Maria Gallagher stared at her new title: Executive Director. It was an honor, certainly—but also terrifying.

She loved the mission of her Harrisburg non-profit. She believed in the work. But managing a team? That was different. “I was a novice and needed to become a professional in a hurry,” she admits. She wanted to supervise with both competence and compassion, but she didn’t know how.

The gap between who she was and who she needed to be felt uncomfortably wide.

When a friend mentioned coach training, Maria was intrigued but cautious. The time commitment worried her. What would be expected? Could she actually do this?

Then she spoke with the instructor at PCCI.

“She took the time to answer all my questions,” Maria remembers. “She was compassionate and caring and helped me to discern my calling.” That conversation sealed the deal. Maria enrolled in The Essentials of Life Coaching program.

The training surprised her from day one. She’d imagined coaching as mentorship—giving advice, sharing wisdom, telling people what to do. Instead, she discovered it was question-oriented.

At first, this felt strange. But as she learned the process, something shifted.

The real turning point came during a class practice session.

Maria volunteered to coach in front of everyone. Her heart pounded. But as she asked questions and listened—really listened—something clicked.

“I had a breakthrough moment when I realized that I was on the right path, that there was a place in coaching for me.”

It wasn’t just about techniques. Maria learned to listen deeply, to understand the motivations beneath people’s words. She began seeing her staff differently—not as problems to solve, but as people with their own wisdom to discover.

“I began to see how I could use coaching on the job to help my staff grow and develop. This was eye-opening and a real godsend to my place of work.”

Faith wasn’t an add-on to the training—it was woven throughout. For Maria, whose faith is her number one priority, this made all the difference. She felt at home in an atmosphere where spirituality was respected and honored.

Today, Maria regularly coaches her team members toward their professional goals. Recently, one staff member faced a significant decision. Through the coaching Maria provided, this woman sorted through her options and found clarity.

“She felt validated and heard,” Maria says, “and it helped to improve her life.”

Maria’s Impact: Currently coaching 6-15 clients, primarily her staff members, helping them achieve professional goals and navigate important life decisions.

The ripple effects go beyond her workplace. The real transformation is internal. “I am a wiser human being as a result of coaching,” Maria reflects. “It has made me more attuned to individual strengths and the harmony that can be created through faith-filled collaboration.”

“Take it to prayer. See what the Lord might be calling you to do.” That’s Maria’s first piece of advice.

And she’s quick to address the practical concerns: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. If God wants you to pursue coaching, he will give you the time and means necessary to do it.”

Maria would tell her former self something simple: “You will never regret the experience of your coaching training. It is not only training for your profession, it is training for life.”

Like Maria, you might be wondering if coaching is right for you—or if you have the time, the calling, or the clarity to move forward. That’s exactly why we offer a complimentary conversation with an Academic Advisor.

No pressure. Just clarity. Let’s explore together what God might be calling you toward.