Learn more about us.
Certified Coaching Foundations Programme
Become an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate coach. A Transformative Learning Experience, part of the Solvay Executive MBA Portfolio.
Location
Duration
Frequency
Language
Tuition
Application deadline
Programme start:
Leading Belgian Business School

Who
Who is the programme aimed at?
Profile
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.
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.
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.
Embody a Coaching Mindset
Cultivate openness, curiosity, and self-awareness. Learn to use your own presence as a tool in coaching interactions.
Demonstrate Ethical Practice
Master coaching standards and ethics. Structure clear, goal-oriented conversations and develop a robust intake process.
Co-create the Relationship
Establish clear coaching agreements and boundaries. Explore the role of the coach within business contexts and supervision tools.
Cultivate Trust and Safety
Create a secure, respectful environment for honest dialogue. Practice techniques for setting healthy boundaries and building mutual trust.
Maintain Presence
Stay fully present and grounded. Learn techniques for sharp confrontation, reframing, and handling emotional dynamics.
Communicate Effectively
Develop deep listening and powerful questioning skills. Practice silence, mirroring, and uncovering hidden information.
Cultivate Learning and Growth
Turn insights into actionable goals. Explore change dynamics, competency development, and effective action planning.
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.

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.

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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Elissar Zein
Recruitment & Admission Officer