About me

Adolfo Lopez, Coach

I am a coach certified by NONONS, considered the best coaching school in the Netherlands, and by Fundação Getulio Vargas, a renowned institution in Brazil. I hold a degree in Anthropology from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. 

Born in Colombia, I grew up in Brazil and matured in the Netherlands. Living in different countries has enabled me to communicate in Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and English. 

I have worked for about 30 years in international cooperation, supporting and strengthening civil society organizations committed to fighting poverty. In recent years, I promoted activities that empowered these organizations through self-learning, based on their own practices. Among the greatest results achieved in this journey was providing access to microcredit for people living with HIV in impoverished conditions in Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nicaragua, and Honduras. The cooperation with civil society organizations in Brazil led to the use of Dutch cooperation resources to improve the living conditions of rural populations in poverty. 

In recent years, I have organized learning programs on topics such as the fight for the right to access dignified and stigma-free healthcare for vulnerable populations, such as sex workers and the LGBTQ+ community, in 10 African countries. 

Adolfo Lopez | contact@coach-adolfo.com

Professional Experience

Aidsfonds
(2002-2023)

Senior advisor for Aidsfonds in the Netherlands. Development and implementation of projects directed at civil society organizations fighting AIDS in Asia, Africa, and Central America.

Oxfam
(1996-2002)

Responsible for Oxfam Novib's cooperation program, supporting civil society organizations committed to fighting poverty in Brazil.

Unesco
(1993-1996)

Project officer at UNESCO’s regional office in Harare, Zimbabwe, focusing on street children in Southern Africa. Activities aimed at the formation and strengthening of the youth movement affected by Mozambique's independence war. In Zimbabwe, I contributed to the development of public policies aimed at street children.

Wereldoproep
(1990-1993)

Production and broadcasting in Portuguese of news for Dutch radio (Wereldoproep), aimed at countries where this language is spoken

SMM
(1987-1990)

Responsible for the development of programs and policies for street children at the Municipal Secretariat for Children in São Paulo, Brazil.

  • São Paulo, Brazil:
    Coaching and Mentorship for Small and Medium Enterprises at the Institute of Educational Development of Fundação Getulio Vargas
  • Amsterdam, Holanda:
    Nonons, Opleiding Training Coaching

What I Do

My motivation for coaching is knowing that I am contributing to human development. My reward is witnessing the impact of this work on the personal growth of those who take part in the process.

In the coaching process, I use a wide range of exercises to help the coachees walk the path toward their goal. Such a goal may or may not be clearly defined at the start. It might emerge as a desire for change, a dream, or a challenge to face. 

In the first interview, the goal is defined as a clear, urgent, concrete, positive, achievable target, formulated in the present tense. Together, we assess the number of sessions needed to reach the goal, usually ranging from three to nine sessions of 90 minutes each. Coaching ends when the goal is reached, or when the evaluations at the end of each session determine that the process is over.

What is Coaching?

Coaching is a process to achieve a goal defined by the client, such as something they want to resolve or a way of being or acting they wish to transform. 

A wide variety of exercises brings a clear understanding of how emotions and thoughts determine actions, leading to mastery over one’s choices. The steps necessary to reach the goal become clear, and tools for better communication are gained. In the free initial session, we define the coaching goal. If we agree to proceed, we determine the number of sessions. 

At the end of the process, the client might, for example, feel more relaxed about their limitations or be able to express themselves more clearly and communicatively.

Examples of Goals:

·  Reducing the power of unpleasant thoughts

·  Expressing oneself more clearly

·  Having more free time

·  Wishing for sustainable business commitments

·  Focusing on the present to make the right choices for the future

·  Reducing the power of a negative inner voice

Testimonials

I really appreciated Adolfo’s approach. Besides the interesting exercises we did, his ability to uncover things within me that I was unaware of was remarkable. Adolfo made me feel safe, and his ability to bring a new awareness of myself that I wasn’t conscious of and that negatively affected my behavior was remarkable. Now, I feel more positive, confident, and motivated to pursue my goals.
Sandro, Amsterdam
Adolfo is very professional and understands what you need. He doesn’t “complain” along with you but analyzes the situation with intelligent and appropriate questions that naturally lead to solutions. Adolfo’s warmth in his voice and actions made me feel comfortable, safe, and confident. His commitment was always present. If I didn’t understand something, he explained it with other words or brought an example to clarify the task or question.
Georgia, Utrecht
Adolfo’s involvement was truly inspiring. He exuded confidence, warmth, and commitment, which made a significant difference to my coaching experience. His genuine care and dedication to helping me progress brought confidence and motivation, engaging me fully in the process. The coaching process was transformative. What stood out most was Adolfo’s ability to help me identify the necessary steps to achieve success, starting with awareness of my needs, priorities, and intentions. His guidance in deconstructing my false perfectionism expectations was particularly impactful, positively affecting my health and relationships. The methods Adolfo used were highly efficient. Through various exercises, he helped me analyze my emotions and thoughts, enabling me to handle them constructively. His approach helped me adjust my goals to be more realistic and achievable.
Raghad, Amsterdam


Adolfo Lopez | Personal & Business Coaching


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Acknowledgements:

Website development: Alex Ferreira

Text Edtiting: Zeca Nunes

Photography: Frank Putters

Support: F. Ten Horn


contact@coach-adolfo.com