KARINA ANDERSEN

OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE (ME/WE) PARTNER

SMILING ONE FOUNDER
ALCHEMIST & CHANGE SPECIALIST 
INTUITIVE LEADERSHIP COACH & GROWTH IGNITER

CLIENT VOICES

I’ve had the privilege of working with Karina Andersen as my leadership coach for almost two years now, and the experience has been nothing short of transformative. Karina is an exceptional listener, and her ability to provide tailored, thoughtful advice has been instrumental in guiding me through different stages of my personal and professional journey.

One of the most significant impacts Karina has had on me is helping me raise the standards for how I want to live and lead. Her guidance has inspired me to consciously align my values and actions with a higher purpose. Karina’s holistic approach to leadership development goes beyond surface-level change—it’s about unlocking potential from deep within, and this transformation is something I now carry into all areas of my life.

I highly recommend Karina for anyone ready to step into the next level of leadership and personal mastery.


JUSTINE HARRINGTON
ENTREPRENEUR - BUSINESS CONSULTANT
FOUNDER SOLAS GROWTH CONSULTANCY

It was such a delight to work with Karina! The way I lead in my position at work has taken a complete turn for the good.

I have learned to lead more in radical honesty and step into positions I never thought I would challenge myself to step into. Today, I am more active in my role at work and even at my personal capacity.

If it was possible, I would want EVERY leader out there to work with Karina through her Depth Coaching. The work is practical, well structured and will work according to where you are on your journey. Karina is incredible at what she does and I have taken lessons that I will treasure for life!


MPHO M MOGOROSI
B2B DIGITAL CONTENT STRATEGIST

"You remind me of a lighthouse, facilitating from the shore while each ship must be self captained. You share the light, by example… so we can sail the sea. The greatest teachers I have been met by have always taught from a place that they want to learn themselves; they want to write what they want to know. That is what you do. You arrive by example and you are always self-reflecting as a student, as a student/master. You share in a way that makes everyone equal in whatever room you sit in. Your tools - I can’t speak about it enough - the book you are soon publishing, really speaks about independence, competency, self-reliance, and self-authorship. 

Whatever self-help stands for... You stand for self-power."


JESSICA SUTTON - ACTRESS

"Karina entered my life in 2013 in dramatic fashion with a visit to the Malmesbury prison to see the work she did there. I realised very soon after having engaged with her that there was a special bond with a special person who has insight into herself and others that is simply inspiring.

Karina has through our sessions enabled me to develop a deeper understanding of myself through the TRI journey and has helped me become a better me. Karina is highly professional and I endorse her work, her approach and would strongly recommend her to people looking to find deeper meaning in their lives and in the process become better leaders of self and others."


GAVIN OLIVIER - SENIOR EXECUTIVE LRMG
TALENT DEVELOPMENT PARTNER 

"Karina is the best you can trust when it comes to depth coaching. She helps you drill to the roots of your why, recalibrate your values and focus on the grandeur collaboration of the universe while focusing on a higher purpose.

My sessions with Karina on the TRI (2) ACTION - AWAKEN LEADER WITHIN program led to an evolved leader in me whose ambition is not first self but first and foremost to causes coupled with the will to make good on that ambition. Thank you so much Karina. I remain indebted! And will sure make a difference in my circles and communities as my give back:)"


PRISCILLA MWANGI MUINAMI
ACC COACH & CONSULTANT

“My journey with Karina was one of the most transformative experiences I’ve ever had. Where I judged myself, she showed compassion. Where I brought shame, she brought curiosity. All of this led to a new life for myself and a new foundation for me…one that is much more empowered and true. I would recommend Karina to anyone who is ready to make a change in their lives. She creates the container and space for true magic!”


ALEX BYNUM
SPIRITUAL GUIDE & HEALER

"I don't know what kind of planet you come from. You are like a submarine. You work under water. You are a seed underground. LOOK AT ME - these are the fruits! My family only see these leaves, they don't know where they come from.

Karina, you are a beautiful soul. You gave me hope when I was hopeless. My family can now rely on me, count on me. It is all because of your patience, your dedication, your warm love. You give it all. I'm really grateful for your existence in this life." 


LUYANDA MSUTWANA
ENTREPRENEUR & CHANGE AGENT

"To me, Karina is a unique combination of coach and spiritual adviser. She very perceptively meets you where you’re at and cooks with your ingredients. Each person’s experience of the TRI process will therefore be unique within the framework. Karina is one of the most soulful and gentle people I know, yet she also has a forthright way of questioning one’s justifications. Her feedback, given from this standpoint, with equal doses of non-judgement and neutral observation, is welcomed. 

I can highly recommend Karina as a phenomenal depth coach whose process covers the full spectrum of Soul, Spirit and Business Acumen. As I enter TRI 2, I do so filled with gratitude that I work in a business which recognises how much value Karina brings and that they have gifted me with such a guide on my journey towards self-mastery. "


MICHELLE PHIPSON - HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGY

"'Better people make better All Blacks' was the philosophy at the heart of the extraordinary 12 year world record of winning rugby games by the All Blacks and was behind our own thinking in employing Karina Andersen as a life coach to many of our people this last 5 years. For many of them, Karina has been able to guide in a unique way and help them self-lead and access strength and meaning they never knew they had. More than that, she has been able to do so by aligning with LRMG cultural artefacts, core beliefs and values, and has been an agent of change in doing so. For any organisation looking for something soulful, different, yet aligned to business, I would recommend Karina unreservedly. She is an exceptional human being, with a purpose to make the world a better place. "


RICKY ROBINSON - FOUNDER, CEO OF LRMG
LEADERSHIP & HIGH PERFORMANCE

"I had the privilege of working with Karina over the last few months, and my experience has been nothing short of transformative. Karina is an exceptionally talented career and leadership coach with an innate ability to understand people on a profound level. Her guidance was not only tailored to my specific needs but also deeply insightful, offering tools and wisdom that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Karina helped me begin the journey of taking steps to embrace my true self and refining both my personal and professional capabilities. Her unique approach is rooted in a deep understanding of human nature, and she has an extraordinary gift for helping individuals maximize their strengths and navigate their professional challenges with confidence.

I am incredibly grateful for the impact Karina has had on my life. She is a remarkable woman and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking to grow, evolve, and unlock their full potential relating to leadership and career-wise."


LARA GELDERBLOEM
ATTORNEY, CONVEYANCER
NOTARY PUBLIC

"Karina is a remarkable coach that has made a significant positive difference in my life. She meets you where you are and facilitates a growth journey in group or individual context. While much of the journey focuses on self-leadership, part of Karina's unique approach is that she takes time to understand the organizational context. The result is that the journey not only leads to better self-knowledge and leadership, but also greater attunement to the organization and alignment with its values and objectives. From my own experience, I can absolutely recommend Karina's services."


PAUL VAN NIEKERK
EXECUTIVE HEAD OF VALUE & IMPACT AT LRMG

ABOUT ME

HI, I AM KARINA

Originally from Denmark, the proud mother of two gorgeous young adults Daniel (29) and Nathalie (26) - two of my greatest teachers - and a deeply committed Apprentice of Love, Life & Leadership.

I have a huge appetite for learning and cracking codes. As a shareholder in the well-being of our collective, I help my clients tackle their disengagement from self and others.

My speciality is to SHIFT stuck places 
"Re-ignite, re-engage, re-connect to self, purpose and the special part you play in the bigger picture."

I draw on 30+ years experience as a Female Entrepreneur and Woman in Leadership, an Intuitive Depth Coach and Travel Companion ... a Change Specialist. I am deeply passionate about people and unlocking, unknotting, and unleashing their potential. 
Over the past 18+ years, I have gained invaluable experience supporting shifts in highly diverse environments in South Africa, from prisons to boardrooms, at both the micro (people) and macro (culture) level ... and have experienced the most profound awakening.

It is essential that we explore the Human Quest in-depth - inner workings, prison breaks, paradigm shifts - in order to awaken to The Quest for our shared humanity. And it is indeed A QUEST... given that we are not doing too well!

I invite my clients to engage in a brutally honest growth conversation. We explore THE SHIFT needed to move their leadership to the next level of impact and own their share in the collective wellbeing. I work with Management and Senior Levels of Leadership as a Business Coach & Partner in Optimal Performance (ME|WE). I build bridges between Personal Strategy and Business Strategy. I also work with Individuals, families and teams. I educate Optimal Performance (ME|WE) Coaches and Change Agents.

My heart-based leadership approach is powered by the spirit of UBUNTU ... Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu: "I am because you are."

If you are not well… WE IS NOT WELL
(hearts beating as ONE)


Ever since I arrived in this beautiful land, South Africa, I have felt its heartbeat, wishing to align my own with hers. And as RUMI rightly said, I felt this strange pull towards what I truly love. It has not led me astray... it has brought me home in my Servant Heart.

I am the Founder of SmilingOne and Circles of Change Academy, a dedicated custodian of The Responsible Individual (TRI) Depth Coaching Method. In 2008, I published The Responsible Individual, followed by my Growth Igniter: 10 Leadership Lessons - from Prisons to Boardrooms in 2022. My third book is in writing (I plan to publish in 2025).

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Executive Coaching
A CULTURE SHIFT

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THE SHIFT - Senior Leadership
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Family Coaching
CONSCIOUS Parenting

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Life Trauma Healing♥
DEPTH Coaching

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THE ART OF BEING HUMAN
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