coaches and ICF-accredited faculty in a dynamic, interactive setting. Benefit from real-time discussions, role-plays, and networking with like-minded professionals.

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Supervised coaching practice with direct feedback

Apply new techniques immediately through live coaching sessions observed by expert mentors. Receive constructive, personalised feedback to fine-tune your style and build confidence.

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Peer coaching circles for real-world application

Collaborate with fellow participants to practice coaching in a safe, supportive environment. Develop your skills progressively while expanding your professional network.

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Access to a professional digital learning platform with additional resources

Continue learning between workshops with curated reading materials, toolkits, and recorded lectures. Track progress, share insights, and revisit content anytime to reinforce mastery.

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Personal reflection assignments and growth planning

Deepen self-awareness through guided journaling and targeted assignments designed to connect theory to practice. Develop a clear and actionable development plan to support ongoing growth beyond certification.

 

Performance Coach Certification Statistics

Industry Insights

75

%

of coached individuals report improved work performance, relationships, and communication

 

Source: ICF Global Coaching Study 2023

7

x

average return on investment - that's what companies report on their coaching spend

 

 

Source: International Coaching Federation (ICF), 2024

92

%

of organizations report improved leadership and management effectiveness after building a coaching culture

 

Source: Coaching Counts Study, 2023 (cited by ICF)

Performance Coach Certification Faculty

Meet Your ICF-Certified Coaches

Co-leaders, Trainer, Coach, Mentor

Dr Martine George

Solvay Brussels School of Economics & Management

Martine is an ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC) and Advanced Certified Team Coach (ACTC), an experienced coach supervisor (ESIA), and a trusted reflective partner for C-level executives and entrepreneurs. She holds a PhD, teaches Management Practice, and brings her passion for coaching in higher education and data science into every engagement.

Co-leaders, Trainer, Coach, Mentor

Jocelyne De Pessemier

Solvay Brussels School of Economics & Management

Jocelyne is a Professional ICF-certified coach (PCC) and trusted eMBA CAP partner. She works as an Associate at Deloitte Belgium and runs a business that develops agility in people and organisations to enhance performance, achieve ambitious goals, and foster personal growth. She is passionate about empowering individuals to unlock their full potential and savour life to the fullest.

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Apply now. Learn tomorrow.

Apply for the Performance Coach Certification

Take the next best step in your career and save a seat in our upcoming cohort!

Contact

Any Questions?

Elissar Zein-2
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Elissar Zein

Recruitment & Admission Officer

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What are the terms and conditions for participating in this ICF-accredited programme?
Before applying, please read our Enrollment Agreement & Programme Policies. By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you have read and accepted the terms and conditions governing your participation in the programme.
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How can I finance my participation in the programme?

DISCOUNTS

  • Alumni of the Solvay Brussels School, Solvay Lifelong Learning, Université libre de Bruxelles and Vrije Universiteit Brussel benefit from a 10% discount on tuition fees.
  • Ruling: Your tuition fees may be recognised by the Belgian authorities as professional expenses and could therefore be eligible for a deduction under personal income tax (IPP) and corporate tax (ISOC). This potential tax saving could cover up to 25% of your tuition fees. For more information, please contact us or visit the SPF website.

 

SUBSIDIES & FINANCIAL AID

Subject to renewal of the regional agreements

  • Flanders Region - SME Wallet: The SME e-wallet is oriented towards practitioners of ‘liberal professions’ and SMEs whose operational headquarters are located in the Flemish Region. You have to submit the subsidy application within 14 days of the start of the programme/module/course. (for more information: VLAIO)

  • Flanders Region - Paid Training Leave: Under certain conditions, employees in the private sector are entitled to Flemish training leave. They are allowed to be absent from work to attend training or to prepare for evaluations, while their wages continue to be fully paid. The employer can be reimbursed a lump sum as compensation for the wage costs. You have to submit the subsidy application within 14 days of the start of the start of the programme/module/course. (for more information: Vlaanderen)

  • Flanders Region - Training Vouchers: You are an employee or you work as a temporary worker and you live or you work in Flanders/Brussels. You can request your training voucher via the WSE counter and you should preferably request the cheque before your registration, so that you can use it to pay your registration fee. (for more information: Vlaanderen)

  • Wallonia Region - Training Vouchers: Full or part-time employees from SME which has a maximum of 250 workers as well as self-employed. You have to submit the subsidy application within 14 days of the start of the programme/module/course. (for more information: Forem).