My Story:
From Setback to Success

My Story:
From Setback to Success

My Story:
From Setback to Success

My Vision

 I see myself as a catalyst for transformation, helping business leaders and individuals turn their visions into reality. In five years, I’ll be sharing more inspiring stories of clients who’ve achieved what they once thought impossible.

My journey from setback to success will have inspired a community of resilient, goal-oriented individuals. They’ll have learned to balance peak performance with strategic rest, creating a ripple effect of positive change in their organizations and personal lives.

Addressing motivation, mental, emotional, and physical needs, I follow the concept of the performance pyramid (Loehr/Schwartz 2001). This approach aligns with the idea of natural seasons, ensuring a balanced and sustainable path to peak performance. It emphasizes the importance of holistic well-being.

This vision isn’t just about individual achievements; it’s about fostering a culture where continuous improvement and well-being go hand in hand, creating a more balanced and fulfilled society.

My Story: From Setback to Success

My Story:
From Setback to Success

The Challenge 
Just before turning 50, I set out to reach two milestones:

  1. Running my first half marathon
  2. Giving my first talk at an international conference


The Setback
 
At 18, my sports career ended—or so I was told. Serious knee problems meant no more volleyball, and doctors advised a life without sports.

The Comeback 
Against all odds, I refused to accept those limits. I joined a freestyle swimming course, met my husband, and slowly rebuilt myself as an athlete. At 49, I ran my first half marathon. Three years later, I completed a middle-distance triathlon.

storyline from setback to success

The Mindset 
I succeeded by listening to my inner voice, embracing discomfort, and making strategic rest part of my routine. This athlete’s mindset transformed how I approach every area of life.

The Sports Formula for Business & Life 
When preparing the proposal for my first talk at an international conference, I realized:

  • Peak performance isn’t just for athletes
  • Small changes create big impact over time
  • Mental hacks can help us stay calm under pressure and expand our comfort zones

BESIG conference Iasi keynote talks 2018

How Can I Support You?

Performance Coaching
for Business Leaders & Anyone
with Unfulfilled Ambitions

As a coach, I help business leaders and professionals achieve sustainable peak performance.

It’s not just about results. It’s about enjoying the journey.
Ready to go all in – with strategic rest?

It’s not just about results.

 

It’s about
enjoying the journey.


Ready to go all in
– with strategic rest?

My Coaching Journey

Coaching
Certifications

2021 - 2023
Certified Organizational Coach
SolutionsAcademy

August 2023
EMCC Senior Practitioner

December 2023
ICF PCC

2024
Heart Rate Variability
(HRV) Coach
Institute for Performance
Diagnostics and
Health Management

Industry
Specilizations

Automotive & Manufacturing
Consumer Goods & Trade

Insurances & Finances

IT & Telecommunication 

Higher Education & Science


Target Audience:

1:1 & Teams
in German & English
from Start-ups to Multinationals

Business Leaders & Executives

Coaching
Focus Areas

Communication
Collaboration/Trust
Conflict Resolution
Remote Leadership
Intercultural Leadership
Presentation / Presence
Self management /Resilience
Work-Life-Balance

Work
Experience

2024 - today
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Coach

2021 - today
Founder / Performance Coach
Lichterfeld Coaching, Dortmund


 2000 - today
Founder / Business Communication & Intercultural Trainer

Communication Lights, Dortmund

1993 - 2000
MA in Science of Learning Languages
Ruhr University, Bochum

1985 - 1993
Export Merchant/Supervisor -
Brau und Brunnen International GmbH, Dortmund

Coaching
Certifications

2021 - 2023
Certified Organizational Coach
SolutionsAcademy

August 2023
EMCC Senior Practitioner

December 2023
ICF PCC

2024
Heart Rate Variability
(HRV) Coach
Institute for Performance
Diagnostics and
Health Management

Industry
Specilizations

Automotive & Manufacturing
Consumer Goods & Trade

Insurances & Finances

IT & Telecommunication 

Higher Education & Science


Target Audience:

1:1 & Teams
in German & English
from Start-ups to Multinationals

Business Leaders & Executives

Coaching
Focus Areas

Communication
Collaboration/Trust
Conflict Resolution
Remote Leadership
Intercultural Leadership
Presentation / Presence
Self management /Resilience
Work-Life-Balance

Work
Experience

2024 - today
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Coach

2021 - today
Founder / Performance Coach
Lichterfeld Coaching, Dortmund


 2000 - today
Founder / Business Communication & Intercultural Trainer

Communication Lights, Dortmund

1993 - 2000
MA in Science of Learning Languages
Ruhr University, Bochum

1985 - 1993
Export Merchant/Supervisor -
Brau und Brunnen International GmbH, Dortmund

Experiences

Life
Experiences

I am deeply grateful for the incredible support, encouragement, and love I have received from communities of neighbours, colleagues, friends, and families.

Above all, I am thankful for my two wonderful and inspiring daughters and for over 30 years of marriage. My husband played a key role in combining my passion for triathlon with my professional life.

Accompanying him throughout all the steps of his exceptional sports life, he has been my role model with 40 finished Ironman long-distance races, including 3 Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

As a lung doctor and sports scientist, he introduced me to HRV coaching and encouraged me to add it to my portfolio.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this wonderful journey. I am already looking forward to the next version of myself.

Life
Experiences

I am deeply grateful for the incredible support, encouragement, and love I have received from communities of neighbours, colleagues, friends, and families.

Above all, I am thankful for my two wonderful and inspiring daughters and for over 30 years of marriage. My husband played a key role in combining my passion for triathlon with my professional life.

Accompanying him throughout all the steps of his exceptional sports life, he has been my role model with 40 finished Ironman long-distance races, including 3 Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

As a lung doctor and sports scientist, he introduced me to HRV coaching and encouraged me to add it to my portfolio.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this wonderful journey. I am already looking forward to the next version of myself.

My Coaching Philosophy

As a coach and trainer with over two decades of experience, I empower business leaders to harness their resourcefulness, maximize their potential, and sustain their energy effectively.

Drawing from my background as a triathlete, I deeply understand the importance of a balanced body-mind connection. I believe that peak performance must be paired with strategic rest, transforming stress into a catalyst for growth.

My approach focuses on helping clients recognize their progress and adopt solution-focused thinking and acting.

The Peak Performance Pyramid

Peak Performance Pyramid based on resourcefulness
English (UK)