Health Coaching Pioneer Wendy Lois Finds Community and Growth in Pathway Program

With over four decades of experience in wellness and healthcare, Wendy Lois knew she needed to take the next step in her coaching career. Despite her extensive background, including roles as the founder and department head of a hospital wellness department and corporate health coach, she sought the prestigious Board Certification in Health and Wellness Coaching to elevate her practice.

After researching more than 100 board-certification prep-courses, required in order to sit for the board exam, Wendy chose Health Coach Institute's (HCI) Pathway Program in 2022. "Pathway is just so well done," she explains, citing the program's flexible scheduling options, variety of facilitators, and blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning as key factors in her decision.

A Community of Support

One of the most impactful aspects of the program for Wendy was the supportive community she found. "You find your tribe when you do this sort of training," she shares. This network continues to enrich her practice today, as she meets monthly with fellow coaches (from her Pathway cohort) from across the US and Canada to collaborate, share resources, and support one another's growth.

"As a collective, we can't all know everything," Wendy reflects. "I don't care if I have been a coach for a hundred years, I'm still not going to be the best coach without other trained coaches saying, 'this worked for me' and learning best practices from each other."

Professional Growth and Client Success

The program's comprehensive training prepared Wendy well for the board certification exam, which she passed on her first attempt. "They really guide you through the process," she notes. "Even though it was challenging and nerve-wracking, it was also making each one of us a better coach by checking off all those boxes. Did you build rapport? How were your listening skills? Did you recognize all the unspoken signals?  Did you leave anything out? The Pathway faculty of coach trainers took care in reviewing your practice sessions and provided invaluable, detailed feedback. This was a priceless part of the program supporting my growth as a coach.”

Today, Wendy specializes in corporate wellness coaching, working with Fortune 500 companies and helping clients achieve remarkable transformations. She shares success stories including a client who lost over 100 pounds and completely transformed her lifestyle, and an executive who significantly improved his health markers through gradual, sustainable changes. She also enjoys connecting, mentoring and collaborating with many other coaches.  She is also certified in other areas, including and a Mastery-Level Certified Life Coach, Mental Health First Aid, a Positive Intelligence Coach, Cornell Nutrition and a Healthy Lifestyle, and serves as a Certified Coach Facilitator for the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program. Wendy has also been awarded several Coaching and Quality Awards and was finalist in the 2024 nomination for a ‘Coach Trailblazer Award’ for achievements starting and running a Corporate Wellness Center and a hospital-based Wellness Department. 

The Impact of Certification

For Wendy, the decision to pursue certification through Pathway, though initially delayed, proved invaluable. "I kept saying, 'Not this year, not now. I'm too busy,'" she recalls. "And then I thought, I need to continue to strive for coaching excellence and continue to work within the highest standards in the field, keeping my techniques and skills fresh and learning even more.  Holding this new, top credential will provide further credibility to my work in this expanding landscape of coaching. Pathway was the next step to achieving this, to support and further validate my 40 years of practice.” With her Pathway certification, Wendy is now a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach.

Her advice to those considering the program? "It's never going to be the right time. You're not going to stumble upon this big pocket of extra time," she says. "The course is a win to improve your own life, your own joy and learning, and your own wisdom that you have within you. All of this gives you more confidence and inspiration to help guide others. You will have lots of practice within the program, and invaluable, nonjudgemental feedback on how to improve your coaching skills.”

The certification has enhanced her ability to help clients navigate their wellness journeys. "The Pathway Program is so appropriately named because it provides a clear, evidence-based pathway to the latest coaching techniques and best practices, and it is also because that’s what we do," Wendy explains. "We give people a pathway out of their ‘stuckness’ and into a different mindset which opens up possibilities for a more joyful life."

For those considering a career in health coaching or looking to elevate their existing practice, Wendy's experience demonstrates how the Pathway Program can provide the entry way to take taking the national board exam, earning the credentials, engaging in the community, and expanding coaching skills with the comprehensive training needed to make a meaningful impact in clients' lives while building a fulfilling career in health and wellness.