LEADERSHIP COACH
About Sabrina
Hi, I’m Dr. Sabrina Chang—a leadership coach and the founder of Motif Coaching. I’m a Certified Organizational Coach (University of British Columbia) and a proud member of the International Coaching Federation.
In partnering with clients to set goals and achieve meaningful outcomes, my expertise lies in optimizing individual and team performance through the positive ripple effects of clients’ mental and emotional growth, and behavioural change.
As a coach, I draw from my background as a team and group facilitator, cognitive scientist, piano teacher, peak performance coach, and competitive pianist and violinist (with over 40+ years of playing). I’m also an improviser—both in improv theatre and in life—and that spontaneity and adaptability deeply influence how I coach. (Plus, playing make-believe as an adult with other adults in improv theatre is pretty silly and fun.)
I hold a PhD from the University of British Columbia (UBC) where my doctoral research examined the cognitive psychology of performance, as well as how applied improvisation can transform performance in the workplace and public health.
More specifically, my research looked at performance through the lens of enactive cognition—basically, how action is fundamental to cognition and that cognition is not just about our mental processes. In other words, our mental states, thoughts, perceptions and experience of the world actually arise through the ongoing, dynamic interplay between our bodies, actions, sensory experiences, and physical environments. Importantly, this approach can provide critical insight into how we show up in the world as leaders in healthcare and as care partners and caregivers.
Beyond my PhD, I also hold a certificate in Neuroscience for Business from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a certificate in Inclusive Leadership Through Behavioural Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Learning is a lifelong passion, and I’m always looking for ways to bridge science and practice in my coaching.
I volunteer as a Support Group Facilitator for both Parkinson Society British Columbia and Parkinson Canada, and I also give back as an Alumni Coach for the Certificate in Organizational Coaching program at UBC.
Something a little less formal…
Things I love:
being a homebody, travelling, and making up songs on the spot—all of these with my partner; my Dad’s mischievous smile and playful laugh; my 40+ year friendship with my best friend who I met in Grade 1; lifting heavy weights, walking along the beach or in the forest every day; standing at the edge of a roaring ocean, sight-reading new piano music, silly dancing, listening to thrash metal on long drives, laughing until tears roll down my face, ping pong, food
Favourite memories:
playing piano in a Campbell’s Soup commercial; speaking and presenting at several cognitive neuroscience and music cognition conferences (in Vancouver, Montreal, Thessaloniki, Oxford, and Paris); my first metal concert (Megadeth); being scared to do improv on stage but doing it anyway; going on a magical, meaningful, once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe (with a stop in Africa!) with my Dad, brother, and partner—the photos are of us lovin’ Lisbon, Portugal
Proudest accomplishments:
performing and competing lots on piano and violin as a kid; moving out and supporting myself at 18 years old; leaving business school to go to music school; going back to grad school (cognitive science) after many years of running a successful music studio; living in Paris for 6 months without knowing anyone there (which I quite liked) to conduct research for my PhD at the renowned Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music (IRCAM)—and yes, I joyfully (over)consumed red wine, tiny espressos, almond croissants, palmiers, kouign-amanns, baguettes, and macarons . . . *wishful sigh*; becoming a certified leadership coach; experiencing so much growth and learning in my relationship with my Dad
Favourite goal:
creating and performing shows with my partner—who is an amazing guitar player and brilliant comedic improvisor (and my favourite performer)
My “Why” for Motif Coaching:
there are so many motifs and threads in my life that led to this—but a big part of my “why” is due to my role as a care partner for my sweet Dad who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2014, as well as my role as a former stepparent raising two kids; I have also held a lifelong fascination for human thought and behaviour (e.g., reading autobiographies, watching documentaries, and examining the cognitive dynamics and lived experiences of participants in my academic research); furthermore—through firsthand experience and in working with clients—I also understand the basic human need and right to be seen, heard, and respected, and I recognize the undeniable importance of care for care partners themselves.