Nick Bolton

Founder of Animas Centre for Coaching

Nick Bolton is a visionary in the world of coaching, having founded Animas Centre for Coaching, the International Centre for Coaching Supervision and Coloqia Institute.
 
His journey into coaching began after a decade spent navigating the complexities of social policy, where he organised conferences and events on topics ranging from child exploitation to homelessness.
 
Realising the limitations of large events in driving individual change, Nick ventured into coaching in 2005, eventually training formally in 2007, then later completing his Masters in Psychological Coaching.
 
A true pioneer of transformative coaching, Nick shifted from traditional performance-based coaching to a more integrative, existential approach. His deep fascination with philosophy, history, and the human journey fueled the development of the transformative coaching model at Animas, which has since trained over 4,000+ coaches and 150 coaching supervisors worldwide.
 
Nick’s contributions to the field go beyond his schools. He’s the author of several books, including the widely-read Coaching in a Nutshell, The Intellectual Roots of Coaching and The Complete Guide to Becoming a Coaching Supervisor. He has also produced the Animas podcast, Coaching Uncaged, with over 200 episodes engaging thought leaders in the coaching industry. His lectures on transformative coaching, delivered through the Transformative Coaching Lecture Series, explore everything from the psychological dimension in coaching to the integrative stance.

Playlist

27 Videos

Lecture: Neither Gods Nor Their Playthings: Personal Agency and Systemic Forces in Transformative Coaching

Interview: Making Coaching Work for You - Practical Strategies, Mindsets and LIFE Goals for Coaching Success

Lecture: Absent but Implicit: Harnessing the Disavowed Forces of Coaching

Interview: Tenacity, Excellence and The Courage to Face the Truth - with Nick Bolton CEO of Animas Coaching

Seeds of Growth: A Reflective Practice Summit for Coaches 2021 - Dialogue as the Heart of Change

Coaching Uncaged Podcast: An Exploration of Transformative Coaching: Nick Bolton from Animas Centre for Coaching

Presentation: The Phenomenological Stance in Transformative Coaching

Presentation: Psychological Principle of Transformative Coaching with Nick Bolton

Presentation: The Integrative Stance in Transformative Coaching with Nick Bolton

Presentation: The Holistic & Systemic Principle in Transformative Coaching with Nick Bolton

Presentation: The Humanistic Tradition in Transformative Coaching

Presentation: What is Transformative Coaching?

Social Impact Summit: Nick Bolton - Coaching Beyond the Person (Social Impact Summit 2020)

Coaching Uncaged Podcast: Behind the Curtain at Animas - Episode 2: A Discussion With Animas Founder & CEO Nick Bolton

Coaching Uncaged Podcast: Behind the Curtain at Animas: A Discussion With Founder and CEO Nick Bolton

Lecture: Embracing the Journey to Coaching Mastery and Success - Nick Bolton from Animas Centre for Coaching

Lecture: Coaching as Transformational Dialogue: Nick Bolton from Animas Centre for Coaching

Introduction: 1.2 About Nick Bolton - Introduction to Transformational Coaching

Animas Summit 2017: The Past, Present and Future of Coaching - A Fireside Chat with Nick Bolton

Lecture: The Fractal Nature of Coaching (pt 1) Nick Bolton

Lecture: The Fractal Nature of Coaching (pt 2) with Nick Bolton

Lecture: The Fractal Nature of Coaching (pt 3) with Nick Bolton

Lecture: Part 1: Nick Bolton - What Lies Beneath: Coaching Under the Surface

Lecture: Part 2: Nick Bolton - What Lies Beneath: Coaching Under the Surface

Lecture: Part 1: Working with the Self in Coaching - Nick Bolton

Lecture: Part 2: Working with the Self in Coaching - Nick Bolton

Lecture: Nick Bolton - Time & Timelessness

Nick’s love for connecting people around ideas is evident in his history of setting up large-scale events, including the annual Animas Summit and the Coaching for Social Impact Summit. His vision for the future is bold—he plans to expand Animas beyond just training, venturing into events, research, publications, and other high-impact projects, ensuring that Animas remains at the forefront of coaching thought leadership.

As what he describes as “a working-class kid from Cornwall”, Nick earned a first-class degree in philosophy and now spends his time between Dubai and the rest of the world, often travelling 6-9 months of the year.

When he’s not leading his companies, Nick’s likely on a new adventure, having trekked to Everest Base Camp, cycled across multiple countries, and scootered through Asia.

Through all of this, Nick’s mission remains clear: to empower coaches to help individuals navigate the complexities of 21st-century life, ensuring that transformative coaching is accessible, impactful, and deeply connected to the realities we face today.

You can follow Nick on his adventures on Instagram.

Books

Coming soon

Lectures

The Transformative Coaching Lecture Series

Events

Animas Summit 2014
Animas Summit 2015
Coaching for Social Impact Summit 2020
Seeds of Growth Summit 2021
First Annual Summit on Transformative Coaching 2022
Second Annual Summit on Transformative Coaching 2023