About us

BrainWise Philosophy

The BrainWise Philosophy is based on the concept of neuroplasticity, confirming that people are capable of profound change. The interventions and workshops weave neuroscience and psychology to enable personal, professional, emotional, spiritual, and physical mastery.

A Head (Powerful), Hands (Purposeful), Heart (Passionate) and Spirit (Peaceful) approach informs all our interventions from:

Personal and Professional Coaching; Conscious Leadership Training; Brain-based Study Skills; Keynote and Motivational Talks; Neuroscience Workshops and a unique approach to Mindfulness.

Our Training Team

Dr Colleen Lightbody

Dr Colleen Lightbody is the owner of BrainWise: Mastery Through Neuroscience. She is a respected Master Coach, Trainer, and International Speaker. Her global experience includes clients in the Asia-Pacific Region, the United States, Europe as well as throughout Africa. Her specific area of expertise lies in Neuroscience, Mindfulness, Brain-based Learning, Personal and Professional Coaching, and Emotional Intelligence. She is becoming known as “The Brain Guru” through her writing for blogs and magazines, as well as in television and radio interviews and has personally trained and certified thousands of Professional Coaches across the world

In addition to a private, global coaching practice, Colleen also has over 18 000 hours of training and coaching experience working with personal, professional and corporate clients. Colleen has a PhD in Mindfulness, Neuroscience and Leadership and is the recipient of the University of Johannesburg’s Top Achiever Award. She has a Master’s degree in Leadership and a Postgraduate Diploma in Neuroleadership through Middlesex University. Her positive and energetic style reflects the passion she has for her career and people, as well as a life living her core purpose of being a catalyst for change.



Experience

Dr Colleen Lightbody has been a Personal and Leadership Coach for over 18 years, successfully supporting clients to profound self-awareness and personal transformation. She is a respected Master Coach, Trainer, Mentor and International Speaker. Her global experience includes clients in the Asia-Pacific Region, the United States, Europe as well as throughout Africa, working in a broad range of industries with corporate clients from manager to C-Suite. As well as a private coaching practice, Colleen also has over 18 000 hours of experience in training, supervising and mentoring coaches up to MCC level


Coaching Philosophy

A no-holds barred approach to coaching distinguishes the BrainWise approach. Individuals are challenged to look inward, understand the fears and conditioned assumptions that are sabotaging their success; and then embrace what is possible with curiosity, courage, discipline and presence.

Not for the faint-hearted, you will be challenged to ‘Take back your power’ and shine a light onto possibilities never imagined. The coaching is honest, tough and hard-hitting, yet is experienced in an extraordinarily safe space of non-judgement and a belief in you. Clients experience the coaching as a life-transforming gift, enabling peace-of-mind, powerful trust in self, visible outcomes and conscious living.

Focus Areas

Mindful Presence; Awareness of the Ego-Identity; Personal Enlightenment and Actualization; Becoming a Conscious-being; Moving away from Judgement and Criticism; Discovering your Truth; Learning Emotional Regulation; Authenticity; Emotional Intelligence; Courage Building; Becoming Change Agile; Realistic Optimism; Finding Meaning/Purpose/Flow.

Academically-informed Coaching

Cognitive Behavioural, Neuroscience, Positive Psychology, Systems theory and Motivation. In addition to a strong focus on Self-Awareness and Actualisation, this Coach has also got extensive academic and experiential background in the following areas:

  • Couple Coaching

  • Team Coaching

  • Group Coaching

  • Sports Coaching

  • Parent coaching

  • Trauma and Grief Coaching

  • Addiction Coaching

  • Relationship Coaching

Abigail van Heerden

Trainer and Coach

Graham Hohls

Business Manager

Mary-Joe Emde

Mary-Joe is the co-owner of The Core Of U, a transformational company specializing in coaching and leadership development. As the former owner of the NeuroLeadership Institute in South Africa, Mary-Joe has extensive knowledge and experience in the field of developing leaders as coaches using a brain-based approach.

Mary-Joe has over 5000 hours of coaching under her belt and as a Certified Master Coach with the ICF is able to work globally with leaders in all sectors. She loves exploring minds and new places and works remotely whilst travelling the globe.

She has an Executive Masters in Neuroleadership and has completed her MPhil through The University of Johannesburg in Personal, Interpersonal and Professional leadership.

MJ, as her friends and family call her, has a passion for transformation and her kind and loving approach creates the perfect environment for growth and development.


MPhil MCC Executive Masters NLI

Dr Marietjie Swart

Dr Marietjie Swart (Miki) has run her private coaching practice since 2006. With over 17 years of experience and training through different schools of thought and multiple modalities for supporting and guiding people to shift and transform, she brings a deep passion and admiration for the courage it takes to change to every session. Her passion is working from a trauma informed lens and with clients who are inclined to deep spiritual reflections, purpose driven lives and a love for being of significant value to those they care about.

In addition, Miki thoroughly enjoys mentoring and assessing new coaches and has supported hundreds of coaches in their journeys to mastery.

Miki is known for her warmth and care, her authenticity and her ability to shift perspectives.


MSc.D | B.Psych (Hons) | PCC