Coaching & Consulting · Berlin
Pause. Reflect. Understand more. Move forward.

I listen, fully human. Solution-focused coaching and scientific consulting for people and teams from research, academia and the public sector.

Too many thoughts at once.

No clarity.

Feeling stuck, overwhelmed.

Going in circles without finding a way forward.

Many people experience this at some point in their professional or personal lives — whether in moments of change, high workload, uncertainty, or quiet dissatisfaction.

And then there are those moments after a good conversation, when something shifts: things become clearer, a first idea emerges, and the next step feels possible.

I cannot promise success. And I cannot do the work for you — you are the expert in your own life and work. But I stand by your side: respectfully, in a structured way, and with a solution-focused approach, so that you can find your own solutions.

01 — My coaching offer

Focusing on what helps you move forward

At the centre is what you would like to change and what might help you move forward. Together, we look at your desired future, at what is already working, and at small steps that can create movement and confidence.

For whom

People from academia & research

From early-career staff to experienced professionals and leaders — in different roles and at different stages.

How

Online or in Berlin

In German or English, in person or as coaching on the street — whatever suits you best.

Grounded in

ICF & EMCC standards

My work follows the ethical guidelines and professional standards of the International Coaching Federation and the EMCC.

02 — My approach

Solution-focused, not problem-focused

The solution-focused approach assumes that every person has resources, experience, and knowledge that can be activated and strengthened.

In our sessions, I listen carefully and ask questions that help you develop new perspectives, clarify what matters to you, and find your own next steps.

I offer you time and space to think, reflect, and sort things out — without pressure, judgement, or predefined answers.

One session can already be helpful. Experience shows, however, that several sessions often allow for deeper reflection and more sustainable change.
03 — Formats

Coaching formats

Discovery session
Get to know me and my way of working.
30 minutes
Short-term intensive coaching
4 sessions of 50 minutes each, over 4 weeks.
≈ 4 weeks
Coaching over time
5 sessions over a period of up to 5 months.
≈ 5 months
Coaching on the street (Berlin)
Movement and surroundings support reflection and new perspectives.
60 min + travel
04 — Scientific consulting

Orientation in complex contexts

I support individuals, teams, and organisations in science, research, and the public sector with reflection and orientation in complex contexts. My consulting work is grounded in scientific thinking and combines analytical clarity with a solution-focused approach.

  • Review and discussion of texts, concepts, and ideas
  • Reflection on roles, positioning, and institutional contexts
  • Support in clarifying goals, priorities, and next steps
  • Facilitation of team workshops and strategy discussions (incl. at IAMO and the Global Health Policy Lab)
  • Facilitation of events and conferences (incl. BE READY, GloPID-R General Assembly)
Portrait of Dr Kathrin Happe, smiling, wearing glasses, in front of a bookshelf
Dr. Kathrin Happe
05 — About me

Five words accompany my work

JoyVitalityDevelopmentAppreciationTrust

I have been accompanying people long before I formally trained as a coach. As an emergency counsellor in Berlin, I supported people in the first hours after difficult events. For many years, I have also accompanied people in walking retreats inspired by Ignatian spirituality.

Growing up on a farm in North Rhine-Westphalia, taking responsibility, finding pragmatic solutions, and helping where needed were part of everyday life. Later, I worked for many years in research and science policy, completing a doctorate on complex systems and agricultural policy and working in leadership roles at the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.

Most recently, I have been Managing Director of the international research funders’ network GloPID-R and am working as a Special Adviser to the German Alliance for Global Health Research (GLOHRA). I bring more than 20 years of experience in science management, interdisciplinary cooperation, and working across institutional and cultural boundaries.

06 — Qualifications & background

Training and engagement

Training

Basic and advanced coach training with SolutionsAcademy, certified by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). Further training in strategy development, design thinking, innovation methods, and agile management.

EMCC Global Individual Accreditation – EIA Practitioner

I am an EMCC Accredited Coach/Mentor at Practitioner level.

Engagement

  • Member of Brave Starts — supporting people over 45 in professional transitions
  • Singer in a chamber choir
  • Volunteer with Notfallseelsorge / Krisenintervention Berlin (emergency counselling)

Curious whether working together could be helpful?