About Clare Bamberger
Meet Clare
Hello, I’m Clare Bamberger, the Joyful Realist! I have spent a lifetime with a single ambition – not to be bored.
That one driving force has led me up hill and down dale over the 45 odd years (some very odd!) of my career, from 20 years in teaching to translating, to writing, teacher training, then into to cooking, fundraising, researching, into insight and strategy, managing teams, being happiest when I’m dealing with people. I enjoyed them all at the time, collecting a wide bunch of friends and several diplomas along the way.
Finally, I’ve found THE thing that brings them all together and ticks all my boxes – coaching! It could NEVER be boring because it’s all about creating relationships with people, having the huge pleasure of watching the people I work with light up when they’ve found their own way.
Coaching is never boring because my clients keep me on my toes, learning all the time and my practice is constantly evolving. I’m writing and putting into action new frameworks, models and programmes all the time, based on what I’ve learnt from my lovely clients and other experts.
My stimulating networks of people, talks and books, conferences and some deep thought, drawing on my own experiences of failure and success all feed my curiosity, making for constant development.
Since I started out on setting up my own business in 2022, I’ve been guided by the first thought I put in my new notebook (now dog-eared and full):
“Setting out to solve the problem you see, can create opportunities you can’t yet see.” ©
The FreedomLab is born of the desire to share with you how that thought can help you create those opportunities for yourself.
The system flexes around you, which is the way I’m happiest working. Joyfully, yet grounded in realism.
Give me a follow on LinkedIn where I share experiences and advice on running teams that keep the business itself running.
Fun facts: My first ever jobs were on farms working as a Saturday girl when I was a teenager, from planting lettuce to bunching freezing-cold daffodils in a barn and as a riding instructor. My first ‘proper’ job was being the world’s worst secretary for a couple of months, scraping by to the end of the trial period. If ever I needed convincing that being bilingual was no guarantee of skillsets and that I didn’t fit in conventionally to corporate life, that was an early piece of evidence!
P.S. BTW, it's pronounced /kler'/ bam'/ber/djer
My values
Freedom
I believe everyone deserves the freedom to define success on their own terms. My coaching helps people create more choice in how they lead, work and live.
Flourishing
Growth is about more than achieving goals. I believe people thrive when they have the confidence, clarity and support to become the best, joyful version of themselves,
Lightness
Change doesn't have to feel heavy. I bring curiosity, optimism and perspective to my coaching, helping you navigate complexity with greater ease and confidence.
Connecting
Meaningful change happens through genuine connection. I foster supportive relationships built on trust, honest conversations and shared learning.
"Everything is always changing (!) but leading and supporting the process well is the goal. Clare is superb at making this complex area (and others) navigable and people centred. The biggest shift for me has been that move from being good at your job in terms of doing, to focusing on really enabling people to function well."
- Finance Director
“This single workshop has saved me months of anxiety and indecision.”
- GM, Senior Leader
"I tried your listening technique. That has changed the dynamic by unblocking resistance. I have involved that person in working in the new ways with success".
- Group coaching participant
"I really love Clare's ideas - she's so good at transforming complexity into straightforward and accessible."
- Free resource user
"However great a project manager you might be, there will always be unexpected consequences and change to manage. At times waters get muddy and it is not obvious what the best way through might be.
This is where Clare comes in. The 90 minutes I spent with her in a Sounding Board session brought clarity to the muddy waters I was navigating in a way I could not have imagined possible."
- Amelia Wakeford, Project Manager
“Clare is my business therapist.”
- JT, Business Owner
Client testimonials
"You haven't just read a book and gone, I'm going to do some coaching.
It's based on your experience. And there's part of that because I've known you for a decade. So
I've seen your work. I've seen your experience. So actually having you run these sessions gives me confidence because I've seen the fruits of your labour."
- Jonathan Cook, Insight-ful, business consultant