Multi-Award-Winning Executive and Career Coach, Educator, and Author of The Success Trap
THE SANCTUARY
Deep Roots, High Wings
The 4-Month Liberational Mastermind (online).
(Max. 10 spaces).
Next pre-call 26 Feb. 6pm UK / 1pm ET
Applications close midnight March 7th.
Are you a professional or leader and wondering ‘What's next?’
THE SANCTUARY
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THE SANCTUARY
You're in the right place!
Perhaps you have the career and life you wanted but something is starting to feel unsatisfying.
Maybe you have recurring dreams about performance pressure or wake up at night feeling anxious about whether you’re on the right track and what the future holds.
Conventional success doesn’t guarantee peace or happiness. The increasingly uncertain and changing world requires new ways of looking at work and life. If your success to date is keeping you in a role or situation you don’t like, it becomes a ‘Success Trap’ and it’s time for a change of approach.
Live your life as a conversation not an argument.
If you were to use a simple test for your life: is it an evolving conversation of discovery or a series of repetitive patterns and challenges?
As we mature, more inner freedom becomes possible, even in the midst of pressure and uncertainty.
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The Sanctuary is open:
A few spots are available for the next 4-month Liberational Mastermind online.
Who is this for?
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Mid- to senior-career professionals in medicine, law, consulting, academia, policy, sustainable tech, or related corporate leadership roles.
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You’ve benefitted from therapy, mindfulness, and self-help in understanding your patterns, but you’ve reached a plateau and want to go deeper
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You sense a shift coming in your career and life
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You’re not driven by financial success, but you have the freedom to explore new possibilities without immediate financial pressure.
The liberation approach
Coaching often takes a problem-solving approach that replaces one set of problems with ‘better quality’ problems and strategies. The liberational approach seeks to shift out of the problem perspective altogether and towards inner freedom. It’s rooted in ancient Buddhist philosophy and practice, as well as modern Liberation Psychology and neurocognitive science. It’s a radical way to meet the uncertainty, free yourself from reactivity, and live with clarity and confidence —walking the Middle Way.
Areas of exploration:
Through the systematic exploration of beliefs, assumptions and fears, our mind is gradually liberated and body energised to meet any situation with more presence and clarity. Life is experienced with more quiet joy and lightness.
Questions we’ll explore in The Sanctuary include:
What’s real?...
What drives you? What really drives you?
Why is it so hard to change?
How do you limit/push yourself?
Is procrastination an illusion?
What’s the right path?
What’s the next step?
Where’s fear interfering?
How do you face the unknown?
Other questions: What is the role of AI in your way of living? How do you balance material and spiritual concerns? Where is the best space to contribute?
The Emergent Curriculum: The Middle Way
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#1: [Presence through cultivating attunement]: Developing calm, sensitivity to the subtle shifts and flows in yourself and your environment to guide wise action.
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#2: [Power through holding creative tension]: Learning to inhabit the contractions and paradoxes resulting from the gap between your current situation and your vision, without seeking to resolve them prematurely or abandoning your capacity for choice.
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#3: [Possibility through leaning into uncertainty]: Letting go of the need for predetermined outcomes or guaranteed methods, and remaining open to emergent possibilities so you can create liberational pathways to new worlds.
There are six key practices to take you on this journey:
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Relax: Rest in your calm, still core.
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Reflect: Ask powerful questions to expand awareness.
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Release: Let go of limiting patterns and fears that hold you back.
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Reconnect: Articulate your new vision, values, voice, visibility pathway.
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Respond: Take easeful, inspired, timely, energy-efficient and effective action.
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Receive: Cultivate patience, gratitude and openness to abundance.
Each Sanctuary session will support you in embodying these principles through teaching, awareness practices, group dialogue, spotlight coaching, and practical experiments. You’ll be guided by expert coaching and the wisdom of fellow journeyers, creating a powerful container for your fullest liberation.
You'll deepen your calm awareness while expanding your sense of possibility and taking wise action aligned with your new vision.
Your life is the 'agenda'.
The Middle Way is the principle of facing uncertainty with presence rather than reactivity; without grasping for premature answers or retreating in fear. The Middle Way isn’t about balance but about understanding that uncertainty teaches us to take action without falling into forceful striving or passive acceptance.
In Summary:
The Sanctuary journey unfolds through your direct experience, shaped by your emerging questions and challenges. Six liberational practices will be explored in group sessions and woven into conversations.
There are six key practices to take you on this journey:
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Relax: Rest in your calm, still core.
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Reflect: Ask powerful questions to expand awareness.
-
Release: Let go of limiting patterns and fears that hold you back.
-
Reconnect: Articulate your new vision, values, voice, visibility pathway.
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Respond: Take easeful, inspired, timely, energy-efficient and effective action.
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Receive: Cultivate patience, gratitude and openness to abundance.
Each Sanctuary session will support you in embodying these principles through teaching, awareness practices, group dialogue, spotlight coaching, and practical experiments. You’ll be guided by expert coaching and the wisdom of fellow journeyers, creating a powerful container for your fullest liberation.
You'll deepen your calm awareness while expanding your sense of possibility and taking wise action aligned with your new vision.
In detail:
Month 1: Rooting
Relax: The foundational mental state
Relaxed Alertness is the foundation for liberation. Navigating uncertainty and taking a step on a new path requires energy and mental space. Without that, change becomes sluggish, and we get stuck in ‘procrastination’ while being busy – staying in motion without real movement. Liberation arises through resting in awareness so the mind can get clear, and the body can re-energise and rebalance.
Reflect: Using the mind wisely
After this foundation is laid, it becomes possible to develop penetrating focus and explore the deeper questions and challenge assumptions. As you see more clearly the hold of limiting narratives and beliefs that hold you back or push you too hard is broken and awareness develops further.
Month 2: Expanding
Release: Letting go of unhelpful conditioning
As awareness deepens, moments of release naturally arise on all levels – physical, emotional, psychological. Sometimes insight precedes release, sometimes release creates space for insight. Liberation emerges not from adding more, but from releasing what constrains our natural wisdom and capability. Letting go of old conditioning rooted in childhood, society, and culture a freer way of being is revealed.
Reconnect: Cultivating supportive mental states
With more inner freedom come expanded possibilities and clarity about next steps. You also experience more quiet joy, energy, balance (equanimity) in any situation. External circumstances no longer dictate your mood or cloud your decisions but simply inform the best course of action.
Respond: Moving like water
Trusting next steps to emerge naturally and trusting decisions as they come gives rise to a quiet confidence. Uncertainty becomes an opportunity to walk the Middle Way – not forcing or stopping but moving fluidly like water. A sense of inner freedom deepens and action is guided by wisdom and generosity.
Month 3: Integrating
Receive: Honouring life’s unfolding beauty
The cycle of energy flow and the interconnected nature of life means it’s important to learn how to ask, receive, and be patient as circumstances shift and events unfold. It becomes easier to celebrate the successes and let go of the losses – they become part of your musical notes in the Great Symphony of Life.
Month 4:
Continuing: Living the Middle Way
Liberation is not an end state but a way of being—an ongoing, ever-deepening relationship with life. The final month supports your ongoing journey beyond the mastermind, where each step reveals itself through awareness and choice.
1) YOU (Presence)
First, you'll reconnect with who you really are beyond titles, roles, or status. You'll develop your own practices for awareness, reflection, inner-certainty and presence so you spend less time in stressful mental states and more time feeling powerful, energised, and free - ready for aligned action,
Sanctuary Makers
Join a 10-person group of successful leaders and professionals co-creating a space to take a step back, dive deeper and create the world they want to live (without sacrificing their health, relationships, or financial needs).
Participants have included:
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a professor of medicine and chief in a large hospital
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a vice president in a well-known digital company
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a head of communications in a global bank
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an occupational physician and president of a national professional body
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the public health advisor for a famous humanitarian agency
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a head of programme at the World Health Organisation - Europe HQ
Whether you're a stressed executive or busy expert, the Sanctuary will help you resource yourself and explore a deeper level of fulfilment so you can take easeful action towards the career and life you truly want.
Dr Olaa Mohamed-Ahmed,
Consultant in Public Health.
My time in the group has been nothing short of life-changing. I joined with some specific skills I wanted to achieve and quickly found so much more - purpose, vision and most importantly, joy. Amina is a phenomenal coach. She selected a wonderful group, and supported, counselled and guided us throughout.
Claudia,
Organisational Specialist and Coach, HSBC
Trust your intuition. If you're drawn to this programme, go for it. Amina is highly competent, very professional, and able to create a unique space. I am very experienced in working with coaches and am trained as one myself - and I have seldomly experienced such respectful and effective work
Dr. Ebere Okereke MD PhD (Sanctuary Member 2022)
Global Health Expert and Chief Programme Officer, Reaching the Last Mile
Having this clarity is so liberating! I have a job lined up now which I will start in a few weeks. It will take me on a new work adventure and will be a nice way to end my contribution to global health. I hope you find your truth as you explore life. Thank you, Amina for helping me reach this clarity and to not just be content but excited by it.
Eleni Lialiamou.
VP, Digital Products. CEO and Founder of The Kimolian Academy.
"Go for it! It's certainly the greatest gift I gave myself over the past 10 years. I believe it has made the greatest impact in my career. My daily life has changed. I am doing less yet what seemed impossible is happening effortlessly.
Louanne,
Finance Director to Start Ups and SMEs
I am embracing more guilt-free self-care, space and fun. Most importantly, I feel so much more present and aware. What makes the group and Amina unique is her mindful way of simultaneously helping you create space and challenge yourself.
Ula Caroto,
Transformational Coach and Consultant, formerly UBS Client Advisor.
Life felt like an uphill struggle with self-doubt and perfectionism constantly weighing me down. Amina's exceptional ability to help me slow down, be present and address root patterns enabled me to accelerate my journey to independence. I have more confidence, energy and time for my passions - I even started playing bass guitar!
Muna,
Product specialist and doctor-in-training
I was facing one of the biggest decisions of my life when starting the group programme. Amina helped me to leave my corporate job and successfully apply for medical school in my forties! Her approach, tools and presence allow for amazing things to happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kerrie Gemmill
CEO, ScoutsCymru, UK.
Before I started working with Amina I was in a pretty difficult place, burnt out, physically and mentally, after an extended period of many challenges which ended with me being asked to lead the closure of the company I worked for. I was exhausted, questioned my leadership capabilities and could not see a clear path forward. Amina's ability to understand and get to the heart of the struggle is astonishing. Her coaching and sessions with her Sanctuary Group nourished my confidence and helped me become the leader I know I am capable of being. I've just started an exciting new Director role that aligns with my values and life.
Frequently Asked Questions
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More Sanctuary Journeys:
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Dr. Amber launched her own innovative mental health clinic alongside her NHS career while cultivating clarity and balance, and eventually welcoming a new child.
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Dr. Joy slowed down to focus on her health and well-being, eventually securing the largest grant yet for her global programme at the UN.
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Eleni left a 10-year corporate career, reignited her passion for sustainability, and founded her own leadership academy for sustainable entrepreneurship.
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Dr. Jo, a cardiologist at a renowned international hospital, overcame imposter syndrome, set stronger work boundaries, and launched a collaborative course that has grown into an international success, running multiple cohorts.
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Dr. Vanita, a gold-medallist for her medical specialist exams, took a mini-sabbatical, welcomed two children, and shifted to part-time work, allowing space to write and spend time with family.
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Deb, a brilliant policy advisor with experience in 25+ countries, learned to prioritise her self-care and was invited into a new leadership role with more autonomy.
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Paola, an ecological conservationist featured in National Geographic and the New York Times, left her director role to launch a community-based initiative and consultancy, securing values-aligned new contracts.
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Dr. Sally, a prominent Occupational Health Physician, put her wellbeing at the forefront, stepping into a new role with more support and alignment with her values.
THE MASTERMIND FORMAT
The Sanctuary isn't a classroom for striving or self-improvement. It's a mirror revealing what you need to see. It's a space to release struggle, deepen clarity, and walk your path with greater ease.
By saying yes, you’re opening to guidance, connection, and the right amount of challenge to take liberated action.
It's created through your presence. There is no set homework except what you choose.
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When you join The Sanctuary, you become part of the group immediately.
You'll be invited to:
1) Introductory session in February: Begin your journey and benefit from additional support before the mastermind officially starts on March 12th.
2) Bi-Monthly Live Sessions: From March 12th, ever From March 12th, the group will meet every two weeks to dive deep into guided explorations and liberational coaching on career and leadership challenges and pathways.
3) The Sanctuary Private Messaging Channel: Get to know the group where you'll be introduced and can receive support between calls.
4) [Optional] Private 1:1 Coaching: Receive personalised monthly coaching at a Sanctuary rate if you want deeper support.
IN SUMMARY:
Sign up today to start your journey before the mastermind officially begins on March 12th.
What You’ll Receive:
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Expert-led Liberational Coaching
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Liberation Mastermind with conscious professionals and leaders
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Personalised Tools & Practices to support clarity and action
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The Mental Wellbeing Benefits of a Retreat
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Early Sign-Up Bonus Pre-Sessions
Your Investment Today: £2,222
OR 2 x £1,111
If you choose the pay in full option you'll receive a 30 minute 1:1 to clarify your intention.
** Spaces are limited to 10 to keep the group small and intimate.
Hi, I'm Amina
Most people know me as a the doctor-turned-coach who writes Wise Wednesdays - a blend of deep wisdom and bold action. For over 15 years, I’ve navigated complex, high-pressure environments—from delivering babies in a war zone to shaping global health and sustainability policy with the United Nations. As a doctor, scientist, and public health specialist, I saw firsthand how systems shape lives. As a coach and guide, I help high achievers and changemakers to break free from those systems—both externally and within—so they can lead in ways that liberate themselves and others.
In 2020, I published an award winning book - The Success Trap: Why Good People Stay in Jobs They Don’t Like and How to Break Free. In 2024, I was named a Top 50 Women in Management winner in Education and Coaching, receiving the award at the House of Lords.
My path is Liberation—psychological, spiritual, and material. I draw from the Buddhist Middle Way and Liberation Psychology as well as lived experience of navigating power structures and transitions. I have two coaching certifications and extensive ongoing training including my own coaching and meditation training.
If you’re longing for a different way to lead and work —one that is neither forceful striving nor passive acceptance, but rooted in clarity, freedom, and impact—join me at The Sanctuary.
About Me.
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Education
2015-2017
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2011-2014
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2007-2010
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About
My name is Alexa Young
Most people know me as a the doctor-turned-coach who writes Wise Wednesdays - a blend of deep wisdom and bold action. For over 15 years, I’ve navigated complex, high-pressure environments—from delivering babies in a war zone to shaping global health and sustainability policy with the United Nations. As a doctor, scientist, and public health specialist, I saw firsthand how systems shape lives. As a coach and guide, I help high achievers and changemakers to break free from those systems—both externally and within—so they can lead in ways that liberate themselves and others.
A season of liberation begins.
Will you join us?
Frequently Asked Questions
When do we start and how often do we meet?
We start officially on March 12th and then every two weeks on Wednesdays (Mar 26th; Apr 9th; Apr 23rd; May 7th; May 21st, Jun 4th, Jun 18th). The calls are 90mins to 2 hours depending on the size of the group. The Bonus pre-calls are Dec 19th in 2024, and Jan 22nd, and Feb 26th on 2025. All calls are at 6pm UK/1pm EST.
How many people will be in the group?
A maximum of 10 participants.
Can I reclaim the fee from my organisation?
Other members have put this towards their career development and leadership training and reclaimed it from their employers or company expenses. You can receive proof of payment and attendance on request.
Will there be a lot of homework?
This isn't about doing more but about showing up in new ways in the world, as well as trying small, bold and fun experiments outside your comfort zone. Any coaching assignments will be based on what emerges from the conversations we have and that you choose to engage with.
What do I need to know in advance and do I need previous coaching experience?
Previous experience in personal development or mindfulness is helpful but all you need is openness to new experiences and perspectives as well as self-responsibility.
If I miss a group call, will I be able to catch up?
Yes, you’ll have access to recordings and you can have any questions answered in between calls in the group messaging channel. You'll have direct contact with me throughout the programme. I've got your back!
How much time will I need outside the set calls?
You get what you put in. Change requires an investment of time and energy. You'll need 15-30 minutes a day of reflection time (e.g. through journalling or meditation). Taking time to participate in the group between calls will pay off exponentially. And taking action in a new direction can take no time at all - just a moment of courage!
Will I get 1:1 coaching too?
You'll get a chance for direct coaching in the group calls. You also have access to monthly 1:1 private coaching as an option. As soon as you sign up, you can attend the exclusive monthly Bonus Pre-Calls with Amina starting December 19th, until the official kick off in March.