About Keyfocus

Our Philosophy & Approach

At a Glance

Our Essence

Unfolding inner wisdom to empower individuals, groups, and organizations to believe in themselves, embrace their unique talents, and co-create a joyful, healthy, loving, and peaceful world.

Our Purpose

To empower individuals, groups, and organizations to embrace their unique talents and contribute to a joyful, healthy, loving, and peaceful world – for themselves, their communities, and the greater whole.

Our Vision

We envision a world where individuals live and lead from emotional intelligence, inner peace, and compassion – making choices aligned with their core values, noble goals, and the collective good. Through deepening self-awareness and reconnecting with their true voice, people create lives filled with joy, well-being, and purpose. These empowered individuals co-create regenerative, harmonious communities, organizations, and systems that are grounded in love, health, and collective well-being.

Our Mission

To support individuals, groups, and organizations in deepening self-awareness so they can make intentional and purposeful choices in both their professional and personal lives. This inner clarity becomes a foundation for greater fulfillment, inner peace, joy, health, and well-being. By fostering authentic connections with themselves, people build stronger relationships across families, communities, and workplaces, ultimately nurturing a more compassionate, harmonious, and purpose-driven world.

Our Values

These values are the heart of our philosophy and the foundation for the transformative work we do with individuals and organizations. They inspire our work, shape our approach, and are the driving force behind the transformations we create with individuals, groups, and organizations.
Tailored for individuals, teams, and organizations, our approach fosters clarity, growth, and well-being – leading to success that’s both measurable and deeply felt.

Inspiration

Empowering others to unlock their boundless potential and ignite transformation – within themselves and their organizations.

Creating Societal Benefits

Advancing shared responsibility and sustainable progress that extends beyond individual success, enriching communities and contributing to the collective good.

Joy

The driving force behind purpose, fulfillment, and lasting impact – aligning with our passions and values to create meaningful, positive change.

Authenticity

Encouraging individuals to embrace their true selves, align with their deepest values, and unlock their fullest potential with courage and integrity.

Helping Others

Guiding others toward purposeful action that creates meaningful change in their own lives and the lives of those around them.

Peace

Nurturing inner calm and resilience, allowing individuals to navigate challenges with clarity, balance, and unwavering purpose.

Connection

Fostering authentic relationships built on trust, collaboration, and mutual respect, strengthening personal and professional bonds.

Self-Empathy & Empathy

Cultivating compassion for ourselves and others, forming the foundation for meaningful, authentic connections and collective growth.

Our Principles

These principles are the strategic foundation of our approach. They guide our work, shaping the tools, methods, and frameworks we use to ensure sustainable, transformative change for both individuals and organizations.

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is the bedrock of transformation. Through carefully crafted tools and assessments, we help clients gain profound clarity on their strengths, values, and purpose, enabling them to take intentional action that fosters both personal and organizational growth.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotions are not obstacles; they are powerful guides. We support individuals and organizations in recognizing, understanding, and regulating their emotions, fostering an environment where empathy, trust, and effective communication drive success and collaboration.

The Power of Mindset

Our mindset is the lens through which we experience the world. We work with individuals and organizations to identify and shift limiting beliefs and unproductive patterns, unlocking new possibilities, resilience, and alignment between actions and aspirations.

Empowerment

Empowerment is the catalyst for lasting change. By helping individuals and organizations break free from self-imposed limitations, we equip them with the tools and confidence needed to align their actions with their core values and achieve sustainable success.

Self-Empathy, Empathy & Connection

Authentic connection begins with self-empathy. We help clients develop self-compassion and cultivate meaningful relationships built on empathy and trust. Through these connections, we foster collaboration and create environments where growth and understanding can flourish.

Joy

Joy fuels transformation and drives fulfillment. We help individuals and organizations integrate joy into their personal and professional lives, tapping into a wellspring of passion, creativity, and innovation that leads to meaningful and lasting change.

Mains jointes en équipe symbolisant la collaboration

At a Deeper Look

At the heart of our work is the belief that self-awareness, intention, and purpose are the foundational pillars for unlocking lasting transformation. Mindset plays a pivotal role in this process, shaping the lens through which we perceive, navigate, and engage with the world. Within our mindset lies the immense power to create positive change - transforming how we think, feel, act, and ultimately achieve our goals.

As the founder of Keyfocus, and with over 15 years of experience as a trainer, facilitator, and professional coach, I draw upon proven tools, assessments, and frameworks to help individuals and organizations unlock their full potential. (For more details, please visit Our Models & Tools section.)

Through a collaborative, results-driven approach, we support clients - whether individuals or organizations - on their transformative journey to greater satisfaction, well-being, and performance. For individuals, this leads to deeper fulfillment, stronger and more authentic relationships, and sustained motivation. For organizations, it fosters healthier team dynamics, enhanced collaboration, and improved overall performance.

Whether you're seeking clarity in your personal goals or striving to elevate your team’s or organization’s impact, together we will unlock the mindset shifts and strategies that drive long-term success.

We envision a future where people lead fulfilling lives anchored in self-awareness, emotional intelligence, a growth mindset, and compassionate connection. By making conscious choices aligned with their values, passions, and noble goals, they can cultivate inner peace, health, and joy - co-creating harmonious, positive, and regenerative lives, workplaces, and communities.

Are you ready to realize your full potential and lead a life or organization grounded in purpose, growth, and well-being? With the right tools and support, this transformative journey is within reach. Together, we can create lasting change that aligns with your values, goals, and aspirations.

Our Methodology

Keyfocus’ 3-Stage Action Model: Reflect – Decide – Act

Our transformative model blends coaching, emotional intelligence, and strengths-based tools to spark meaningful, lasting change. Grounded in research and inspired by thought leaders like Six Seconds, Robert Dilts, and Stephen Gilligan, it starts with mindset – shifting perspectives, challenging limiting patterns, and unlocking potential.
Tailored for individuals, teams, and organizations, our approach fosters clarity, growth, and well-being – leading to success that’s both measurable and deeply felt.

1. Reflect

Clarity & Self-Awareness
The Foundation for Growth

Pause, gain clarity, and uncover what truly matters.

  • Tools: EQ Assessments, 360-Degree Feedback, career and strengths tools, team assessments
  • Outcome: Insights into strengths, challenges, and next steps

 

2. Decide

From Insight into Action
Define Your Direction

Make intentional choices and set a focused path forward.

  • Focus: Visioning, priorities, action planning
  • Outcome: A clear roadmap with built-in accountability

3. Act

Execution with Purpose
Make it Real

Follow through, adapt, and build momentum.

  • Focus: Consistency, adaptability, and celebrating wins
  • Outcome: Achieve goals and build habits for long-term success

Our Models & Tools

We use a variety of models, tools, and assessments designed to strengthen emotional intelligence, improve team dynamics, and foster personal and professional growth. Below is a quick overview of our key models & tools.

EQ Performance Metrics
Empowering People and Organizations to Thrive

The Vital Signs Model is a research-based framework from Six Seconds designed to measure and improve the key drivers of performance, well-being, and leadership effectiveness in organizations, teams, and individuals. It assesses the emotional climate – how people feel and perform – and identifies the conditions that support high engagement, adaptability, collaboration, and results.

Focusing on five critical drivers – Trust, Motivation, Change, Teamwork, and Execution – the model offers clear insight into what’s working, what’s missing, and where to focus next.

Used in combination with EQ development, Vital Signs helps leaders and teams spark meaningful conversations, make data-informed decisions, and build cultures where people and performance can flourish.

See the VS assessments for Organizations and Education & Higher Education

Emotional Intelligence Assessments
Emotions Drive People & People Drive Performance

The Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence (SEI) assessment is a globally recognized, scientifically validated tool for measuring and developing emotional intelligence in both youth and adults. It provides clear, actionable insights to enhance communication, relationships, well-being, effectiveness, and overall satisfaction.

Unlike models that focus solely on what emotional intelligence is, the Six Seconds Model emphasizes on how to practice EQ in everyday life.

At its core are three ongoing, transformational pursuits:

  • Know Yourself:
    To become more aware – clearly seeing what you feel and do
  • Choose Yourself:
    More intentional – doing what you mean to do
  • Give Yourself:
    And more purposeful – doing it for a reason

These pursuits are driven by eight learnable and measurable EQ skills, essential for personal and professional growth. The SEI assessment measures these capabilities, providing a practical roadmap for lasting transformation.

Explore how SEI supports growth in Organizations, Education & Higher Education and Individuals & Parents

Career Management & Development Tools
Empowering Purposeful Choices for a Fulfilling Future

Practical, research-based tools to build self-awareness, explore meaningful career paths, and plan for long-term success with clarity and confidence.

CCS Career Coaching Toolkit

A structured set of reflective tools to help individuals uncover their values, interests, skills and strengths– laying the foundation for informed and strategic career choices.

The Balance™ Questionnaire & Toolkit

A holistic framework for aligning personal needs with professional goals. It provides actionable insights across six key areas for sustainable career development :

    1. Relationships – Build and manage strong networks.
    2. Learning & Development – Set meaningful goals and overcome growth barriers.
    3. Career Strategy – Align your personal brand with long-term aspirations.
    4. Energy Management – Reduce stress and work in alignment with your strenghts.
    5. Openness to Change – Navigate transitions with adaptability.
    6. Work-Life Balance – Create healthy boundaries for fulfillment and well-being.

Strengths Assessments

Discover your unique talents and align them with your career and life goals to fuel growth, motivation and performance.

Clifton Strengths

Identify your top talents across 34 themes to boost self-awareness and unlock potential in leadership, collaboration, and everyday life.

Strengths Profile

An in-depth tool developped by Dr. Alex Linley that maps realized and unrealized strengths, learned behaviors, and weaknesses – helping you align strengths with career and life goals for sustainable development.

Team Roles Assessment
Build Balanced Teams for Better Collaboration & Results

Belbin Team Roles

Discover the natural roles people take on in teams to strengthen collaboration, communication, and overall effectiveness.

The Belbin Model identifies nine key roles essential for a high-performing, balanced team, categorized as follows :

  • The Social Roles: Resource Investigator, Teamworker, Coordinator
  • The Thinking Roles: Plant, Monitor Evaluator, Specialist
  • The Task Roles: Shaper, Implementer, Completer Finisher

Our Client Testimonials

“I wanted to say a huge thank you for the incredible sessions over the last few months. You have really helped me to build up my confidence and I feel much more prepared for the next big adventure!”

Dr. Stephanie Bengston, Senior Consultant & Founding Partner, benedex | education & development expertise

“Elke was recommended to me when I undertook an executive education program at The Graduate Institute, Geneva (IHEID). She was instrumental in facilitating my preparedness for the transiton from a 14 year career in the private sectorto the international public sector. I particularly appreciated Elke’s structured approach and questions which helped me extract what was relevant and transferable given the career change I wanted to make. ”

Rani Pooran, IFC, World Bank Group

“Début 2023, j’étais indécise quant à la tournure à donner à ma carrière. J’ai donc participé à ce programme que le CERN met à disposition, d’effectuer un coaching individuel. Je l’ai suivi avec Elke pour 5 séances. Je suis ravie d’avoir pu le faire.
Cela m’a beaucoup aidée à explorer et à ouvrir mes perspectives, à consolider mes valeurs, à identifier mes besoins, et à me positionner en communication non-violente auprès de ma hiérarchie par la suite. Tout ce travail de fond que nous avons pu faire ensemble m’a permis de m’affirmer sur le long terme. Cela m’a finalement amené à ce que, fin 2024, je puisse avec grand soulagement quitter ce poste dans lequel je ne me sentais pas bien. Pendant ces 2 ans, j’avais en main tous les outils nécessaires pour me soutenir dans ma démarche, l’impulsion ayant été ce coaching.
Je remercie beaucoup Elke pour sa compétence et son professionnalisme.”

Maryline Charrondière, CERN

“Elke supported me with both empathy and clarity during a pivotal transition phase in my career. Thanks to her guidance, my path became much clearer, enabling me to make a bold and confident decision. I am deeply grateful for her support and highly recommend her.”

Alexandra T.
Future Director of a National Institute in the Field of Education

“I wanted to reach out to thank you for the excellent two sessions of training on Managing Difficult conversations.
My biggest take-away was the exercise we did on transforming conversations using the ‘Think’ — ‘Act’ paradigm. It was particularly helpful for me in terms of turning difficult conversations into learning conversations, recognizing the filters from which the brain interprets information and how to master one’s mindset in order to have meaningful conversations.”

Izzy Sinosi, Senior HR Officer, IOM

“The Team Vital Signs (TVS) assessment had a powerful impact on our team. It offered a structured and anonymous way for everyone to voice their views, and the process encouraged deep reflection on our team dynamics and workplace culture. The report was clear and comprehensive, but it was during the debrief that the insights truly came to life. Elke created a safe, open space for honest discussion, which allowed us to explore the results with clarity and focus. Since then, we’ve noticed stronger communication, better alignment in leadership, and a renewed sense of cohesion and shared purpose.“

Naoures Mlika, HR director & Guillaume Goudy, CEO, DNEXT

“Knowing there was a supportive hand out there made all the difference. The insights and strategies I gained through our 1:1 sessions were invaluable — without them, I truly couldn’t have achieved what I did in my competency-based interviews. Each time, I felt more confident, better prepared, and it paid off: I got the job every time. Having a friendly, understanding presence to reflect with was not only helpful — it was essential.“

Jonathan Fowler, Senior Communications Manager, UNRWA

“J’ai participé à une série de webinaires très interactifs en groupe, ainsi qu’à des séances de coaching individuel, tous réalisés en ligne. L’approche d’Elke, fondée sur l’intelligence émotionnelle, mêlant écoute active et compréhension fine des aspirations de chacun, m’a permis de clarifier des décisions fondamentales. La décision la plus importante prise grâce aux sessions de travail avec Elke a sans doute été celle de basculer dans une vie professionnelle d’indépendant après 30 années de travail salarié en organisation. Ce choix m’a également permis de rééquilibrer ma vie professionnelle et personnelle dans un sens nouveau qui me convient parfaitement aujourd’hui. Une telle décision a été rendue possible grâce à des échanges riches, sans pression, menés avec souplesse et clarté, alors même que certains blocages m’empêchaient d’avancer. Merci!“

Jérôme Gérard, IIPE-UNESCO

Mains jointes en équipe symbolisant la collaboration

About Elke

Elke is a trilingual trainer, facilitator, and ICF-certified professional coach (PCC) with over 15 years of experience in career development, communication, self-leadership, and emotional intelligence. Fluent in English, French, and German, she has worked extensively with the United Nations system - as both an international civil servant and external consultant - and with professionals from diverse cultural and organizational backgrounds.

Her empathetic, diplomatic approach and deep respect for each individual make her a trusted partner in transformation. Whether working with managers, leaders, or groups, Elke supports others in navigating complexity, building resilience, and moving forward with clarity and purpose.

Elke is passionate about empowering the next generation of leaders and creating positive societal impact. She brings her expertise to the education and early-career sector through training and coaching in universities, international schools, and the hospitality industry. Her work includes contributing to talent identification and development through recruitment processes for the UNV and JPO programmes. Whether guiding students toward meaningful career choices or supporting young professionals in global opportunities, Elke helps them navigate with confidence, purpose, and emotional intelligence.

Elke’s work is grounded in a strong sense of professionalism, ethics, and care. She places trust, discretion, and confidentiality at the heart of every client relationship - creating a safe space for reflection, growth, and meaningful change.

Elke’s Certifications

All Certifications

  • Certified Professional Certified Coach (PCC) by ICF (International Coach Federation)
  • Master Coach in Leadership and Communication (IDC- Institut de Coaching, Geneva, Switzerland)
  • Certified Emotional Quotient (EQ) Assessor (EQAC)
  • Certified Emotional Quotient (EQ) Practicioner (EQPC)
  • Certified Emotional Quotient (EQ) Educator (EQEC)
  • Certified in EQ Performance Management – Vital Signs Certification for Leaders, Teams and Organizations
  • Accredited Career Coach by Career Counselling Services, London / GB (CSS)
  • Licensed in the Career Management toolkit Balance TM by Career Counselling Services, London / GB (CSS)
  • UN-certified trainer in competency-based interviewing skills for hiring managers and panelists
  • Trained Master Facilitator by the Master Training Institute, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Certified in BelbinTM teamroles
  • Master of Arts in Human Resources Management
  • Master of Arts in Romance Philology (French and Spanish) and English Linguistics and Didactics

Elke’s Publications & Livestreams

Article On “Emotional Quotient: Reconnecting with Our Humanity” TSL Winter 2024

Career Counseling – An Inter-Agency Success

Coaching with Empathy

A Panel Discussion Elevating Connection and Insight

27 November 2024 | Six Seconds Europe

Leadership, Empathie et Intelligence Emotionnelle (IE)

Discussion sur le leadership et le rôle de l’empathie et de l’intelligence émotionnelle dans ce monde « VUCA » (abréviation en anglais pour volatile, uncertain, complex & ambiguous ; en français: instable, incertain, complexe et ambigu).

  • Que signifie diriger avec l’IE et en particulier avec empathie ? Pourquoi est-ce si important aujourd’hui et plus que jamais ?
  • Comment l’empathie peut aider chacun d’entre nous pour notre propre leadership ainsi que dans le leadership de nos équipes ?

2 Septembre 2022 – Six Seconds France