From navigating the complexities of the tech world to founding Sprout Coaching, Bianca Spruit’s career is a testament to resilience, growth, and a deep commitment to empowering others. With over 20 years of experience creating, managing, and growing high-performing teams, Bianca now dedicates her work to helping leaders in the tech industry to thrive. Bianca’s unique coaching framework blends her technical expertise with a people-first approach, helping leaders not only meet organisational goals but also build close knit, high performing, inclusive teams.
Join us for an insightful conversation in which Bianca shares how she turned adversity into opportunity, the values that shape her coaching, and her vision for transforming workplace culture in the tech industry and beyond!
The Turning Point: From Burnout to Breakthrough
For Bianca, the transition from tech leader to coach wasn’t planned—it was born out of necessity. She describes a period in her career when the culture of her workplace didn’t align with her values: “I stayed in that role far too long, feeling like I had to protect my team. I didn’t realise how much it was affecting me until one day I couldn’t breathe, and an ambulance had to be called. That’s when I knew something had to change.”
The experience left a lasting impression and sparked her interest in coaching: “I wanted to make sure no one else felt the way I did. That’s often why we end up coaching—to solve the problems we’ve experienced ourselves.”
Discovering The Transformative Power of Coaching
Her journey began with a free weekend taster session, where she was introduced to the power of coaching. “I didn’t know much about coaching at the time, but after that weekend, I was hooked. It was incredible to see how powerful it could be.”
Despite her enthusiasm, the pushy sales tactics of the hosting organisation didn’t sit well with her. Determined to find the right training provider, she did extensive research, creating a detailed spreadsheet to compare schools. She ultimately chose Animas. “The team at Animas were warm, friendly and informative—there was no hard sell. It just felt right. I’ve never regretted it; the course was really great and just the right choice for me.”
Coaching in Action: Transforming Teams from Within
Bianca didn’t leap straight into building her business. Instead, she brought her new coaching skills back into her role as a tech leader, experimenting with techniques to support her team.
“I started asking questions instead of giving answers, and I saw incredible growth in my team. People who I thought had reached their limit began developing in ways I’d never imagined.”
This shift also had a personal impact: “It lightened my workload and gave me new perspectives. Coaching isn’t just about the team growing—it’s about the leader growing too.”
Sprout Coaching: Building a Niche with Purpose
After years of refining her approach in the workplace, Bianca founded Sprout Coaching with a clear mission: to support tech leaders in creating high-performing, happy, inclusive teams. However, like many coaches, she initially struggled to define her niche. “Everyone says you need a niche, but it’s not something you can rush. At first, I worked with individuals who were unhappy in their jobs, but it didn’t feel quite right. Then in a lightbulb moment in the middle of the night, it came to me—my passion is helping leaders build great teams, and I know the tech industry inside-out. That’s when everything clicked.”
This clarity became the foundation for her business, where she now works with both individual leaders and organisations to foster coaching cultures. “Coaching isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about creating environments where people and ideas thrive.”
Supporting New Managers: The New Manager Launch Pad
Bianca’s experiences as a leader inspired her to create the New Manager Launch Pad, a free resource designed to help first-time managers navigate their roles. “‘Too often, technically brilliant individuals are promoted without the support they need,’ Bianca notes. ‘But with the right tools, they can become exceptional leaders.’”
The New Manager Launch Pad also helps individuals assess whether management is truly the right path for them: “It’s not just about promotions and pay rises—it’s about genuinely wanting to support and develop people.”
Leadership Challenges: Balancing Competing Interests
One of the most common challenges Bianca addresses in her coaching is the balancing act that leaders face. She explains: “It’s about caring for your team, meeting organisational goals, and looking after yourself. Coaching helps leaders navigate these competing interests with clarity and confidence.”
Her approach involves empowering leaders to share ownership with their teams: “When leaders coach their teams to solve problems collaboratively, it not only reduces their stress but also fosters innovation and accountability.”
Lessons from Running a Coaching Business
Running her own business brought Bianca a host of new challenges, from defining her niche to mastering marketing and finance. “I thought I’d just be coaching, but I quickly realised I’d need to be a marketer, social media expert, and financial director all rolled into one. It’s been a steep learning curve, but it’s taught me so much.”
She encourages new coaches to take advantage of free resources and support networks: “There’s a lot of help out there if you know where to look. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.”
Looking Ahead: Expanding Impact
Bianca’s vision for the future of Sprout Coaching includes expanding her services and broadening her impact: “I want to improve as many workplace cultures as possible. That means building a team of associate coaches, offering a range of services for different budgets, and inspiring young people to see tech as an accessible career path.”
Her ultimate goal is to create workplaces where everyone feels valued, included, and empowered to succeed. Beyond coaching leaders, Bianca is also committed to inspiring young people and individuals from disadvantaged or underrepresented groups to enter the tech industry. She focuses on breaking down perceived barriers and showcasing the opportunities that this dynamic field has to offer.
Final Thoughts
Bianca’s story is a powerful reminder that the challenges we face can become the foundation for the change we create. Whether helping leaders foster innovation or inspiring people to step into tech, she’s making workplaces happier, healthier, and more inclusive.
To learn more about Bianca’s work or download her New Manager Launch Pad, visit Sprout Coaching or connect with her on LinkedIn. As Bianca puts it: “I love having rich conversations—no hard sell, just a genuine chat about how to move forward.”
David is our in-house Professional Storyteller here at Animas. His role is to tell the story of Animas and to capture and share the success stories of our coaches and faculty. A keen conversationalist and qualified transformative coach, David is passionate about authentic human connection.