About Vicki
Hi, I'm Vicki - a life coach, choir leader and creative cheerleader for people who feel stuck, burnt out or unsure which way to turn in their creative lives.
I believe in people for a living. That's the simplest way I can describe my work.
Whether I'm helping someone take the next step in their creative career or leading a room full of singers who just want to feel good, I'm always starting from a place of total belief in each person's potential. Sometimes that belief arrives before they're ready to see it themselves - and that's okay. We get there together.
From singer to coach
My journey started with choral singing - from aged 9 in Berkshire Youth Choirs and onwards through National Youth Choirs to studying music at Newcastle University. The experience making music in a group from such a young age instilled in me the extraordinary power of singing: to connect, uplift and heal. Music has always been about emotion and accessibility for me - it was never about perfection or exclusivity. I've always championed the amateur: people who do it for the love of it.
That belief in creative potential grew alongside my career as a singer and choir leader. I've spent years working with the NHS, running choirs for patients and staff. In 2021 I founded Sing out Sutton, a charity that provides free access to singing for wellbeing in communities. Over time, I realised the work I loved most always involved helping people unlock something inside themselves. Life coaching became the natural extension of that.
In 2020 I trained with The Coaching Academy and gained a Diploma with distinction in Personal Performance (Life) Coaching. Since then, I've coached well over 100 creatives who are ready to reconnect with what they love, find clarity in the chaos and start building sustainable, joyful careers.
How I work
My coaching is warm, supportive and gently challenging. You get a safe space to talk through whatever is on your mind - then we turn that into action. I bring a lot of structure (and a little sparkle) to the process.
You might arrive feeling burnt out, disorganised or lost in decision paralysis. But within a few sessions, most of my clients feel lighter, clearer and more focused. We set grounded goals, take practical steps and begin gently stepping out of your comfort zone.
I use an adapted version of the GROW model and several tools I've developed over time like the 'keep/tweak/ditch' method and 'question dump' exercises. When we tackle productivity or organisation, I draw on Grace Beverley's 'The Productivity Method' - blending structure with flexibility.
Whether you book a 90-minute deep dive or a block of 45-minute sessions, you'll leave with clarity, confidence and a renewed connection to what makes you you.
Why it works
Because I know this world.
I'm a creative juggling a portfolio career - running a charity, coaching one-to-one, freelancing with choirs, and still singing opera for the joy of it. I understand the emotional rollercoaster, the financial uncertainty, the burnout, the second-guessing and the joy of finally landing something that feels right.
And I've also worked extensively in healthcare settings, particularly with older adults, which has helped me see what really matters in the long run (spoiler: it's not that next looming deadline). I help people re-centre - to reconnect with values, purpose and that elusive 'guiding star' that keeps you going.
Outside of work
I'm a wild swimmer, weight-lifter and amateur rock climber - all hobbies I picked up after deciding sport wasn't for me growing up. I love pushing my limits (with kindness), which mirrors the work I do with clients.
At home I live with my long-term partner, Hugo, and two cheeky house rabbits, Millie and Louie. And in my spare time, I still sing - most recently as Musetta in La Bohème and Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro.
I'm also a firm believer in finishing books, even if they're a bit of a slog. Some part of me just has to see things through.
Vicki engaged with me using her gift of true presence and helped me discover my own strengths to find creative direction in the midst of preparing for a new baby. Every creative at whatever age or stage should take the opportunity to work with Vicki Hodges. She is invaluable.
Annie - Life Coaching client