We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Liz Venendaal a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Liz, appreciate you joining us today. Any advice for creating a more inclusive workplace?

One of the most important pieces of advice I can offer for creating a more inclusive workplace is this: inclusion should never be an afterthought—it needs to be built into the foundation of your culture, your systems, and your leadership mindset.

At Fowler International Academy of Professional Coaching (FIA), we have We Live Without Limits Division, which is dedicated to providing accessible, empowering life coach training for individuals with disabilities. I also work directly with clients as a certified life coach, many of whom are navigating the world with disabilities of their own. What I’ve learned—personally and professionally—is that accessibility and inclusion don’t just benefit one group. They create stronger, more creative, more compassionate workplaces for everyone.

I live with cerebral palsy, and for much of my early career, I encountered spaces that were unintentionally exclusive—whether it was physical inaccessibility or assumptions about what I was capable of. I remember one job interview where I had all the right qualifications but watched the energy in the room shift the moment I walked in with crutches. That moment stuck with me—not because I wasn’t hired, but because it was so clear the environment hadn’t been prepared to see someone like me as a leader.

That’s exactly why I’m so passionate about the work we do at FIA. We’re not just training life coaches—we’re giving people the tools to lead, grow, and inspire others in spaces where they may have once felt unseen or underestimated. Creating a more inclusive workplace means asking yourself daily: Who’s missing from the table, and what can I do to invite them in with dignity and purpose?

When inclusion is intentional, it’s powerful. It becomes a place where people don’t have to “overcome” anything just to belong—they can show up as their full selves and thrive.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Liz Venendaal with Fowler International Academy of Professional Coaching—and I say this with deep pride: I went from being a stay-at-home mom to an international business leader helping people all over the world step into their power as certified life coaches.

I first came through FIA as a student in 2019. At the time, I was simply looking for something more—a way to contribute, grow, and lead with purpose. I had no idea that the coaching tools I would learn would transform not only my career, but the way I saw my own life, value, and potential. I became a certified professional coach, built a successful practice, and within a few years, I was leading the very organization that trained me. That’s how powerful this work is.

FIA trains and equips individuals to become certified professional life coaches, disaster recovery coaches, executive leadership coaches, and more. Our clients range from aspiring entrepreneurs to corporate professionals, educators, support professionals, and people transitioning into purpose-driven work. What they all have in common is this: they have huge hearts and want to make a difference—and we give them the tools to do it.

What makes Fowler International Academy different is that we don’t just teach coaching—we empower our students to become coaches. We give them a proven framework, real-world practice, and the confidence to actually launch their business or implement coaching in their current role. And everything we do is infused with our values: empowerment, integrity, inspiration, and support.

One of the things I’m most proud of is our We Live Without Limits division, which we created specifically to ensure our training is accessible to individuals with disabilities. As a woman with cerebral palsy, I know how important it is to feel seen and supported—not just accommodated. I want every person to know they are valuable, capable, and needed in this world. Coaching is a powerful way to help others discover that.

I’m also incredibly proud of the mark we have made. We have certified professional coaches in over 20 countries, we run weekly coaching connect calls, and we’re continually innovating—from AI-powered coaching tools to new specialty certifications. My team and I are constantly asking, How can we serve better?

If you’re reading this and wondering if coaching could be your next step—whether for personal growth, a new business, or to support your community—I want you to know: it’s possible. You don’t need to be perfect, polished, or have it all figured out. You just need a willingness to learn, grow, and serve. The rest? We’ll teach you.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Yes! It’s actually a story that still feels surreal in the best way.

I first met my business partner, Berry Fowler—who is not only the founder of Fowler International Academy of Professional Coaching, but also the visionary behind Sylvan Learning Centers—when I enrolled as a student at FIA. I was in the middle of a personal transformation, stepping into life coaching as a way to both grow and serve others. At the same time I was completing my course, HBO featured my work for Women’s History Month in a national spotlight. It was a huge moment—and one that changed everything.

Berry saw the HBO feature and reached out to personally congratulate me. That one message turned into a powerful conversation where I shared my story, my journey with cerebral palsy, and my deep passion for helping individuals in the disability community find their voice and purpose through coaching.

That conversation led to an incredible partnership built on shared values and a desire to create something that had never been done before. Together, we co-founded We Live Without Limits, a division of FIA focused on making coach training truly accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities.

Berry has always believed in saying yes to people, and when he saw the fire in me, we said yes to building something meaningful together. Now, years later, we’ve grown that vision into a global movement—one that empowers coaches from every walk of life to create change in their own unique way.

It started with one connection, one conversation—and grew into a shared mission that we’re both incredibly proud of.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Absolutely. One of the most defining moments of resilience in my journey came during a time when no one was watching—not during an interview or a success story, but in the quiet moments of doubt.

I was home with my kids, managing life with and feeling like my world had gotten very small. I had this deep desire to do something meaningful, but I kept bumping into the internal voice that said, Who would listen to you? I knew I had so much to give, but the logistics, the fear, and the self-doubt felt bigger than the dream.

That’s when I took a leap and enrolled in the Certified Professional Coach training at Fowler International Academy. It felt bold—and honestly a bit terrifying. I wasn’t just learning something new; I was rewriting the story I had been telling myself about what was possible.

There were challenges—physical, emotional, and logistical—but I kept going. I showed up for every lesson, every practice, every moment. I didn’t wait to feel strong—I built strength by showing up again and again.

Fast forward to today, and I’ve gone from that uncertain student to leading the very academy that trained me. I’ve co-founded a division that empowers people with disabilities to become life coaches. And I’ve trained and mentored hundreds of coaches around the world.

Resilience isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s the quiet decision to believe in yourself just enough to take the next step. And for me, that one step changed everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fiacoaching.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FowlerInternationalAcademy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizvenendaal/