Our Coaches

Growing For Success was founded by Annette Sharpe, a Personal Growth & Business Coach with over 8 years experience as a coach, and 11 years experience in small business. Her experiences include one-on-one coaching, group coaching, public speaking, teleconference leadership, coach program design and implementation, curriculum programming and team building.

Annette has personally worked with over 250 clients from all over the globe, has been featured on "You Have Got the Power" and "The Good Life" radio shows, and has been published in a number of online and print media, such as New Connexion Magazine, The Average Girl Magazine, Self-Growth, and Holistic Junction. She is also a contributing author for "How to Set, Manage and Track Your Goals: So You Can Start Living the Life You Want Now" released in January 2009.

Annette has led workshops and trainings in Canada and the United States, and is a keynote speaker and teleclass leader on the topics of time management, balance, life fulfillment, clarity, self-acceptance and meaningful intention setting.

Her training includes a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology, as well as professional coach training through The Coaches Training Institute, based out of California. She is also a Certified Sacred Gifts Guide, which enables her to help individuals discover the Gifts that have been placed within them so that they can lead more meaningful, inspired lives. She has participated in dozens of personal growth workshops and has worked as a coach at numerous live events.

Annette lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada with her greatest supporter and husband, Andrew, and their two beautiful, little girls, Cyanne and Kassandra. In her spare time, you can find her running or cycling along the waterfront near their home, or reading a good book amidst the driftwood.

Annette is focused on building the vision for the Growing For Success community and brand, training new coaches who want to become a part of the team, and creating an environment for personal growth and success. She personally coaches a few hand-picked clients including small business owners, authors, speakers, and professionals in various fields.

Doris Hanger is an entrepreneur with over 25 years of business success, her personal search for fulfillment, freedom and joy in life form the basis for the powerful work she shares with others. Now as a Small Business and Personal Growth Coach she works with independent business professionals.

Her rare combination of expertise is in whole health, personal development and business skills. She is a coach and trainer who truly integrates business and personal concerns to promote high quality of life.

A life-long learner, Doris has attended over 30 trainings with experts in diverse fields including: Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy, Bob Proctor, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jay Abraham and many others - on a variety of topics from personal growth, and business marketing and development to health and wellness.

Her perfect clients know the value of and appreciate wellness and personal growth.

Doris educates and inspires others to live with purpose and joy. She excites clients to new levels of commitment and success with proven learning methods fired by her own contagious high energy.

“Doris has helped me to create realistic/achievable goals that are within my control. I have been given specific techniques to incorporate into my tasks that have stretched me beyond my (former) self-limiting mindset.” - Betty J, Vancouver, BC

Leagh Gabriel is a Business and Life Coach who works primarily with business owners in the public and not for profit sectors. She provides leadership, business and personal coaching to build sustainable business practices and more fulfilling lives.

She was on the Board of Directors with the Vancouver Chapter of the International Coach Federation (ICF) for two years, chairing Coaching Awareness Week. Leagh is PCC, ICF accredited and completed her coach training through The Coaches Training Institute (CTI) - the world’s leading coach training school.

An entrepreneur herself for over 20 years, Leagh is highly focused on creating great and lasting value for her clients and always strives to over-deliver. She has a busy practice, usually working with over 20 individual and group clients a month, who come to coaching with a diversity of professional and personal interests.

“In coaching, I now do what I truly love and get inspired when I witness my clients do and be more than they ever thought possible. I have helped hundreds of people find their inspiration, become better leaders, and make great changes in all areas of their lives.”

"Leagh provided such focus, empowerment, clear vision, and inner motivation. She was able to unleash my inner pilot light and turn it into a fountain of fire. I feel much more grounded and at ease and know anything that I put my mind to, I can and will get. Thank you for inspiring me." - Zahra R, Vancouver, BC

Marleen Payne is a Growing for Success Certified Life Coach with over 5 years experience and has worked with over 70 personal clients. She believes that every part of a person's life affects the whole – which is why she incorporates a holistic approach to her coaching style. Her innate ability to listen and her gift of intuition provide a place for her clients to share in confidence and trust. However, the most defining characteristics about Marleen—as a coach—are that she is open-minded, open-hearted and genuinely approachable.

In addition to coaching, Marleen is passionate about personal growth and development. She has been an integral part of some of the most highly-acclaimed personal development organizations in the world, including Peak Potentials Training. She has worked alongside T. Harv Eker as core support staff, facilitator and event organizer for numerous workshops and events throughout North America. She has worked with thousands of people at those events - coaching and supporting them through major life transformations. Throughout her personal development career, she has gained insight and wisdom from some of the most well respected speakers and trainers including: Brian Tracy, Jay Abraham, Dr. Michael Beckwith and Jim Rohn.

Marleen has extensive marketing-related experience and has worked as Promotions Director at a top-rated radio station in the market. She brings over ten years experience in sales and marketing to her clients.

Her other life experiences include world travel throughout 12 countries, including lengthy durations in South America and India.

Marleen is all heart. She's intuitive, funny, inspiring and selfless. As a coach, she provides a gentle push to help her clients reach their goals and is 100% committed to their long-term success.

“I had been trying since I got my graduate degree to write a book and had not been able to get it going. With Marleen’s help and encouragement, I have done more than get it going, I am finished! Marleen is clear, challenging, inviting, supportive and smart enough to not let me get away with anything. She has been a real gem of a coach for me.” - Vranna Sue Hinck, Boulder, CO

Ana began her career as an International award-winning actor and ballet dancer in her native Brazil. Through her performances, Ana learned three of the components necessary to develop strong commitment and follow through; self-awareness, inner strength and motivation. Her highly flexible style of teaching makes Ana the forerunner in the new field of Power Coaching.

Her childhood dream was to journey to the moon and to bring back stories of her experiences of stepping into the unknown. As a young adult, Ana moved to a new country not knowing what to expect and embraced the change with grace and elegance. Without a word of English, she welcomed the opportunity for growth and huge success.

Since relocating half a world away to Vancouver, Ana has helped others reach their full potential in key areas of life, including: health, relationships, and financial development.

Highlights of Ana’s many years of coaching experience include:
• Training from the Coaches Training Institute, one of the leading coach training schools in the world;
• Employment by high-profile coaching organization, SuccessTracs, where she hired and trained coaches, and matched them with thousands of clients;
• Selected as Head Coach for several of T. Harv Eker's Peak Potentials Training courses;
• Collaboration with high-level trainers to develop and deliver Life Directions, a three day life-changing event;
• Board member of the International Coaches Federation, based in Los Angeles;
• Service as coach and mentor for The Torch Foundation.

Now a highly sought-after speaker at success coaching camps and international events, Ana has collaborated with many popular coaches such as Lisa Nichols, Robert Allen, Les Brown, Brian Tracy, David Wolfe, and Cameron Johnson (now appearing on “Oprah's Big Give”).

Ana’s strongest value, however, is her courage. She survived first stage cancer with a newborn baby. She says her unconditional love for life gave her strength. She says, “It doesn’t matter where I am going; what matters is how I take the journey.”

Through her guidance, Ana’s clients become conscious of who they are and of the unlimited power available to them. Ana teaches them to reach their goals by focusing on their core essence and overcoming all fears and blocks. Her many international clients have experienced radical transformations, including clients who have quadrupled their speed to financial freedom, lost several dress sizes, found their soul mates and are living the life of their dreams.

"Ana is the true definition of a "Go-Getter"! She is reliable, thorough and compassionate in all her endeavors. Furthermore, Ana's creative solutions, problem-solving abilities and intelligence put her among the top 1%. Yes, Ana is the best of the best and I would call her any time I need her services.” Ken Donaldson, Owner, The REALationship Coach

Born and raised in Italy, Elena moved to the United States to pursue her higher education. After earning both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Applied Psychological Science and Organizational Development – as well as Hypnotist Certification - she began work as a coach and consultant for a number of Fortune 400 companies. For Procter & Gamble, Elena delivered hundreds of training hours on diversity-awareness and work-from-home skills to more than 1000 employees at all organizational levels. As a result, job satisfaction and employee retention rates increased by 85%. In less than two years, department sales profits improved by 80%.

Elena understands from her own rich personal experience that people have the power to overcome great obstacles. She grew up in a rural area where education was not highly valued, and where her ambitions were met with abuse. Having built her professional life and personal wealth entirely on her own, Elena is committed to empowering her clients so that they too can live out their wildest dreams.

Now a highly desired coach at coaching courses, boot-camps, and events around the world, Elena has guided hundreds of individuals and groups to successful breakthroughs in Business and Marketing, Real Estate, Network Marketing, Relationships, Meditation, Leadership, Breaking through All Fears, Universal Laws, Mastering Minds, Passive Income and Wellness. She also mentors teens to live their absolute best life.

Among the highlights of Elena’s years of coaching experience are the following:
• Appointment in 2004 as a Life, Business and Financial Senior Coach for Peak Potentials Training and SuccessTracs
• Selection as a Senior Coach MITT (Mastery in Transformational Training) at the Torch Foundation
• Selection as SuccessTracs 2006 Most Committed Coach of the Year

Her newest project is the development and production of a Reality TV Show.

"Thanks for stretching me out of my comfort zone, believing in me (even when I didn't) and exposing me to some of the best opportunities in my life." Donte Henry, Ventura County CA, 2009

"Elena, with your advice, inspiration and commitment, I made a new turn in my life. My life has transformed into a new realm of possibilities, a life that's truly worth living. A life of fearlessness, confidence and fulfillment that everyone deserves to know and live fully. Thank you so much for your impact to my life and I know you will empower others as well." James Li, San Gabriel, CA, US – April 2007

"With my wonderful Coach Elena Pezzini, I went from 65K in debt to 65K in savings in less than 6 months! - Joyce Gioia www.hermangroup.com

As the manager of an international professional development team with a large, global company, Darlene has spent over five years delivering training and professional development on four continents and in more than a dozen countries. She knows how to effectively overcome any perceived barriers of time, culture or custom to connect with the minds and hearts of individuals globally. Her style of coaching is based on hearing her clients fully and receiving them in their unique place and time.

Darlene believes all goals are attainable. She believes that by focusing on what you really want, putting into action a guided plan to achieve your vision, and following that plan wholeheartedly, you can create the life you truly want. Darlene's passion lies in coaching people to achieve their personal and professional goals. Her guiding purpose and passion, fuelled by love, are evidenced in her open, receiving way with her clients.

Darlene is in presently working towards becoming a Certified Coach with CTI and a Certified Growing For Success coach. She has over 7 years of experience coaching both in the workplace and in private life. She has participated in more than 50 personal growth and development courses over the last several years and continues to work with Setting Hearts Free and the Get A Life Company.

Darlene's goals include developing her coaching skills to become a coach program leader and professional personal development facilitator.

Darlene has had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the most innovative and influential minds of our time in the area of personal development including Bob Proctor, Martin Hahn, and Satyen and Suzanne Raja.

Originally from a small community in Newfoundland, Darlene now lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with her husband. In her spare time, she volunteers with personal development organizations, reads voraciously and spends time with her husband and her community of family and friends.

"Darlene's ability to zero in to the heart of the matter, tune into what's really true for me, assisting me in gaining clarity and in taking my next conscious step (over and over again!) is miraculous. I have had a number of coaches, new and seasoned professionals, and Darlene totally surpasses my expectations with every conversation. I feel so blessed to have her in my corner. I feel more excited then ever before for my BIG LIFE that is unfolding before me with each new step, each new day!" ~ Shilo Downie, Alternative Healer/Speaker/Instructor www.shilodownie.com