Background Story About The Future-Ready Coaching Academy

Globally, the mental health and well-being of university students is in sharp decline. Recent studies indicate that nearly 70% of university students are experiencing emotional distress, loneliness, imposter syndrome, anxiety, and depression. On top of the mental health and well-being issues facing university students today, there is also a significant gap between the skills employers seek and those that students possess when they graduate. A study by McKinsey & Company found that 87% of recent university graduates lack the transferable skills they need to thrive at work based on surveys with employers. Despite these challenges, studies show that universities are neither equipping students with the skills to manage their well-being nor preparing them for the rapidly changing job market. As an educator who interacts and connects with students — both in and out of the classroom, Dr. Ayo (the Founder and President of Future-Ready Coaching Academy) has seen the impact of these challenges first-hand. So, when he received the Leiden University Best Teacher of the Year Award in 2021 for excellence in teaching and service to students, he decided to establish the Future-Ready Coaching Academy. The goal of the Future-Ready Coaching Academy is to improve students’ well-being and prepare them for the labour market (including the jobs of the future) through soft skills coaching.