Sim Chen Xing

I did it — I completed my first year as an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Singapore Chapter Professional Development Ambassador. What a journey it has been!

I initially joined ICF for a very practical reason. I had been advised to become a member in order to enjoy the membership discount for the ACC exam. But even then, I couldn’t shake the feeling that ICF had so much more to offer than just exam-related benefits.

In fact, if the goal was only to save money, it would have made more sense to simply pay the full exam fee. The combined cost of membership plus the discounted exam isn’t actually cheaper. So no — I didn’t want to make that mistake.

What drew me instead was the ecosystem that ICF represents.

Discovering What ICF Really Offers

As I explored further, it became clear that ICF is not just a certifying body. Through its core competencies and Code of Ethics resources, I saw a global community deeply committed to professional excellence and ethical practice.

There are spaces where coaches come together to:

• wrestle with ethical questions,
• sharpen their coaching skills,
• volunteer their services to non-profit organisations,
• and learn from one another through thoughtfully curated professional development offerings.

There is also a wealth of high-quality learning material available exclusively to members.

I realised that the best way to truly understand and benefit from this ecosystem was not just to attend events, but to serve within it. Volunteering felt like the most honest way to learn — to step into the system and find my way around from the inside.

That became my motivation for signing up as a Professional Development Ambassador.

Serving with the Professional Development Team

I had the privilege of joining the Professional Development team within the ICF Singapore Chapter. Through this role, I had the honour of working alongside individuals I deeply respect — coaches with significant experience and presence in the field.

I also had opportunities to coordinate with partner organisations that ICF Singapore had recently established collaborations with, which gave me a deeper appreciation of the relationships and trust required to build a thriving professional community.

Bringing Professional Development to Life

During the year, I was involved in coordinating two professional development workshops, working closely with our partners:

• NTUC LearningHub (LHUB)
• Co-Active Training Institute Singapore

Both organisations generously provided their venues at no cost, making it possible for these sessions to happen.

I also had the honour of supporting workshops led by:

• Dr Saba Hasanie, and
• Doug Strycharczyk

These experiences gave me a front-row seat to what it takes to translate learning theory into meaningful, well-run professional development experiences — from planning and coordination to delivery and participant engagement.

What This Year Taught Me

More than anything, this year taught me that professional communities don’t grow by accident. They are sustained by people who quietly show up, coordinate, listen, and care about the quality of learning others experience.

Serving as an ambassador deepened my appreciation for:

• the responsibility behind professional standards,
• the unseen work that supports meaningful learning,
• and the importance of community in a coach’s own development.

It also shaped how I see myself — not just as a coach-in-training, but as someone called to contribute thoughtfully to the spaces I am part of.

Looking Ahead

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve with ICF Singapore and to learn alongside such generous professionals. This first year reminded me that growth often happens not in the spotlight, but in service — in choosing to contribute before expecting to benefit.

I look forward to carrying these lessons forward, both in my coaching practice and in how I engage with professional communities in the years ahead.